High achievers in VCE results

The highest score achieved in the region was 99.50 to a St Paul’s Anglican Grammar student who wished to remain anonymous.

Evan McCluskey of Warragul was dux of Warragul Regional College with an ATAR of 96.95, Jake Cardillo of Warragul achieved 96.45 to be dux of Marist-Sion College, Sadira Snell of Warragul was dux of Trafalgar High School with 95.15, Jacob York of Longwarry achieved 94.35 to be dux of Chairo Christian School, and Cade Deszcz was dux of Drouin Secondary College with 91.8.

St Paul’s Anglican Grammar Principal Cameron Herbert said the results were better than expected.

Mr Herbert said outstanding scores were recorded by Sarah Blyth of Warragul South (98.95), Annie Guo of Moe (98.50) and Lachlan Martino of Traralgon (98.25) and Kaveesha Jayasuriya of Traralgon (98.15).

Other very high achievers from West Gippsland included Cleo Seinen of Drouin (95.8), Paige Blyth of Warragul South (95.45), Emma Wong of Yarragon South (94.9), Claire Coots of Trafalgar (94.85), Jonathan Charles of Warragul (94.75), Chloe Majstorovic of Yarragon (94.65), Samuel Schreyer of Warragul (93.35), Sienna Vanderzalm of Warragul (93.15), Ella Attard of Neerim East (92.35), Kelsey Hollier of Yarragon (91.85) and Alexandra ElderHackford of Warragul (91.15).

Forty-eight per cent were in the top 20 per cent, the median ATAR was 76.75 and 14 per cent had a study score equal to or better than 40 – double the 7.2 per cent from 2016.

Year 11 student Sage Hyde of Warragul achieved 50 in Philosophy and Lydia Reiske of Yinnar achieved 50 in English.

Warragul Regional College Dux Evan McCluskey studied a variety of subjects for his ATAR of 96.95, said principal Nicole Pryor.

“We’re proud of how all our students went,” said Ms Pryor. “We had some very good 40 plus results across a variety of subjects. Quite a few students performed very, very highly.

The school will celebrate the results and scholarships at its presentation night on Wednesday.

Ms Pryor congratulated the student leadership group supported by the VCE group. She said the students were close, established positive relationships with teachers and good role models for younger students. Marist-Sion College Principal Peter Houlahan congratulated dux Jake Cardillo who aims to pursue engineering after achieving 96.45.

Molly Hickmott of Longwarry North scored 94.05 and wants to study medicine.

“The median study score is 30 which we’re happy with,” he said. “The group worked very hard, we’re very proud of their efforts and the fine young people they have become.”

“They are a coherent, supportive and positive group of young people who will make a wonderful difference in their world.”

Mr Houlahan acknowledged the efforts of the VCAL students, many of whom have already achieved employment in their chosen fields. Trafalgar High School Principal Jane Mersey said the 95.15 score from dux Sadira Snell was “very well deserved, she has worked really hard”.

Sadira wants to study a double degree in Law and Social Studies specialising in human rights at Monash University.

To highlight her commitment, Sadira is currently in Indonesia volunteering at a school.

“We were pretty pleased with our results,” said Ms Mersey, adding the percentage of students who achieved ATARs above 90 and 80 were the strongest in recent years. Twenty-three per cent achieved an ATAR above 80.

“The group as a whole is a very well-focused group, hardworking group. They’ve got the results they’ve deserved; they’ve done very well.” Chairo Christian School Drouin campus dux Jacob York achieved 94.35 and plans to study Indonesian and literature.

Having already completed Literature in 2018, Jacob studied English, Physical Education (for which he scored 46), Indonesian Second Language and Mathematical Methods.

“Jacob’s very impressive results are testament to his diligence, commitment, excellent study habits and eagerness to learn,” said principal Judy Linossier. “He is a student of high integrity who served our school community well and displayed a selfless attitude.”

Overall, 29 per cent of Chairo’s students achieved an ATAR over 80.

“We are proud of all our graduating VCAL and VCE students. They are a wonderful group of young people who led our campus well, and we are confident they will transition effectively into the next stage of life,” said Mrs Linossier.

Drouin Secondary College Principal Deb Gentle congratulated dux Cade Deszcz who achieved outstanding results in English, maths methods, specialist maths, computing software development and physics to achieve an ATAR of 91.80.

Cade plans will study engineering and science.

“Overall we are really pleased with this cohort,” said Ms Gentle. “They have worked very hard and it’s an improvement on last year’s results. We’re always happy to see our kids getting better over time.”

She said 16 per cent achieved with a study score over 40 and 32 per cent achieved an ATAR above 70. The mean study score was 28.3.

Cade will be presented to the college at the presentation night on Wednesday. The top 10 per cent of students will also receive academic awards.

Neerim District Secondary College

Although not releasing the dux, Neerim District Secondary College executive principal Brett Windsor said the school was happy with its results and proud of what the students had achieved.

He believed a vast majority of students had achieved the scores required to get them into the course they were looking at.

“They’ve just been a really good close-knit group of students. “They’ve been good fun and the relationships they’ve built with staff has been of really high quality.”

* St Thomas Aquinas College in Tynong was contacted but is closed for the year.