For senior students: VTAC guides
The Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC) has launched new online guides for senior secondary students:
- The guide for year 10 students provides information about subject selection, prerequisites, and the ATAR.
- The guide for year 11 students provides information about course research and choosing year 12 subjects.
- The guide for year 12 students provides a detailed overview of the application process including researching and making decisions about tertiary courses. All guides are available at the VTAC website
Advice in languages
The Education Department has advice for parents about remote learning for their children in 25 languages.
You can dowload an advice sheet that covers setting up a learning environment, student responsibilities, mental health and wellbeing, and many other topics.
(And if you can't read Arabic, Dinka, Hindi or Vietnamese, the heading reads, "Learning from home: information for parents and carers".)
Education Department COVID-19 hotline
The Department of Education and Training has a COVID-19 hotline.
You can ask questions regarding coronavirus (COVID-19) and schools by calling 1800 338 663,
The hotline is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
Physical distancing and family wellbeing
We've featured the excellent resources from the Raising Children website here before. As parents deal with the second lockdown in Melbourne and prepare for remote learning in Term 3, this article might be particularly helpful.
The article is about looking after your family's wellbeing under physical distancing restrictions, by:
- Making the most of family time
- Using routines
- Staying connected
- Managing conflict.
Parent helpdesk - children with complex needs
In response to COVID-19, YarraMe School has established a Help Desk for parents and carers to assist in supporting primary-school children with complex needs who are learning from home.
Resources for parents: child sexual safety
Australian Government funded parenting website, raisingchildren.net.au, has launched a range of free resources for parents and professionals working with parents on child sexual safety.
The ten new articles are designed to help keep children safe by providing information on topics including how to talk to children and teens about sexual abuse, recognise signs of grooming, and access helplines and services.
Term 3 update from Education Minister
Statement from Education MInister James Merlino, 12 July 2020
I know this is challenging news for everyone - students, teachers and families. Today we announced that, on the advice of the Victorian Chief Health Officer, students in Prep to Year 10 at schools in metropolitan Melbourne and the Mitchell Shire will learn from home from Monday 20 July until at least 19 August.
What we all need: positive messages!
Here's a great example of a school reaching out to its community in a positive and caring way. Staff at University High School have recorded a compilation video for students and families. The message they're giving is, "We're thinking of you, hope you're well, looking forward to seeing you again."
These thoughtful and positive messages are something we all need right now!
Temperature checks for Melbourne students
Education Minister James Merlino has announced daily temperature checks for school students in metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire.
More than 14,000 non-contact infrared thermometers will be given to government, independent and Catholic
schools in those areas.
Term 3 arrangements in schools: PV media comment
PV's Executive Officer, Gail McHardy was interviewed on ABC Radio's "PM" yesterday.
Gail talked about the importance of clear communication and engagement between schools and families, whether education is delivered on-site or remotely in Term 3. She emphasised that each family is different and there are no simple 'one-size-fits-all' answers.
