Latest news at Dickson College
Congratulations to the class of 2021 and happy holidays everyone!
Upcoming Dates for 2022
18 January, Tuesday - ATAR Results available electronically via BSSS student profiles online
24 January, Monday - ATAR Certificates and uncollected Graduation Certificates available from Dickson College
31 January, Monday - Year 11 and new Year 12 students first day
1 February, Tuesday - Year 12 students first day
1 February, Tuesday - School photographer, student ID for Year 11 and Year 12
17 February, Thursday - Parent Information Night
23 February, Wednesday - Assembly 11:45am - 12:25pm
1 March, Tuesday - Moderation Day
14 March, Monday - Canberra Day
Upcoming Dates for 2022
18 January, Tuesday - ATAR Results available electronically via BSSS student profiles online
24 January, Monday - ATAR Certificates and uncollected Graduation Certificates available from Dickson College
31 January, Monday - Year 11 and new Year 12 students first day
1 February, Tuesday - Year 12 students first day
1 February, Tuesday - School photographer, student ID for Year 11 and Year 12
17 February, Thursday - Parent Information Night
23 February, Wednesday - Assembly 11:45am - 12:25pm
1 March, Tuesday - Moderation Day
14 March, Monday - Canberra Day
posted on 24 Dec 2021
Important Upcoming Dates
Tuesday 16 November - Last day of classes and STEM testing 1.30pm - 3.30pm
Wednesday 17 November - Friday 19 November - Testing
Monday 22 November - Year 11 AST trial
Thursday 25 November 8.50am - 11am - Handback Day
Tuesday 30 November 9.30am - 11am - Year 12 brunch and package check
Monday 6 December 6pm - 10pm - Year 12 Farewell Fest, National Museum of Australia
Thursday 9 December - Saturday 11 December 12pm and 7.30pm - Chicago the musical - presented by Dickson College Drama. Theatre 3, Canberra Rep Theatre, 3 Repertory Lane, Acton. Students $15, Adults $25. Book online: https://canberrarep.org.au/content/book-online-choose-production
Tuesday 14 December 9.30am - 11am - Year 12 Special Awards Ceremony and Year 11 Semester Awards Ceremony, Dickson College Hall
Wednesday 15 Dec 9.30am - 10.15am - Year 12 Graduation Rehearsal, Dickson College Hall
Wednesday 15 December 5.00pm - 7.30pm - Dickson College Year 12 Graduation Ceremony, Canberra Theatre
Friday 17 December - Last day of term 4
posted on 11 Nov 2021
COVID-19 Update: Plan for Term 4
Dear students and families,
Since the announcement on Tuesday by the ACT Chief Minister, the circumstances regarding the return of students to onsite learning from the beginning of term 4 have changed.
The two documents linked below have been developed by the Education Directorate in line with the guidelines set down by ACT Health to ensure the safe return of students to onsite learning over the initial weeks of term 4.
Term 4 Roadmap for ACT Public Colleges
Health Guidelines for Senior Secondary
We have developed our plan in relation to these guidelines and I can inform you that:
- Remote Learning and Remote Learning timetable will stay in place for Year 11 & 12 classes until end of week 2
- Onsite learning opportunities will be limited to only Year 12 students during week 1 & 2 for essential practical course work, assessment of VET Competencies or supervised assessment
- Year 12 AST will be held onsite during week 2 and we will be holding an AST Assembly for Year 12 students sitting the AST onsite Monday 1.15 Monday 11 October (please see AST message below)
College Newsletter (DC News) - incorrect information
Unfortunately, our Newsletter has been circulated with information that doesn't reflect this latest change. Apologies and please disregard the date referring to the face-to-face return of Year 12 students onsite.
Year 12 AST Update
The AST is scheduled for Tuesday 12th and Wednesday 13th October.
Things to note are:
- All venues within the College will be the same as those used in the trials (GYM main testing venue, A12 Special Consideration, A20 EALD).
- An onsite AST assembly is scheduled for Monday 11th October, 1:15-1:45 pm, in the HALL
-
- It is expected that ALL students sitting the AST will attend this assembly
- Students attending the assembly will have to check-in upon entry AND wear a face mask
- Due to health directions, the college will no longer provide any catering for students during the test days. Students should make sure to eat breakfast on the mornings of the AST, and organise to bring a packed lunch for Tuesday
Thanks for your understanding and patience at this time. Please take time during this holiday break to rest and recover.
