Dean of Studies
“Place, Pace and Space!”
Last week, I held a meeting with Year 11 ATAR students on preparing for examinations, as many of our students have been making the adjustments to the expectations of being a Senior School student. The fundamental message delivered to the students is that, “preparation is the foundation for success”. More importantly, this message is not the exclusive property of Year 11 and 12 ATAR students and can therefore, be applied to all. One of the slides that was presented was titled, “The Twelve Steps to (Academic) Success”, and was divided into: Nightly Routine; Parents and Friends; Exam Study Schedule and Self, (see table below) and provides practical strategies that students can use immediately:
Nightly Routine
This can be adapted and simplified further for students in all year levels and at all stages of their academic journey, into the mantra, “Place, Pace and Space!”. Quite simply, Place is about where you do your study and homework; Pace requires you to set achievable goals of study time and maintain balance; and Space is a reminder to put distance between the studious you and the distractions that can tempt if nearby. As with all new strategies, effort and practice is what contributes to long-term personal success, and there will be more about this in the next newsletter.
Semester One Examination Information (Year 11 – 12)
With many students commencing examinations next week, it is important to be familiar with the procedures for the Semester One Examinations, as outlined below:
1. Candidates should aim to arrive twenty (20) minutes before the starting time.
a) Please be aware that students who qualify for extra time must commence the examination ten (10) minutes before the scheduled start time.
2. Bags must be placed in the locker and will NOT BE ALLOWED in the Examination venue.
3. Students must remain silent when they enter the Examination venue.
4. Ensure that all drinks are in clear plastic bottles with all labels removed.
a) Only water is allowed in drink bottles
5. Mobile phones will NOT be permitted under any circumstance.
a) Any student with a mobile phone must turn the phone off and place it in the box provided on the supervisors desk.
6. Students will be provided with sufficient time to check their equipment (when necessary).
a) Calculators and notes for Mathematics examinations may require extra preparation time.
b) Mathematics notes are not to be folded, creased or glued together.
c) A student is permitted two A4 (double sided) sheets as a maximum.
7. Use of the toilet
a) Toilet visits are only permitted AFTER the first hour.
b) Toilet visits are NOT permitted during the final thirty (30) minutes.
c) Only ONE toilet visit should be necessary during an examination.
d) Toilet visits are not a right and should ONLY be used as an emergency.
8. When Reading Time commences, no writing is permitted during this period.
9. At the conclusion of Reading Time, candidates will be informed that the Working Time has commenced.
St Norbert Day – Friday 15th June
The celebration of the entry to eternal life for St Norbert is June 6th and it is traditional for the College to mark the occasion with a day of celebration. This year the College will celebrate St Norbert Day on Friday 15th June (Week 7) with the following arrangements:
8:45am - Homeroom
9:10am - College Mass
10:15am - Morning Tea – House Gathering
10:40am - St Norbert Day – Activity Group Meeting
11:10am - Staff vs Students (Soccer)
11:50am - Depart for St Norbert Day Activity
3:15pm - College Dismissal
All students should have signed up for an activity, please attend Student Services if you have not yet completed your sign up, as the transport arrangements are now being made. An important reminder is that any student that is being collected directly from their St Norbert Day activity MUST provide written permission PRIOR to attending the activity.
Mr R Dowling (Dean of Studies)