Students sit VCE exams via generator, Bellarine schools face ‘significant’ absences
Students at St Ignatius College Geelong in Drysdale had to contend with yet another curveball thrown at them in their VCE studies.
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Generator-powered lights were brought in to allow some Bellarine VCE students to sit their exams on Friday morning, after storms ravaged the region causing power outages and uprooting trees.
While some relieved VCE students and teachers were largely able to undertake the Biology exam uninterrupted on Friday morning, students at St Ignatius College Geelong in Drysdale had to contend with yet another curveball thrown at them in their VCE studies.
“We faced the challenging situation of a power outage at school this morning and the aftermath of the wild weather with some fallen trees and limbs,” St Ignatius principal Michael Exton wrote to parents and carers on Friday.
“Due to the power outage, we changed the VCE Biology exam venue to the MacKillop Centre, which has better natural light. To improve the lighting downstairs, we added some portable lights powered by a portable generator.
“Our VCE Co-ordinator contacted VCAA and followed its process by completing an exam irregularity form.”
Mr Exton also urged students who felt the situation had hurt their performance to contact the school’s VCE co-ordinator.
Bellarine schools are experiencing “significant” absences, power outages and warning students not to walk home where possible, after storms savaged the region overnight and into Friday morning.
But, relieved VCE students and teachers were largely able to undertake their exams uninterrupted on Friday morning, as some Victorian schools were forced to do so in the dark.
Bellarine Secondary College principal Wayne Johannesen wrote to parents on Friday morning to inform them power had returned to the Drysdale Year 9-12 campus allowing VCE Biology exams to go ahead as scheduled, while power remained out at the Ocean Grove Year 7-8 campus.
“Class teachers are in many cases conducting modified lessons, given the significant absences today,” Mr Johannesen wrote.
“The VCE Biology exam is underway and we are now confident we can suitably conduct the Mathematics exam this afternoon. This is clearly a relief to all involved, most significantly our students.
“Unfortunately, the power is still off at our Ocean Grove campus.
“Arrangements are in place on both campuses to ensure students can spend lunch time indoors and out of the weather we are experiencing. We clearly discourage students from walking home at the end of the day, wherever possible, given the risks of fallen trees and power lines, particularly if the extreme weather continues.”
Elsewhere schools were forced to hold VCE exams in the dark in the aftermath of storms that battered Melbourne and much of Victoria.
Hundreds of schools were closed across Melbourne due to power outages but most did not cancel the VCE Biology exam at 9am and Further Maths exam at 2pm.
After coping with eight months of home schooling, repeated pandemic shutdowns, and an earthquake, embattled VCE students sat exams in “twilight” conditions in storm-ravaged schools on Friday morning.
Others were unable to make it to campus due to damaged homes, fallen trees and downed power lines, and are expected to receive a derived score.
Some schools started the Biology exam 30 minutes late — at 9.30am instead of 9am — and allowed students who came in late due to the hazardous conditions to have the full time.
The exact details have yet to be confirmed by the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority but it is expected many of the affected students will apply for additional special consideration.
Closed schools included Xavier College and Trinity Grammar in Kew, Donvale Christian College, Catholic Ladies’ College in Eltham, Balwyn High, Box Hill Senior Secondary College, John Paul College in Frankston and Beaconhills College in Pakenham.
One teacher said her school’s students sat in the “twilight”.
At Kyneton High School, students unable to get to school were asked to contact the campus so that alternative arrangements could be made.
Woodleigh School’s Minimbah Campus was closed but VCE exams proceeded.
A letter to the school asked students to avoid travelling to the Penbank and Senior Campuses due to “current weather conditions, multitudes of downed trees and road blockages”.
Beaconhills College issued a statement to its students saying wild weather had caused power outages at both Pakenham and Berwick campuses.
“For VCE exam students, we are still waiting on further guidance from VCAA and will advise families as soon as possible,” the statement says.
Schools in Casey have been left with no power and forced to close.
In a message to families and students on Friday morning, St Agathas Primary School Cranbourne principal Terry Cahill urged families to keep children at home.
“Due to the severe weather we have no power at school. If you’re able to keep your children home, please do so,” he said.
“We’ll be able to supervise students who do attend but until power comes back on there won’t be any lessons.
“We have a number of tree branches down around school but we’re yet to assess if there is any further damage.”
For the latest on the storm damage, click here.
Originally published as Students sit VCE exams via generator, Bellarine schools face ‘significant’ absences
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