Take care.
Regards
Craig Edwards
Principal
posted on 17 Sep 2021
Transition to onsite learning from the beginning of Term 4
I would like to acknowledge and thank our students for their flexibility and commitment to their learning over the past few weeks as we have transitioned to teacher-led remote learning as part of the ACT’s health response to COVID-19. I would also like to thank our parents and community for their support of the College and its staff during this time.
I am writing to confirm the opportunity for Year 12 students to return to on-campus learning from the start of Term 4, which begins on 5 October. Year 11 students are also being prioritised for a return to on-campus learning from the beginning of week 3 of Term 4, Monday 18 October.
We look forward to welcoming students back on site. This transition from remote to onsite learning will occur in a staged plan over the first two weeks of term 4. We will provide a detailed Dickson College Term 4 Transition Plan to you later this week.
In line with the health advice and intent, Dickson College is taking a very cautious approach to bringing students and staff back on site.
The significant factors in our planning are the consideration of classes that comprise of year 11 and 12 students. As well as classes that have large practical components/assessments, and classes that comprise only of year 12 students. Our planning for the first two weeks also needs to ensure the Year 12 AST sitting can be undertaken safely.
All school-based staff and Year 12 students have now been prioritised for COVID-19 vaccination. If your young person has not yet booked their vaccination, we encourage them to do so. Bookings for Year 12 students can be made by calling the COVID-19 vaccination booking line on 5124 7700 daily between 7am-7pm and notifying the booking operator of your priority category (i.e. being a Year 12 student). Vaccination slots are also now available for other age groups e.g., 16-year-old children not in year 12 and 12–15-year-old children from Monday (please see the latest information on vaccinations).
Our school will have measures in place to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission. These include promoting good hand and respiratory hygiene, requiring physical distancing for adults onsite, regular cleaning and disinfecting, requiring staff and students to stay home if unwell and promoting ventilation. Students and staff will be required to wear masks in line with public health directions.
You can find more information about the arrangement for schools in term 4 on the ACT Education website: COVID-19 school arrangements.You can also keep up to date with the latest health information, advice and resources on the ACT’s COVID-19 website www.covid19.act.gov.au
From the ACT BSSS - Release of the Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR)
"The release of the ATAR will be delayed until Thursday 20 January 2022.
The ACT BSSS works closely with the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) to produce the ATAR so that ACT students can apply for direct university admission.
The delay is due to the postponement of the NSW Higher School Certificate examinations. The ATAR and therefore University offers for ACT and NSW students are processed at the same time. UAC processes applications on behalf of all ACT and NSW Universities, including applications from students in other states and territories. Tertiary Admissions Centres in other states and territories do likewise.
The later release of rankings will not affect University applications through UAC as they are processed in the same way and at the same time for all students.
Roberta McRae
Board Chair
ACT Board of Senior Secondary Studies"
Regards
Craig Edwards
Principal
posted on 14 Sep 2021
Important Update
Dear students and families,
I hope you are all well. At present, it is unclear exactly what the return to onsite learning will look like for Colleges in the ACT during term 4. However, we are anticipating that colleges will have a clearer picture of the plan for term 4 early next week. I will communicate this with you as soon as I am able. Until then, here are the key messages for this week:
Parent-Teacher Evening Online Thursday 16 September 2:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Mid-Semester reports will be distributed to students and families on Monday. The report will include detailed instructions on booking times with teachers using Parent Teacher Online (PTO). The actual interviews will be held online using Google Meets. If you have not used Google Meets before, don't worry; there will be instructions on this too. Our students are also experts in Google Meets, so we ask them to assist their parents in this area.
Appointments still available for year 12 student COVID-19 vaccinations
A reminder that all year 12 students can book a priority appointment at the AIS Arena COVID-19 mass vaccination clinic and get vaccinated between now and next Friday, 17 September 2021.
How to book
The Year 12 student priority COVID-19 bookings can only be made by calling the COVID-19 Vaccination Booking Line on 02 5124 7700 (press option 5) between 7am to 7pm daily.
