Learn about our Hillcrest VLC program
Our Virtual Learning Community (VLC) offers students an innovative learning opportunity that caters to their unique strengths and interests. We focus on wellbeing — with an emphasis on educating the whole child to promote a true sense of belonging within a virtual environment.
SECRET Skills framework
Our program follows the innovative, research-based ‘SECRET Skills’ framework (Self-Manager, Effective Participator, Creative Thinker, Reflective Learner, Enquirer, Team Worker). This framework ensures every VLC student will complete their education, equipped with the skills they need to become lifelong learners, capable of adapting to an ever-changing world.
Individual pathways
We create individual learning plans for every student within our VLC, in conjunction with teachers and parents. These individual pathways are adaptable to students’ learning needs, so they can work at a pace appropriate to their development, take time to consolidate vital content or skill development, or work on more complex enrichment tasks.
Innovation
Students complete engaging and interactive modules. Unlike traditional subjects, these modules provide an integrated approach to learning, allowing students to make connections to the world around them. Students in many year levels can earn micro-credentials for unit completion.
Belonging
Our platform enables students to establish authentic and meaningful connections with other students and staff. Unlike some distance education providers with large student to teacher ratios, our intentional class sizes provide students with an opportunity to network and create deeper peer relationships. On-campus social and enrichment opportunities mean local students can also meet up and strengthen online friendships.
Prep - Year 4
We support our Junior VLC students to form a strong foundation of literacy and numeracy skills. Through our innovative I Love Reading (ILR) program, teachers take the complexity out of learning to read, so students can focus on reading to learn. With programs written and delivered by specialist and core teachers, Junior VLC students can access enriching, integrated and interactive at-home projects that showcase their emerging skills and abilities.
All core Australian Curriculum subjects are studied, including English, Mathematics, Science, Humanities and Social Sciences (HaSS), Technologies, The Arts, Languages, and Health and Physical Education (HPE). VLC students participate in Life Groups, where they form rich relationships in a non-academic, social environment to develop an essential feeling of belonging. Students also participate in Christian Living, online Gathering (Chapel) and Assemblies.
Years 5 - 8
Our Middle VLC students are at the age of physical, emotional, social and spiritual change. We support our Middle VLC students to build on their foundational knowledge and skills by engaging in Design-Centred Learning (DCL) projects. These projects put them in the driver’s seat of their educational journey, investigating relevant issues, brainstorming and iterating solutions, creating action plans, and reflecting on possible impacts on the local and broader community.
All Australian Curriculum subjects are studied in our Middle VLC program. English and Mathematics are taught both in explicit Literacy and Numeracy blocks, and integrated into DCL projects with other subjects such as Science, HaSS, Technologies, Arts, and Health and Physical Education (HPE). Students also study an additional language.
Going beyond curriculum content, students in the Middle VLC focus on developing their SECRET Skills as they create a portfolio of evidence that showcases their growing skills. Students ‘deep dive’ into their learning, working towards earning micro-credentials for completion of units. Students also participate in Christian Living lessons, online Gathering (Chapel), Assemblies and Life Group. All Middle VLC students participate in a yearly camp as part of their curriculum program.
Years 9 - 12
Senior VLC is the final phase of schooling, with a distinct focus on providing students with a foundation for post-school work and study options. It is a time when students’ identity begins to take a more defined form as they approach maturity and adulthood.
Students are guided through the art of goal-setting, and meeting the higher expectations of independence, responsibility, self-motivation and self-discipline. We provide Senior VLC students with opportunities to explore their personal interests and strengths, while preparing them for the next phase of learning and life beyond our College.
Across Years 9 and 10, students partake in core Australian Curriculum subjects including English, Mathematics, Science, History, Civics and Citizenship, Economics and Business, and Health and Physical Education, as well as choosing from electives such as Visual Arts, French and Digital Technologies. In Years 11 and 12, the VLC provides a range of subjects leading to QCE eligibility, as well as ATAR and non-ATAR pathways. We facilitate students accessing VET courses as part of their pathway, such as Certificates or Diplomas.
All Senior students participate in Christian Living lessons, online Gathering (Chapel), Assemblies and Life Group. All Senior VLC students participate in a yearly camp.
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Keeping wellbeing at the forefront
We understand that some students may find it challenging to build meaningful connections when learning in a virtual environment. For this reason, we have implemented wellbeing initiatives that support students to create important relationships with other peers within the program.
Keeping wellbeing at the forefront
We understand that some students may find it challenging to build meaningful connections when learning in a virtual environment. For this reason, we have implemented wellbeing initiatives that support students to create important relationships with other peers within the program.
