Today my
school got a nice little piece of publicity in the Herald Sun.
In a
nutshell, the median score for all our VCE study scores (out of 50), was 35 – a
truly great median for a no scholarship, take all comers, encourage everyone to
finish year 12, government school. More importantly on the data spectrum, we
were the most improved school, with our median shooting up 5 points from last
year.
We’ve had
halcyon times like this before. Occasionally we have some ‘lean’ years but It’s
not a new thing for our VCE kids to do well. Back in 2007-2009 we had medians
well above the average and our students have always ‘batted above their weight’
when it comes to success in academics, in sport and in performance skills.
So while I’m
happy for us to bask in the (momentary) glory of high academic achievement, I think its important to recognise that it’s
the not the most important measure of our school’s success and definitely not
the most important measure of this group of kids. In fact, not all the kids in
this photo contributed to that median. The numbers are derived from all the
Unit 4 study scores and that included quite a few year 11s (who will get their
chance at ATAR glory next year). Some of these kids didn’t even sit exams but
they are no less successful in our eyes. Some are successful just because they
finished year 12, some combined VCAL with VCE, Shona is the VETis plumber of
the year (2 x in a row). Lachie is a state junior cricketer, Jake a state level
high jumper and Gerald, a national equestrian. Cooper published his 2nd EP and got a perfect score in
VET Music, a subject he studied at Emmanuel College because if we can’t offer a
subject ourselves, then we’ll find someone who can. Chloe finished VCE with VCAL certs in
3 different disciplines. Breeanna, our dux, had three scores over 40 and she
won’t even turn 18 till next May. All of them combined student leadership
duties with their studies, becoming role models and ambassadors. At some stage,
each and every one of them has performed in the school play, with 4 of them
gaining admittance into our Performing Arts Hall of Fame.
I first met
this group when they tumbled, full of personality, into year 5. There were lots
of them then, a big class by our standards, covering the whole gamut of academic
ability. They were larger than life kids, all different but all willing to turn
their hand to any task. By year 7 it was clear they were going to be a
successful cohort. They competed with each other and with themselves on a daily
basis, in sport, in class and on the stage. We watched them grow from enthusiastic
youngsters into skillful teenagers. Almost all of them came to NZ on camp with
us and they soaked up every moment and made the most of every experience.
And then
bit by bit the group started to shrink with a lot of the kids going off to
bigger schools in bigger cities. Those who remained here struggled a bit.
They missed their friends, and I think they felt a little bit deserted, with a sense that
while the others were off having new adventures, they were stuck in the seemingly
boring sameness of their run down rurality, with teachers who knew them so well
that there was nowhere to hide. They became burdened by the high expectations
we had of them, sometimes doubting that they could match those expectations
with their own lofty ambitions and the work load that lay ahead. Some of them fought the demons of physical and
mental health issues and just getting to school each day became a victory.
Like the
surrogate parents that teachers often become, we cajoled, chastened, promised, pleaded,
threatened, tutored, guided and bribed, and as loyal co workers do, they
responded by doing their very best, by believing that if they dreamed it they
could do it and choosing to step up rather than stepping aside.
And now,
here they are, big fish in anyone’s pond. The survivors and the victors, ready
to embrace their ‘real’ lives with the same passion and persistence that’s got
them through year 12.
What a lovely bunch. Well done
and good luck to you all.
Beautiful words Anne - honest and true x
ReplyDeleteAnne I enjoyed reading this so much! It brought back fond memories of my time completing VCE at Mortlake College. So many advantages to attending a small school I still look back and feel grateful that I had teachers that genuinely cared.
ReplyDeleteHow lovely that the students will have this post to look back on!