If the student would prefer to get vaccinated at a participating GP (or participating pharmacy for those aged 18 years and over), use the Eligibility Checker to find a clinic near you https://covid-vaccine.healthdirect.gov.au/eligibility
More information
A factsheet is attached with more information, or please visit the COVID-19 website: www.covid19.act.gov.au/vaccine. The Education Directorate website also provides information including answers to a number of frequently asked questions.
Vaccinations for students with a disability, their parents and carers
Students, parents and carers of people with disability are eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine right now. You can book in to get a vaccination by calling the ACT COVID-19 vaccination booking line on 02 5124 7700 between 7am to 7pm, daily. You can also book in to get a vaccination at a participating GP or pharmacist. More information is available at www.covid19.act.gov.au/vaccinebooking
ACT Health operates an Access and Sensory vaccination clinic where people with disability, support staff, volunteers and carers can get vaccinated. The clinic is moving to the Weston Creek Community Health Centre from Monday 13 September. You can make an appointment to attend the clinic by calling the ACT COVID-19 vaccination booking line on 02 5124 7700 between 7am to 7pm, daily. You can find out more at www.covid19.act.gov.au/disability
The latest information from the BSSS regarding assessment during COVID-19 Lockdown
In addition to information circulated previously, the BSSS has provided, a further question and answer has been included in the FAQ for Students/Parents and Carers. The new Q and A is below for your information. The full document can be accessed here and is also attached to this email.
Q10: What should a student who is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms on the days of the AST do? Will they still receive a Tertiary Entrance Statement and ATAR?
A: The conduct of the test will be consistent with health advice and guidelines at the time.
As always if a student is unwell, they should seek medical advice, and if experiencing COVID-19 like symptoms should be tested. Absence from one or more of the test components would require appropriate and verifiable Medical documentation.
The BSSS has processes to enable scaling if individual students within a school cohort meet all other requirements for a Tertiary Entrance Statement (TES) but cannot sit an ACT Scaling Test (AST) due to illness or misadventure. These students would still receive an ATAR.
Regards
Craig Edwards
Principal
posted on 10 Sep 2021
Parent Teacher Interviews Online
Term 3 Parent Teacher Interviews will be held online next Thursday 16 September from 2:30 pm to 6:30 pm.
More details including instructions will be sent to families with Mid-Semester Reports Monday 13 September.
posted on 09 Sep 2021
Priority Year 12 COVID-19 Vaccination
The ACT Government has today announced that ACT teachers, educators and staff that have direct contact with children in their daily work in schools and early education centres are to be prioritised for COVID-19 Pfizer vaccinations at ACT Government COVID-19 mass vaccination clinics.
COVID-19 priority bookings can only be made by calling the ACT COVID-19 priority vaccination line on (02) 5124 3999 (7am and 7pm daily). Please be aware that use of this phone number is restricted to critical and high-risk workers employed in the ACT. You will be required to answer some questions to confirm your eligibility for a priority appointment.
Priority vaccination appointments will be made available over coming weeks. If you already have an appointment at an ACT Government vaccination clinic, you can also call this line and ask about moving your appointment forward.
Free public transport on bus and light rail is available for anyone travelling to an ACT Government COVID-19 vaccination clinic. You will need to show proof of your COVID-19 vaccination booking. Parents, carers and family accompanying people to their COVID-19 vaccination are also able to travel for free.
The Priority Vaccination Factsheet contains additional information.
Please visit the COVID-19 website: www.covid19.act.gov.au/vaccine or the Education Directorate website which provides information including answers to a number of frequently asked questions.
posted on 09 Sep 2021
Remote Learning Update
Dear Students and Families,
I hope you are all doing well and looking after yourselves during lockdown. There are some important points to update you on today they are listed below:
Remote Learning starts tomorrow
Individual student timetables for the Remote Learning period were sent to students and carers today. With our Remote Learning timetable, online lessons start at 9:30 and conclude at 3.00 pm (Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri). Wednesday’s have been set aside for Asynchronous learning only, so that students can focus on completing their classwork and assignments without interruption of scheduled online classes. This was a key lesson learnt in 2020 where students and staff quickly became overwhelmed with the demands of online classes and the need to progress their classwork and assignments. In 2020 we moved to this same Remote Learning timetable in response to feedback from students, staff, and families.
