Deputy Principal

Monitoring progress with student dashboards

In the busyness of the school day and working week, it is important that we make use of the tools available to help students stay on track. From both a student and parent perspective, our learning management system, SIMON, offers a number of useful features. Asking your son to show you his dashboard provides a clear overview of current learning tasks, including those underway and any that may be overdue. It is a helpful resource when asking questions such as, “Have you got any homework?” or “Do you have anything due at the moment?” A quick check of your son’s dashboard can provide clear and immediate answers.

SIMON: Parent Access Module (PAM)

Continuing the theme of monitoring progress, PAM provides valuable insight into the work completed in class. Parents can view work submitted by their son and read the feedback provided by teachers. Too often, the teenage mindset goes straight to the mark or grade; however, carefully reading the rubric before commencing a task, and again after submission, helps students identify areas of success and opportunities for growth. Attendance and absentee updates, as well as the ability to contact teachers, are also key features available through PAM. If you are experiencing any technical issues with access, please contact our administration staff, who can assist by reissuing login details.

Maximising our time

With the term moving quickly and our attention beginning to turn towards Term 4 and the many end-of-year arrangements ahead, this is a timely reminder for students, especially those in Years 10–12, to make the most of the time remaining and finish the year strongly. 

Key reminders for our young men include:

• Exam revision and preparation:  This should already be underway, with class time being one of the most valuable resources available.
• Communicate with your teachers: Ask questions, seek feedback, and keep asking how you can continue to improve.
• Be organised: Class work, tasks, major assessments and key resources should be organised in a way that makes them easy to access and use.
• Routine: Dedicated time after school should be built into the week to support study, revision and preparation.
• Ask for help: If you are feeling overwhelmed or finding things difficult, please speak up so that support can be put in place.
• Focus on the present: It can be easy to focus too much on what is coming next and lose sight of what needs attention now. Staying up to date with current work and commitments will place students in the best position to prepare well for what is ahead, including exams.

The Journey to and from School

A reminder that students are expected to travel directly to and from school each day. This means taking the quickest and most appropriate route and not visiting shopping centres or similar locations before or after school. 

Once students arrive on campus, they are required to remain on site so that staff can fulfil their duty of care. Students who leave campus to purchase food from local shops place themselves in situations of unnecessary risk when they should be at school. Similarly, students who enter shopping centres on the way home are not taking the most direct route. We understand that some students may need to wait at bus stops for connecting services; however, we ask families to reinforce the importance of travelling directly and safely. Parental support with this matter is greatly appreciated.

Term 3 Events: