Newsletter

Senior Years

Sarah Whitwam

VCE Team Leader

Study Planning

Revision Lectures

Many organisations and Universities host revision lectures over the July and September holidays. We recommend students attend these sessions. The July revision sessions are the perfect opportunity to consolidate Unit 3 and look ahead to Unit 4.   All information is available on the Compass Newsfeed, there are posters in the study centre and students are welcome to discuss any information with their teachers and the VCE team. Many of the providers have general study skills and getting organised sessions - well worth a look!

Study Planner for the holidays

The holidays are a great opportunity to tidy up loose ends, consolidate the work from semester one and prepare for what is ahead.

A really good study habit for the holidays is to align your study schedule with the regular routine of the school week. While we understand it is very important for students to have a break, we all need to recharge, it is also wise to schedule your study to spend time in each subject equally. It is easy to do the subjects we love, however ensure  you are giving time to the subjects that challenge you as well, it is important to specifically pencil the subject blocks into your study planner.

Approaching your study planner

  • Mark in the things you love to do, meet with friends, walk the dog, go to the movies etc.
  • Mark in your work roster and any other obligations.
  • Schedule in your study blocks. Keep as close to possible to your school week, schedule a variety of subjects in each day. Break up the sessions with a little break, then return and apply yourself again. Keep it interesting. (If your struggling use the pomodora method).

When studying if you feel your work is up to date- put your knowledge to the test!

Flash cards, practice questions, quizzes, exam questions, teach someone else.

Allow yourself to establish your learning through practice.

Year 11 Learn to Learn – Overcoming Procrastination

 

  • Do you procrastinate?
  • Would you call yourself a procrastinator?
  • When are you most likely to procrastinate?
  • What do you do when you are procrastinating?

https://www.lifehacker.com.au/2014/07/productivity-101-a-primer-to-the-pomodoro-technique/

 

 

Recently in Learn to Learn, students asked themselves these questions, and we discussed the fact that procrastination is normal – everybody does it. However, procrastination can lead to missed opportunities and prevent us from reaching our goals if we don’t find ways to overcome it. Students then learned how to use the Pomodoro Technique (find out where the name comes from here) as a way to overcome procrastination. The Pomodoro Technique overcomes procrastination by breaking tasks into 25 minute blocks. The steps are:

  1. Get your space ready – remove distractions
  2. Set a goal for 25 minutes
  3. Write the goal down and keep it next to you
  4. Set a timer for 25 minutes
  5. Work on the goal for 25 minutes, writing down any distractions so you can deal with them later
  6. Cross the task off your list
  7. Take a five minute break
  8. Start again!
  9. After four pomodoros, take a 30 minute break

This technique helps to overcome procrastination because it:

  • externalises the decision to study by using a timer  – students do not need to continuously “decide” to keep studying, as they just need to work until the time is up
  • narrows the scope of the task – instead of feeling overwhelmed by everything they need to do, students need to focus on achieving just one goal in the time allotted
  • makes tasks less painful – you can do anything for 25 minutes!

Students completed one pomodoro during the Learn to Learn session. The next step for our students is to remember to use this technique when they need to get things done – it really works! Please encourage your child to apply this technique to help them manage their study. If you’re interested in finding out more, this video or this website are great places to start.

Senior school students Making a Mark

Mikayla Underwood: Nominee Wellington Youth Awards 2019

Mikayla aspires to be a physio therapist and to enter this pathway through the Defence Force and is eagerly anticipating the possibility. She is currently studying Unit 3 and 4 Biology, PE, Further Maths, Health and Human Development and English this year. Mikayla is not only a diligent student she also works tirelessly to coach Volleyball Yr 7 - 12 girls and boys teams for Maffra Secondary College and the local Maffra Association Volleyball teams. She dedicates 2 hours a week out of her busy Yr 12 schedule to volunteer and also plays for the Maffra Volleyball Association as well. Along with this Mikayla is a dedicated student and inspires others around her to contribute to the school and local community in a positive way.

Mikayla is incredibly humble, taking each success in her stride. In local volleyball she has excelled being named in the All Star 7 team at Country Champs three times in as many years and she has been part of the Under 17 State team in 2017 and selected for the  Australian Junior Selection Camp in 2016.  She is a young person that would always cast a positive light on those around her and not realise how much her commitment and positive contribution to the school and community means to others. She is a good communicator and a considered thinker. She works hard as she aspires to do well. People turn to her for support and as her coordinator I value her thoughts and find myself asking her opinion and gleaning her ideas about things that are happening.

