Dean of Studies

The Science of Timing​

The Semester One Academic Report provides the opportunity to review student effort, evaluate the achievement of academic goals and provide a benchmark to measure personal improvement going into Semester Two. Part of this process of review may be directed inwards, by examining the measures that help build success – namely sleep and recovery. In his recent book, When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing, Daniel Pink examines the research and science behind the structures of day-to-day living, exploring what we do, why we do it and when might be the optimal time to perform particular tasks. He also discusses the studies (pp. 26–30) conducted by neuroscientists and chronobiologists on the ‘peaks’ and ‘troughs’ of mood, energy and concentration that occur to people throughout their day, concluding that we all fall into one of three categories or chronotypes (a personal pattern of circadian rhythm that influences our physiology and psychology):

• Owls –  Wake long after sunrise; detest mornings; don’t begin to peak until late afternoon or early evening; often observed with adolescents; more likely in males,
• Larks –  Rise easily and feel energised during the day but wear out by evening; often prevalent in young children; more likely in females; more prevalent in adults over 50 years of age (male and female).
• Third Birds – Somewhere in the middle (as demonstrated in a normal population distribution).

What might be the implications for secondary school students if we consider these studies? Some commentators discuss the merits of adjusting the school and/or working day, although this is unlikely to change for schools in the immediate future. Other insights discussed reflect upon the types of tasks that may be better suited to different times of the day (the science of ‘when’).

The idea that our brains are best suited to solving analytical problems when we are more alert and less likely to be distracted, would typically be conducted earlier in our day, while problems that require insight and ‘inspiration’, as described by Daniel Pink as the, "flash of illuminance" are more likely to occur when our guard is down.

“At those looser moments, a few distractions can help us spot connections we might have missed when our filters where tighter,” (p. 25).

This research therefore suggests that innovation and creativity, the emerging key skills for the future of work, are greatest when we are not necessarily at our best in terms of energy, focus and mood. The challenge for our students is to apply these principles to homework, study and revision, commencing with the task of determining our own chronotype, then structuring a study plan that targets particular subjects and types of tasks according to times of the day. As an example, a student may be better suited to focusing on Mathematics in the morning, utilising a brief before-school study session, and then directing attention to open-ended writing tasks in the late afternoon or early evening. A student may also benefit from scheduling more yet shorter ‘chunks’ of study, rather than trying to conduct lengthy study periods where energy levels drop away.

Academic Distinctions

At the recent College Assembly, the Academic Distinction and the Ad Omnia Paratus awards for Semester One were presented. The Academic Distinction is awarded to a student on the basis of achieving 100 points that is calculated in the following manner:

              Extension      Mainstream      Enrichment      Unstreamed

A                    10                          7                            4                             10

B                      9                           6                            3                               9

C                      8                           5                            2                               8

The point system was introduced in Semester 2, 2016 to calculate Academic Distinctions in Years 8 – 10, and takes into consideration the stream that a student is studying, and for Year 7 students achieving a majority of ‘A’ grades with no grades less than a ‘B’ (e.g. minimum of ‘A’ and ‘B’ grades). The Ad Omnia Paratus Award is awarded to students achieving a minimum 85% of ‘Excellent’ in the working attributes for each subject. Congratulations to the following students on their achievement and effort:

Year 7

Academic Distinction: Sienna Alanix; Anniesey Alconaba; Mary Carter; Darcy Eyre; Sharie Fernandez; Sophie Griffiths; Isabella Hulm; Tara Monaghan; Judyth Nawa; Aleisha Patriarca; Anetka Pastuszak; Emma Pickering; Riley Suckling; Eliza Terrell; Jeann Valdez; Keisha Williams; Phoenix Wu; Helen (Yingxi) Zhang.

Ad Omnia Paratus: Anniesey Alconaba; Rebecca Attwood; Emma Pickering; Violet Russell; Phoenix Wu.

Year 8

Academic Distinction: Nishnata Chalisey; Chanmollika Chhim; Rylee Curtis; Stephanie Earsman; Holly Giles; Audrey Lee; Hay Marn Mu; Shanette Ndossi; Jaslina Pereira; Caitlin Pettersen; Ayden Ratnasekera; Guntaas Ranu; Theo Steed; Ella Janelle Untalan; Phoebe van Heiningen; Robert Watson.

Ad Omnia Paratus: Chanmollika Chhim; Audrey Lee; Jason Zhuang.                                                    

Year 9

Academic Distinction: Rachel Bruyns; Arielle Chant; Joseph Constantino; Keisha Desmond; Paul Fuentes; Alina George; Danika Hampson; Shenae Hartree; Sanju Joseph Parolickal; Anushka Kotian; Daria Kozok; Connor Le Dain; Lily McDonald; Chelsea Macalad; Isioma Onyemgba; Max Patriarca; Tegan Reder; Matilda Seroney; Zeta Stevens; Tiana Suckling; Raina Thomas; Alice Tkacz; Nicole Vlahov; Annjui Yang. 

Ad Omnia Paratus: Arielle Chant; Keisha Desmond; Tegan Reder.

Year 10

Academic Distinction: Sona Abraham; Shin Bawar; Licia Benedict; Annissa Buckby; Amanda D’Cruz; Lorenzo Donatelli; Isabella Ficko; Riley Moore; Emereen Moratalla; Yen Ngo; Emma Paskett; Chloe Reder; Sarina Russell; Caitlin Spiegl; Elsa (Wei-Le) Tan; Selina (Wei-Yue) Tan; Grace White; Elicia Yii; Emily Young Free.

Ad Omnia Paratus: Annissa Buckby; Isabella Ficko; Chloe Reder; Selina (Wei-Yue) Tan; Grace White.

Year 11

Academic Distinction: Caitlin Farrelly; Mikayla Farrelly; Aldric Ratnasekera; Tiana Rigden; Trishia Sarmiento.

Ad Omnia Paratus: Oscar McDonald.

Year 12

Academic Distinction: Bronwyn Brims; Melisse Burgoyne; Benjamin Ceravolo; Kate Cooper; Kate Grady; Michael Hegney; Loren Marshall; Michael McLevie; Britney Mundt; Suhina Mungroo; Linda Yeoh.

Ad Omnia Paratus: Bronwyn Brims; Tully Bristow; Melisse Burgoyne; Kate Cooper; Faith Desmond; Michael McLevie; Britney Mundt.

ATAR Revision Seminars – Parent Committee subsidy

A reminder that the St Norbert College Parent Committee offers subsidies to any Year 12 student who attends a revision seminar. If you attended a seminar during the break, please pay and then return your receipt to the College and you will receive the $20 subsidy. Alternatively, students may wish to consider some of the other options available:

• Revise Online - https://www.reviseonline.com
• Learning Fundamentals - http://learningfundamentals.com.au
• Murdoch University Primer Classes (Physics; Chemistry; Mathematics) – Monday, Thursday and Friday, 4:30pm – 6:30pm.

Mr R Dowling (Dean of Studies)