Term 4 For Year 11s

In 2013 Santa Maria College introduced a model of transition to Year 12 that commences in Term 4. Year 11 students complete their Semester 2 exams and Work Placements in Weeks 1 and 2 of Term 4. In Week 3, they review their exams, have a short break and return to the College in Week 4 to start their Year 12 studies.

Maximising Potential 

During the Year 11s short break, every Year 11 student is interviewed by a senior member of staff who is part of our transition team. This interview aims to ensure each student is well placed for personal growth in Year 12. Parents are invited to be part of this conversation.

During the interviewing process, the students are asked questions like:

• What has been your greatest challenge?
• What has been your greatest achievement?
• What has gone well?
• Do you have an effective study space?
• Do you seek help from your teachers?
• How have you achieved balance?
• What will you do differently as a Year 12 student?
• What are your goals for Year 12?

Maximising Time

This initiative extends the time Year 11 students remain at school for the year, enabling them to complete five weeks of Year 12 course work.

The benefits include:

• All introductory documentation is distributed
• Textbooks and resources are accessible
• One assessment for each course is completed, reducing the number in the final year.
• Revision notebooks and strategies used by students are in place
• Year 12 course work is spread over an extended period of time
• Additional time for reviewing courses and structured revision, at the completion of Year 12 courses, is available
• Time is available over the Christmas break for students wishing to commence artworks, read novels or work on design pieces or other long-term projects.

When school returns in Term 1, our Year 12 students are very positive, having already completed five weeks of their courses.

Our model also enables our new College leaders to commence their role in Term 4 when our Year 12 leaders depart.

Both students and teaching staff are very supportive of this model and believe there are many benefits that enhance the learning of our students.