Secondary
John XXIII Day
Every year the College set aside three weeks to celebrate our Founders; St Ignatius Loyola, Mary Ward and Pope John XXIII, this is known as Founders' Time. John XXIII day takes place on the final Friday and involves the entire school in the celebrations. The day begins with a Mass, followed by a variety of fun and games. It was great to see the magnificent celebratory spirit present on John XXIII Day.
Book Week - Reading is my secret power
Get involved in the wonderful activities taking place at the College next week to celebrate book week from 19-24 August.
Activities include edible words competition & book face photo competition. Drop off your cake on Thursday 22 August at the library and email your bookface entries to libraryhelpdesk@johnxxiii.edu.au.
There are also big games at lunchtime, Home Room quizzes and an author visit from A.J. Betts. Get involved and enter these fun competitions for your chance to win some prizes.
National Science Week
We have had a diverse range of fascinating, entertaining and engaging events and activities across the College for Science Week.
2020 Year 8-10 Course Selection
Next week Years 7-9 parents and students will receive electronic access to the relevant Curriculum Handbook for 2020. This is an ideal time to read about the various courses available, in particular the Option courses that students may choose to study next year. Following on from this will be additional information emailed to parents regarding the specific dates when the Subject Selection Online (SSO) software will be available for students to use to select their preferred Option courses for 2020.
Heads of Learning Area (HOLA) for the Option courses will speak with each year group about the specific courses that are available for study in 2020. This will provide students with additional information as well as the opportunity to ask any questions they may have.
Jessica Bouwman
Deputy Principal, Teaching & Learning
Year 12 Coaching
Year 12 students will receive the allocated times for their second last coaching session in the coming weeks. It is important students review the goals they had previously set and celebrate their successes whilst also creating specific goals for the remaining five weeks of term. For all students there is still an opportunity to improve their academic results, regardless of their starting point. It is crucial for students, particularly those who are unsatisfied with their current level of achievement to ensure they are focused and have specific accountable strategies in place to maximise their class time as well as out of school time. One of the key messages from high achieving students is to ensure you understand a concept before leaving the class – class time is to learn and after school time is to revise!
At this time in the school year, many Year 12 students struggle to maintain their motivation – they know they should be motivated as it is so close to the end however they struggle to find that inclination! There are many strategies students can use to help themselves such as ensuring their goals are very specific and therefore they can be held accountable; making all study focused on an explicit part of the course, for example a syllabus point from the course; plan time and be realistic – it is important students have a balance in their lives and include exercise, social, family and recreational time; if appropriate study with others – collaboration is an important life skill to develop; at the end of every study session have produced something, for example notes, a mind map, palm cards; ask questions in class of the teacher and other students to clarify understanding; celebrate all successes, don’t dismiss a good assessment result, affirm the good work you are doing as confidence breeds further success.
Jessica Bouwman
Deputy Principal, Teaching & Learning