Winsome overcomes COVID disruptions with 99.6 ATAR

After two years of COVID disrupted learning, West Gippsland school principals have praised VCE students for their resilience and successes in this year’s results.

Some local students dealt with COVID isolation as they prepared for final exams while others undertook exams in isolated rooms at schools.

But after remote learning consumed a significant portion of their VCE years, local students welcomed Australian Tertiary Admission Rankings (ATAR) on Thursday.

Some outstanding results were achieved across West Gippsland secondary schools, with Marist Sion College student Winsome Sheehy taking out the area’s top score with a 99.6 ATAR.

Winsome achieved two perfect study scores of 50 for English and religion and society, a 48 for health and human development, 44 in history and 42 in further mathematics.

College principal Peter Houlahan said Winsome was a bright and hardworking student who was now considering her options for where to study law.

Mr Houlahan said the 2021 results were the best the school had achieved in four years with 22 per centre achieving ATARs over 80 and 39 per cent scored 70 or more.

“We are very proud of our students for the manner in which they have persisted in their efforts.

“The class of 2021 endured two years of COVID in their senior schooling, successfully completing VCE or VCAL as they supported one another through their challenges,” he said.

Warragul’s Olivia Konstanty, a student at Nossal College, Berwick achieved an ATAR of 99.

After studying years seven and eight at Warragul Regional College, Olivia transferred to Nossal and now has a scholarship to study commerce at Deakin Burwood.

Chairo Christian School’s Drouin campus dux was Toby Gale, with an ATAR of 98.85.  He plans to study science at Melbourne University.

Principal Judy Linossier said Toby’s impressive results were testament to his excellent study habits, curiosity for learning and sustained effort over his years of schooling.

Overall, 21 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 worked hard and demonstrated perseverance, resilience and flexibility, adapting exceptionally well to the ever-changing circumstances they faced in another challenging year,” Mrs Linossier said.

St Paul’s Anglican Grammar School dux was Annabelle Rajasingham with an ATAR of 98.8.  She has applied to study medicine.

Principal Cameron Herbert said the school was incredibly proud of the way the class of 2021 managed the complexities of the past two COVID years. 

“While hardly an ideal way to finish their formal schooling, their focused approach to their studies never wavered and they managed online learning, internet reliability issues and personal circumstances with maturity and good humour,” he said.

Other high achievers for St Paul’s included Tanvi Atla (98.75), Daniel Gallagher (97.25), Tahlia Pemberton (97.1) and Isabella Watts (97.05).

Mr Herbert said 23 per cent of students achieved an ATAR over 90 while 61 per cent achieved an ATAR more than 70.

Trafalgar High School’s Ellie de van der Schueren was named dux with a 97.9 ATAR.

Principal Jane Mersey said Ellie had worked really hard and was a student that had given back to her community in various roles.

Ms Mersey said Ellie had received a Kwong Lee Dow scholarship in year 10 and a Hanson scholarship this year which will allow her to study a bachelor of arts at Melbourne University with a major in psychology.

Seven per cent of Trafalgar’s year 12 students received an ATAR above 90, 12 per cent above 80 and 34 per cent above 70.

“It’s been the most difficult two years and they have shone through and proved how resilient they are,” she said.

St Thomas Aquinas College dux was Brandon Youngman with an ATAR of 92.7. 

Principal Fr Andrew Cranshaw said the students achieved “really good results considering the challenges they faced.”

He said 17 per cent of the group achieved an ATAR over 90, 25 per cent was over 80 and 42 per cent over 70.

Drouin Secondary College dux was Alayna Kennedy who achieved an ATAR of 90.35 and plans to study journalism.

Principal Liz Godwin said they were really happy with the results.

“We had some really high achievers and we were really impressed with the students’ dedication and consistent approach to their studies during a difficult two years,” she said.

Neerim District Secondary College dux was Dakota Dawson with an ATAR of 72.25.  Dakota plans to study primary education.

Principal Jacqui Veal said their year 12 group had been affected as close contacts of a COVID case and were in isolation going into exams, making a difficult year even more challenging.

She said means scores in this year’s results had improved on last year.

Warragul Regional College principal Nicole Pryor said they were very pleased with how students had worked during two years of disrupted learning.

“We are very proud with what they’ve achieved and there are some strong pathways into jobs,” she said.

She said a large number of students had already signed onto apprenticeships and traineeships which was very pleasing.

Dux for the college was Tara Howell who has applied to study psychology and marketing at Deakin University.