Online attendance and participation tracking
Students need to check-in with their teacher for each of their online classes. Rolls will be marked; student non-attendance online will be tracked,and families notified. Teachers will also be tracking the completion of work outside (Asynchronous learning) of scheduled class time to verify participation and assessment requirements for the unit.
Digital Protocols for students
Please see the attached Infographic on Remote Learning – Digital Protocols for students which outlines appropriate behaviours for students online. It also mentions the need to look after oneself making sure students take adequate breaks, get exercise, eat well, sleep and other things that are supportive of health and wellbeing.
Remote Learning - Digital Protocols for Students
Responsive communication
If students are having difficulties with Remote Learning, they should contact their teacher or Year Coordinator. Our Teachers will do their best to respond in two working days.
It is possible to arrange a contactless pickup of resources from the College such as books, laptops, chargers, art supplies etc. Students should contact their teachers to arrange this.
If teachers call students, they will block their number, so please accept calls if expecting a call from someone at the College.
No exams in week 9 this term
In response to the Remote Learning period all exams/tests set down for week 9 will not go ahead. Teachers will contact their classes individually as required and begin to modify assessment to an alternative that can be completed at home.
Year 12 AST
There is nothing more to add about the AST since the BSSS FAQ document emailed earlier in the week. Other than to say it will not occur on the set dates of 30 August and 1 September of week 8. I will update you as soon as I know more.
Food delivery options
We understand that with a growing number of people in quarantine or isolation that some households are finding it difficult to get groceries delivered in a timely manner due to demand.
Please see if you can get a friend or family member who isn’t subject to quarantine or isolation requirements to do a grocery shop for you and leave it on your doorstep.
However, if you need to order home delivery, there are a range of options to consider when ordering groceries.
As well as the major supermarkets, several other grocers and independent supermarkets also offer delivery.
For further information go to:
https://www.covid19.act.gov.au/community/access-help#Grocery-delivery-options
Office Hours during Lockdown and Remote Learning
The College is open daily, but we are maintaining minimum numbers of staff onsite during the ACT Lockdown. Our front office hours during Remote Learning and while the ACT stays in Lockdown will be 9:30 - 3 pm Monday to Friday.
Regards
Craig Edwards
Principal
posted on 19 Aug 2021
Remote Learning, Term 3
Dear Students and Families,
Firstly I hope you are all well and coping with the changing situation in the ACT around COVID-19. Today I write to update you on a couple of things. The points are detailed below:
Remote Learning starts Friday 20 August
On Friday, ACT Schools will move into a Remote Learning period in line with the two-week extension of the lockdown in the ACT. Our teachers have been working this week in preparation for Remote Learning. From Friday at 9:30 am, Dickson College will follow the attached Remote Learning Timetable. Students and their families will be sent a copy of their individual timetable on Thursday via email.
Navigating assessment during Remote Learning
The start of the Remote Learning period will trigger changes in how students learn and are assessed, mainly if the assessment cannot be completed online or at home. The Office of the ACT Board of Senior Secondary Studies (BSSS) have provided students and families with the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) document relating to assessment. Depending on the class and assessment type, our teachers may begin to modify assessments in consultation with their students from Friday.
BSSS FAQs for Students, Parents and Carers
Understanding the Remote Learning Timetable
Our Remote Learning Timetable attempts to balance two primary concepts to help students, and their teachers, manage their workload, wellbeing and other commitments during the lockdown. These two concepts are Synchronous Learning and Asynchronous Learning. By Synchronous learning, we mean scheduled classes, learning activities, teacher instruction and feedback, student discussion etc., occurring in real-time. And by Asynchronous, we mean time for student-paced learning activities, completion of assessment, time to ask individual questions to teachers and seek feedback, and time for teachers to check-in individually on student progress and provide feedback etc., as individually required. Please see the Remote Learning Guide that attempts to explain these two main ideas.
