1. Senior School Pathways Information Night
East Doncaster Secondary College
Have this slide on the screen when parents arrive.
Also have one of the two presenters hand out cards at the door and encourage parents to write down any questions that they might want answered in the session. Collect and respond to questions at the end.
Introduce yourself and the purpose of the evening.
Encourage parents to ask any questions that they may have along the way.
Senior School Pathways Information Night
for Year 11 Students 2012

2. Context and Challenges
POINTS TO CONSIDER:
Outline the journey of students through East Doncaster and how we endeavour to have students meet their goals
We are here to assist your son or daughter to make informed choices.
We want you to make the right decisions that are critical for a successful student pathway.
this evening is to advise and not tell students what to do
it is important to match aspiration with achievement
significant choices to be made – VCAL, VET, VCE, employment
good decisions lead to good outcomes
the challenge is to make the best choice

3. Potential Pathways
33 VCE Units offered at East Doncaster Secondary College
VCE/VET Units – Mullum Cluster
VCAL – in collaboration with Doncaster College
TAFE studies
Each student is different.
Each course needs to be tailored to the individual needs of students
important decisions need to be made in the next week regarding the type of course to be chosen
refer the parents to the handout for information about the 33 VCE Units on offer, the VET units offered through the Mullum cluster, the introduction of VCAL and TAFE studies opportunities.
Introduce VCAL in a little more detail
tease apart the variety of choices and the different ways in which the programs meet student needs

4. Choosing your Pathway CONSIDER: Interests, passion, aptitude
Pre-requisites
Personal ambition
MIPS/Career Voyager feedback
Pathway investigations in World of Work and Work Experience
Work your way through the points.
give examples of interests and passion and talk about the need to make balanced choices
it is healthy to do an Arts subject, for instance, even if you are going to be an engineer
talk about the need to establish important pre-requisite subjects
Half of the group will have completed Pathways investigations in World of Work and others will be starting soon
All students will have completed MIPS interviews in groups of 6 and the Career Voyager activity. They should use this information to inform their decision.

5. And what if I don’t know what I want to do?
That’s not unusual – but it is time to start thinking seriously about this issue
IN THE MEANTIME
Keep your options open
Consider your strengths as a learner
Be realistic
If you are not sure what you want to do, stay in VCE
discuss the difference between prerequisite subjects and preferred subjects
Common question - Which maths should they do? – it would depend on how strong you are at maths. A strong student might be encouraged to stay with the top maths for instance.
talk about being realistic and lead into the graph on the following page

6. Useful Resources VTAC publications VICTER VTAC Guide Job Guide
There will be examples of some of these documents in the room
hold them up and encourage parents and students to refer to them over the next few days while making decisions

7. Course Selection Procedure
Subject selection sheet – indicate your interest
Application for acceleration
Counselling process, including interview
Validation of selections
Timetabling process and confirmation of courses
Talk them through the course selection procedure

8. Year 11 2012 Course Selection Timeline
Thursday 21 July : Year 10 Student Workshops
Monday 25 July: Handbooks and Course Selection Information on School Website : Subject selection forms distributed
Wednesday 27 July : Year Parent Information Evening
Monday 1 Aug: Year Course Selection Forms Submission deadline
Thursday 11 August – Tuesday 16 Aug : Year Course Selection Interviews – by appointment. (15 minute interviews, Parents welcome to attend)
Term 4: courses confirmed
Go through this date by date and emphasize how important it is to meet the timeline

9. YEAR 11 COURSE SELECTION FORM
VCE/VCAL Course Selection
YEAR 11 COURSE SELECTION FORM
NAME:
HOMEGROUP:
Indicate which program that you are applying for: VCE VCAL
(if you are choosing VCAL, you do not need to select subjects)
Proposed Year 11 Program
Circle your English choice
Write the name of each other choice in the vacant spaces
Please list three additional choices:
__________________
Course selection forms must be submitted to Senior School Office no later than Friday 29 July 2011
Student signature:____________ Parent signature: ______________
Talk to them about how to fill out this form and highlight the fact that subject choices are not necessary if students are choosing VCAL.
ENGLISH
Or ESL
Preference
Preference 2
Preference 3
Preference 4
Preference 5

10. Senior School Courses content & questions
Please join our teachers in The John Landy Centre to gain specific information about Senior School subject content and requirements
Tea & Coffee available
Encourage parents to speak with teachers in The John Landy Centre.

11. Questions
Begin by checking if you have answered any questions that have been handed in by parents during the night and then ask for further questions.