From the Deputy Principal, Secondary

Student, Parent, Teacher Learning Conversations

Wednesday 4 September 2019, 2:00pm – 8:00pm
Please note students will be dismissed at 1:00pm

Recently you received information regarding the login procedures for booking your time slots for the Student, Parent, Teacher Learning Conversations. These were distributed to your son to bring home. When you receive your login, please take the opportunity to book, as the partnership we develop with families is a critical element to your son’s success.

The conversations are not built on a deficit model but begin from a strengths-based approach. The aim of the evening is to keep your son central to the discussion, to ensure that his needs, developmental stage, strengths and perspective are considered and listened to.

A strengths-based approach is one founded on the following beliefs:

All people have strengths and capacities.
People change and grow through their strengths and capacities.
People are the experts on their own situation.
The problem is the problem: the person is not the problem.
Problems can blind people from noticing and appreciating their strengths and the capacity to find their own solutions.
People have good intentions.
People are doing the best they can.

A strengths-based approach does not mean issues or concerns are not raised – rather it includes strengths in the conversation and ensures that the negative aspects are not the sole focus of the conversation. Often solutions to problems can be found when strengths are identified. It can also be a way to enable the conversation to keep moving forward and not become stuck in negativity and helplessness.

SEQTA

Just a reminder to download the SEQTA app and check your Direqt messages. From a school perspective we can see which parents have not opened their Direqt messages. Given this is the primary way of communicating with you about your son, we would like to see that all parents are checking their SEQTA messages and tracking the progress of their son.

Timetable

Shorty you will receive a copy of your son’s 2020 preliminary subjects. There will be a window to allow for changes to subject selections based on timetable availability. Whilst not every subject can run, we try to accommodate boys into alternative subjects that complement their strengths. This year the overwhelming majority of SACE students selected from the sciences, mathematics and English.

Intercol

Last week we celebrated a highly successful Intercol week. I wish to thank Mr Michael Parrella for his organisation of the week.

Surviving Year 12

Year 12 is considered by some to be the most important year of schooling. There is an enormous amount of pressure on Year 12 students and it comes from parents, teachers, schools and the students themselves. There are a number of ways parents can support their children as they work through their final year of schooling.

More information about how you can help your son through these final few weeks can be accessed at: http://resources.beyondblue.org.au/prism/file?token=BL/1292

Blessings and peace.

Mr David Ruggiero (BPS'92)

Deputy Principal, Secondary (7-12)