Student participation and student wellbeing check-ins during Remote Learning
During the Remote Learning period, roll marking will occur to track student participation during the scheduled class times on the timetable. Teachers, Pastoral Care Teachers, and Year-Coordinators will be also be completing regular check-ins with students, particularly if student attendance in scheduled online classes falls off. Teachers will also be tracking student participation through the completion of learning activities and assessment (either Synchronous or Asynchronous) during the remote learning period to satisfy course and unit requirements of the ACT Senior Secondary Certificate.
Office Hours during Lockdown and Remote Learning
The College is open daily but we are maintaining minimum numbers of staff onsite during the ACT Lockdown. Our front office hours during Remote Learning and while the ACT stays in Lockdown will be 9:30 - 3 pm Monday to Friday.
Regards
Craig Edwards
Principal
posted on 18 Aug 2021
Welcome back for term 3!
Tuesday 20 July - NAIDOC Week assembly
Thursday 12 August - Moderation Day. No classes, although Year 12 tertiary students will have an AST Trial at school.
Monday 30 August - Year 12 AST assembly line 3
Tuesday 31 August - Year 12 AST, Tests 1 and 2
Wednesday 1 September - Year 12 AST, Test 3
Monday 6 September to Wednesday 8 September - Crossline testing. Students attend classes if they have no tests.
Thursday 9 September and Friday 10 September - No classes
Thursday 16 September - Parent Teacher Night
This term ends Friday 17 September 2021.
posted on 15 Jul 2021
End of semester events
STEM tests begin Friday 11 June. Students attend classes on Friday 11 June if they do not have tests.
Last day of classes for semester 2 is Friday 11 June, with tests also held the following week.
Handback Day is Tuesday 22 June. Term ends Friday 25 June.
posted on 08 Jun 2021
Dickson College Information Night Thursday 20 May 2021 6pm to 8pm
Our 2021 Information Night was held on Thursday 20 May 6-8pm. The event was well attended by prospective students and their families. Both of the Principal’s Information sessions were fully booked (there was a COVID Safe limit of 400 persons per session). If you missed the presentation please see the slides and video below.
Information Night Presentation - PDF, 7606.41 KB
posted on 29 Apr 2021
Welcome back for term 2!
Thursday 22 April: Parent Teacher Evening 4.00pm - 7.00pm.
Monday 26 April: School closed - ANZAC Day Public Holiday.
posted on 22 Apr 2021
End of term events
Friday 26 March - Tuesday 30 March : STEM crossline testing. Students attend classes if they have no tests.
Tuesday 30 March: Last day of classes for term 1.
Wednesday 31 March: Year 12 AST trial (8.50am - 11.30am Short Response Test; 1.00pm - 3.45pm Multiple Choice Test).
Thursday 1 April: Year 12 AST trial (8.50am - 12pm Writing Task) and Year 11 AST trial (12.45pm - 3.45pm Multiple Choice Test).
Friday 2 April: School closed - Good Friday and start of school holidays.
Monday 19 April: Start of term 2.
Thursday 22 April: Parent Teacher Evening 4.00pm - 7.00pm.
Monday 26 April: School closed - ANZAC Day Public Holiday.
posted on 23 Mar 2021
BSSS Student Forum
2 nominated students from each college will be selected to take part in the BSSS (Board of Senior Secondary Studies) Student Forum. There will be 4 forums in 2021.
This student thinktank is a great opportunity for leadership. Nominations close 26 February 2021.
More information here.
posted on 25 Feb 2021
Parent Teacher Information Session
Come along to this informative session presented by principal Craig Edwards and find out more about the Year 12 certification system in the ACT. All welcome!
Date: Thursday 18 February 2021
Time: 5.30pm-7pm
Place: Dickson College Hall
posted on 11 Feb 2021
School Board Nominations
This year there are three vacancies opening for the School Board:
- 1 staff member position
- 1 parent member position
- 1 student member position
Each position is for a two year term.
Nominations will open 9am on Monday 8 February 2021 and close at 3:00pm Monday 22 February 2021. If you would like to be on the School Board, please complete the nomination form and email to DicksonC@ed.act.edu.au, mail to Dickson College, or drop it in at the front office between 9:00am and 3:00pm.
Voting will occur from 9:00am Monday 1 March 2021 until 3:00pm Tuesday 9 March 2021. Information about nominees will be available at the school and on the Dickson College website.
posted on 05 Feb 2021