As we head to the end of a busy Term One our staff are working towards finalising assessment and exam marks and will complete an Interim Report, based on application to learning. This year the College has decided to make a change to the Homeroom comments. These comments will only be provided as part of the Semester One report card. This gives our students and teachers time to build their relationships and strengthen their commitment to their service hours and demonstrate their full potential. Our teachers provide continuous comments on student learning at the completion of an assessment task which can be found on Parent Lounge, and we encourage both students and parents and caregivers to engage with this feedback as the term concludes.
Finishing Strong
As we draw toward the close of Term One, we are heading into our peak assessment period. Our Year 5, 7 and 9’s are completing their NAPLAN testing and then we are straight into exam block. Our students are well prepared for NAPLAN by the good work our teachers are doing every day in the classroom. I would like to thank Megan Ellis, our Assistant Dean of Learning, our supervising staff and teachers, the Learning Office and Facilities teams for the preparation work that goes into making this time successful for all involved. Congratulations to our students who concluded testing today.
During Week 7 our Year 11 and 12 students and parents engaged with Darren from Success Integrated and the focus was on the power of a growth or positive mindset, good study habits and routines and how parents can support their son in those final two years of schooling.
On Tuesday Arian Gates and Michael Neumann delivered the following message to our assembly to share the messages from their Success Integrated sessions:
For us to do our best in the final two weeks the focus needs to be on keeping a positive frame of mind. As William James (a psychologist and philosopher) says “The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another”. Gents, stress is a normal reaction but how we respond during stressful times is what makes the difference. Reframing our thoughts to be those that indicate growth like:
We all have choices over the way we think. How will you make good choices about the way you think heading into exams?
Along with a growth mindset the other factors we can control are our sleep, exercise and how we work and learn together. Without sleep we lack energy, are irritable and struggle to concentrate. Get in early with the study so you're not up late at night cramming for your exams and feeling the effects the next day. You’ll feel better, and your ability to think clearly will be vastly improved in the morning. The bottom line is that sleep is an important ally in the process of learning.
Make time for exercise. Even though it feels like time away from the books is the enemy, exercise has such a positive effect on our brain function both long term and short term. Go to the gym with Mr Rankin in the afternoon to take your mind off schoolwork. Hit the cricket nets with your mates for an hour to break up your assignment work. When you are tackling the challenges of study, exercise helps your concentration, improving your mood sleep. When you find yourself looking for an energy drink switch it out for some exercise and spark your alertness that way and reap the long-term benefits as well.
And finally, put some variety in your study and work with others. Enhance our learning culture by working with each other in and out of the classroom. Studying with mates helps increase confidence and builds accountability as long as you’ve got a clear plan as to what you’ll work on. Building a study group might be the difference this term.
Remember to keep working hard right to the end.
Ms Liana Baillie
Dean of Learning
