Dear Parents and Carers,
VCE can be an exciting and demanding time. Your child is managing increased workload, assessment pressure, part-time work, friendships, family commitments, and their own expectations of themselves. Families can make a real difference by providing steady support, encouragement, and a calm environment around study and wellbeing.
A few helpful things to keep in mind at home:
Regular routines around sleep, meals, movement, study, rest, and social connection can support concentration, memory, mood, and motivation.
- Sleep is especially important during VCE, and regular bedtimes with enough hours of sleep can help young people stay alert, manage emotions, retain information, and cope better with stress.
- Three nourishing meals a day, along with regular water intake, help young people maintain energy, focus, and mood across the school day and during study.
- Movement does not need to be intense; even walking, stretching, sport, or time outside can help reduce stress and support clearer thinking.
- Breaks are part of effective learning, not a distraction from it. Short breaks can help young people reset their attention and return to study with more focus.
- Social connection also matters. Time with friends, family, and trusted adults can help young people feel supported and less alone during stressful periods.
- Night-time screen use can affect sleep and wellbeing. Keeping devices out of the bedroom after bedtime, or setting some limits around social media and scrolling, can be helpful when screen use starts to interfere with rest.
- A visible weekly planner can also reduce stress by helping young people map out study blocks, SAC preparation, homework, paid work, sport, social time, breaks, meals, and sleep.
- When young people feel overwhelmed, it can help to gently bring things back to one manageable step: “What is the next small thing you need to do?” This can feel more supportive than focusing on what has not yet been done.
- Encouragement is powerful when it focuses on effort and learning, not only results. Noticing persistence, problem-solving, asking for help, attending classes, using feedback, and getting started when things feel hard can help young people build confidence.
Families may also notice when their child seems unusually withdrawn, overwhelmed, tired, irritable, disengaged, or is experiencing ongoing changes in sleep, appetite, attendance, motivation, or concentration. These can be signs that extra support may be needed.
To further support young people in building confidence, resilience, and success in VCE, the school is offering two wellbeing and learning programs:
VCE Focus is an evidence-based practice that helps reduce stress and increase focus. It runs weekly on Wednesdays at lunchtime.
VCE Master Your Mind is a 5 week program to support young people to build strengths in diligence, structure, effective learning habits, motivation, organisation, confidence, and success.
Both programs are designed to support VCE success by helping young people strengthen their mindset, manage pressure, and develop practical tools for learning and wellbeing.
We encourage families to talk with their child about these opportunities and support their participation. If you have any concerns about your child’s wellbeing or would like further information, please contact us.
Elevation Secondary College Wellbeing Team