Lucy Capurso: Nominee Wellington Youth Awards 2019

Lucy is an inspiring young person who uses visual and performing arts to communicate to a vast audience. She is a confident and compelling communicator and a deep thinker who applies a creative layer to a deep passion for environmental activism. She supports others to be their best, encouraging and inspiring both staff and students around her. Lucy’s integrity encourages those around her to not be complacent with the status quo. Her drive passion is leading her to a career in Environmental Science.

Lucy is an active participant in the local performing arts community and a creative visual artist. She has taken lead roles in the school productions and been a core performer in Groundworks Youth Theatre in Stratford as well as taking up any other performance opportunities as they arise. Lucy has performed for Groundworks in youth theatre competitions and has performed internationally. Lucy is also a beautiful visual artist whose work with pencil and pastel leaves a touch of beauty around the school.

Raiden O’Connor: Nominee Wellington Youth Awards 2019

Raiden is completing a traineeship with VEET and his Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning. He is a respectful and conscientious young man who is a role model for his peers and for younger students. He is calm, respectful and has a considered approach to his work, studies and interaction with others.

Raiden is currently undertaking VCAL and was selected to be part of the VEET training program with Ausnet. He has completed his Certificate two in Electrotechnology and has worked at a variety of workplacements, gathering experience and understanding of the trade he wants to pursue. He has successfully completed placements with distinction..  He also has excelled at a part time job, Maffra Panel Beaters. Raiden works hard in his class and is identified as a leader in the VCAL program. He has been a key driver of the skatepark project and is able to positively influence his peers, encouraging them to constantly improve on what they do, He has aspirations to succeed in his field of electrotechnology and is methodically developing the skills and certificates he needs to build and establish his career path. He is measured with his decision making and has a good sense of self .

Raiden demonstrates leadership qualities with out realising he is a leader. For example he has been seen as a mediator of conflict resolutions, guide and advise peers when problem solving, collaborating, and planning. He is a good listener who seeks and takes on feedback actively. All of these are qualities represent a good leader in our school community and beyond.

HEYWIRE IVAN REES

The year 2019. A year that gave me many achievements I never thought I will have or even being close to achieving it. From just being nobody into somebody that will make an impact. Earlier this year I never thought that a simple story will even be recognised and even better being a winning story to the whole region of Gippsland.  An ABC storytelling competition for regional Australians called HEYWIRE. It made one of the best and unforgettable experiences I never think I will have. This experience is a money can’t buy experience because you’ll never thought that a simple story can make a change. During the HEYWIRE experience a week long and all expense trip to Canberra, I met many storytellers that are inspiring and encouraging to hear and learn from. During the week we were given a chance to stay in the Athlete's village in the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS). We went to Parliament house where we meet our local MPs and other politicians and then to Government house where we met the Governor-General and Lady Cosgrove. Throughout the week we didn’t just meet politicians but we tackled and came up with some ideas on how to solve the issues regional young Australians are experiencing. All of our ideas that we created we presented our first drafts to different Australian Government Departments who later gave us some feedback on what we can include in our final projects. Which we will present to Parliament house to present to the public and to all Australian Government workers.

During our final night with the HEYWIRE experience we had our HEYWIRE gala dinner where we celebrated all our hard work from the week and acknowledging everyone. During the night there are two chosen winners to represent and give a speech at the dinner Gala and I never thought that I will be one of them alongside my new best friend during the experience.

At first I said that I will meet many storytellers and become friends but I was wrong, because by the end of it, the word Good Bye became hard for all of us to say because we all became a family that is hard to let go, just that quick, because we made many memories that no one will ever take away. 

That is why even now we all still connect and talk through messages and even video chats just to see how everyone is going because you wouldn’t just have a friend on this experience but another family.

 

As for 2019 I never thought it will be a busy but fun year for me because after the HEYWIRE experience I flew straight overseas to go back to my old school to give a speech to inspire the current students on how their dreams can come true by just believing in themselves. I caught up with some of my old teachers and catching up with what has been happening throughout the years. I never imagined seeing them since then and how shocked they all were when they saw me. 

After going back overseas I got a call from the producers of ABC who told me that I’m one of the winners which will have the opportunity to film their stories and be featured through TV and social media. It took a bit of planning and confirmation of dates but everything went well through the days of the filming.

This year has given me many opportunities that I never thought would happen.

With every dream you have, never give up on them because those dreams will come true, even the least you expect it.  Just trust and believe in yourself like how I believed in myself.

Also be thankful to everything and everyone that help you throughout that journey because they will be the one that will help and inspire you throughout that dream as what everyone did for me. It might be your parents, teachers, friends and even social and sporting clubs they will always be there for you to help you achieve those dreams.