Learning & Innovation

“Success does not come from what you do occasionally - 

it comes from what you do consistently” 

- Maree Forleo

As we settle into Term 1, this advice from American life coach Maree Forleo underpins the importance of the resilience required for students to succeed in their learning journey.

Through our Elevate sessions, we have provided students with strategies and tools that experience has shown to be helpful in both learning and studying as well as learning. Students will have the opportunity to continue to develop these skills to assist their learning. 

Whilst many of the strategies are not cutting edge, they are tried and tested. Students have been encouraged to set substantial but achievable goals that can be checked off to track progress. They have also been encouraged to develop a study timetable that divides the week into times of active study and time away from the desk to support learning through activities that nourish and promote wellbeing. Further, all students benefit from a suitable quiet place to study where all of the requirements to assist them are at hand and distractions are minimised as much as possible.

In meeting with our Stage 6 students earlier this term, I outlined ways they can set up for success in the HSC. The following strategies were explained: 

1. Daily revision of key concepts, definitions, quotes and formulas 

Our brain is a connection machine however for the connections to be formed an investment of time and energy is required to ensure these connections are well travelled and ready for easily recall under time pressure in the exam room. If the connections formed around a topic are weak, it will be difficult to perform at one's true potential in the exam room. 

To revise key concepts, definitions, quotes and formulas students were encouraged to: 

• Create flashcards and have a family member test them 
• Create a topic mind map on A3 paper and write out the mindmap under exam conditions until they know it perfectly

1. Regular practice with exam style questions/sections of exams

Once the content has been hardwired it’s time to strengthen connections by applying them to challenging exam style questions which will create even more of the connections students will require to perform to their true potential in the exam room. 

To practice exam style questions students are encouraged to: 

• Access past HSC exams on the NSW Education Standards Authority website
• Attempt practice exam questions and submit for feedback and marking.

For our Year 12 students it is important to note that the closer they are to the Trial HSC Exams and the final HSC exams, the more of these exam style tasks they need to be undertaking. Simulating the exam room is essential to being prepared for the actual exam room. Students should be building up to being able to complete an essay within 40 minutes under exam conditions and full exams within the time limit (90 mins through to 180 minutes) under exam conditions.

Students are also challenged to think carefully about their approach to learning. Only doing what is required, or albeit at the last minute, does not allow them the opportunity to extend their learning or to achieve their potential. Struggling with a new idea or a difficult question and pursuing it until a student gets on top of the issue is the most effective way of making significant progress in their learning journey. The growth mindset of “not yet” rather than “failure” is crucial to a positive outlook on learning. In learning from our mistakes we move in a new direction and are not defined by them. Often the small change pursued consistently will reap significant reward when adopted early.

2021 HSC High Achievers 

On Tuesday 8 March we celebrated the feast of our founder, St Brigid and as a community, we also had the opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the successes of our Graduating Class of 2021. 

The success we celebrated last week was a recognition of much work and considerable effort by members of the Class of 2021 and the many parents, teachers and fellow students who supported them. 

I would like to take this opportunity to again congratulate our Distinguished Achievers for 2021. Their tenacity and dedication to learning despite the challenges of 2021 was extraordinary. The 2021 HSC High Achievers are listed below. 

Distinguished Achievers 

Distinguished Achievers are those students who have achieved a result in the highest band for one or more courses. 

First in Sydney Catholic Schools 

The following students placed first in a course in Sydney Catholic Schools. 

Top Achievers

Students who are top achievers in a course have achieved one of the highest places in the state in an HSC course.

HSC All Rounders 

Our HSC All Rounders are the students who have achieved a result in the highest band possible in 10 or more units of their HSC Pattern of Study. 

Our HSC All rounders for 2021 are: 

Congratulations to all our 2021 Graduates on your remarkable success. 

Natasha Fox 

Director of Learning and Innovation