Senior College Handbook

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Our college motto is ‘developing successful learners for the world community’.

Exactly what does this motto mean to you? And what will it mean to you in five or ten years time?
At Traralgon College we believe that a ‘successful learner’ is someone who knows how to learn, unlearn and relearn so that they can adapt to change. Learning in the world community means being able to exploit opportunities that are presented to you; having the knowledge and skills that are relevant in the Latrobe Valley and in other places around the world.

Our power, paper and agricultural industries source much expertise internationally to achieve increasing environmental and economic efficiency and many local workers benefit from this exchange of knowledge and skills. Many of our graduating students seek employment in these industries, and we want to ensure that graduates have the required skills. Other graduating students are eager to pursue options further afield, and we can offer programs to support these pathways as well.

Technology is increasingly used as a way to reduce geographic separation and to allow for flexibility and adaptability in work location and the types of work undertaken and our Netbook program is designed to ensure students have a ‘head start’ using some of these communication tools.

To fully succeed in this world we need to be flexible, tolerant and adaptable in our thinking so we can truly be part of the ‘world community’ and exploit all that it has to offer us. For students and families looking at this resource, now is one of the times when you can assess your success as a student and consider the best options available to you.

Traralgon College’s Senior Campus is where you will get to build on what you have learned in junior classes and explore the wide range of pathways that we make available. The key qualifications we enable students to attain are as follows:

-  Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) with an ATAR score; can lead to further education at a university or TAFE. It also remains the most popular school completion certificate that represents a ‘baseline’ achievement for many employers.

-  Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) is very flexible and is focused on extending students who prefer practical and kinaesthetic learning through a focus on ‘applied learning’. It prepares students for the world of work as well as TAFE and other tertiary study.

-  Vocational Education & Training (VET) subjects allow students interested in vocational subjects like Engineering, Automotive and Furniture Making to gain skills and knowledge towards future apprenticeship or tertiary course; they contribute towards VCAL and as a VCE subject.

-  School Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships (SBATs) allow students to commence an apprenticeship whilst remaining at school. Arrangements vary but commonly consist of three days of VCE or VCAL classes at school, one day of paid employment and one day at a training provider completing accredited training per week.

Year 10 students are able to opt into some Year 11 VCE and or VET subjects (Early Start). They also have more choice of subjects at Year 10 level than most junior programs offer – our numbers and teacher expertise enable us to offer a wide range of courses; certainly enough to cater for prerequisites at any tertiary institution.

We have many extracurricular activities and support systems in place to ensure students get a well rounded education. I would urge all students to consider getting involved in one or more of the following: Student Leadership, the music program, Rock Eisteddfod, the Arts Festival, the Sport Program, the Students Access Monash program.

The key to success is making sensible and informed choices. Our staff are available to work with students and their families through course counselling during terms 3 and 4. Please take advantage of this service.

I wish all students the very best in their future studies whichever pathway or course they choose.

Paul van Breugel
College Principal