Learning and Teaching News

End of Term 3 Exam Blocks

End of Term 3 exam block schedules for Years 7-12 were emailed to students and parents at the end of last week. These schedules are also available on the Parent Portal. Please note the dates of these exam blocks:

• Year 12 mock exam Block - Monday 28 August to Wednesday 6 September 2023
• Year 9 Exam Block - Monday 28 August to Thursday 31 August 2023
• Years 7, 8, 10 exam Block - Monday 4 September to Friday 8 September 2023
• Year 11 Unit 2 exam Block - Wednesday 6 to Wednesday 13 September 22023

 Year 10, 11 and 12 students will only be required on campus for their scheduled exams. Students will return to normal timetable classes after the conclusion of each of the blocks.

Year 10-12 students are reminded that exam block privileges will not be given to any student who has summative work owing. Boys who have not completed the work required will be asked to remain at school until the work has been completed. This is particularly relevant for students who are undertaking Certificate courses, including Year 10 Workplace Skills and Outdoor Recreation.

Study Tips for Upcoming Exams

With the end of Term 3 exams nearly upon us, it is important to begin our revision and study now. Below are some tips to help you study. They are based around ‘doing’ rather than just reading through your notes. Make sure to trial a few of these options and see which works the best for you!

Rewrite your notes by hand

While re-reading your old lecture notes is a good place to start your exam prep, the details won’t stick in your brain for long. It’s important to give yourself a task to do at the same time so you’re actively engaging with the material. You could create a mind map or rewrite your notes by hand, which will force you to reflect on the information, and, hopefully, retain it.

Record yourself talking through the lecture notes

This study trick might sound cringeworthy because no one likes listening to the sound of their own voice, but it really does help. Grab your phone and record yourself explaining the study concepts out loud as if you’re the lecturer. Then listen back later when you’re cooking dinner or in the car. It’s much easier to learn and remember material if you can hear yourself chatting about it in your own words.

Create flashcards

Flashcards are a great way to test your knowledge and memorise concepts through repetition, provided you write them properly. Leave them in different places around the house, so you can surprise yourself with random pop quizzes. Don’t be afraid to put them in weird spots, like on the back of the toilet door or in the shower—anywhere you have a bit of thinking time!

Get someone to quiz you!

You could also ask a friend, partner or family member to quiz you with your flashcards. Nothing will trip you up faster than having to explain the material out loud to another person. You’ll quickly find out where you’re nailing it, and where you need to improve.

Taken from How to study effectively for your exams | Open Universities Australia

Year 11 Applications for Music Extension and English/Literature Extension 

Any Year 11 student who is considering either Music Extension or English/Literature Extension for Units 3 and 4 (beginning Term 4 this year) must apply via the Academic Care Team office. Applications must be in by the end of Week 7. 

Griffith University Academic Boot Camps 

Griffith University Academic Bootcamps are courses designed to assist students to achieve their full academic potential. They aim to improve confidence and understanding in senior science and maths subject areas, reducing anxiety around assessment and preparing students for future tertiary study. 

This year the boot camps will be run both in person and online across the September holidays for the following subjects – 

• General Maths 
• Maths Methods 
• Physics 
• Chemistry 
• Biology 

For more information about these courses please visit Academic Bootcamps (griffith.edu.au) 

Tutoring at the College 

Tutoring at the College is available for all students, and outlined below are faculties where your son can receive assistance. 

*Other faculties by appointment with the classroom teacher. 

Additionally, the CLE run touch-base tutoring for specific students in the College. For more information, contact CLE@marash.qld.edu.au.

If you would like an external tutor, please find a list of Old Boy tutors below. 

Assessment Calendars

These were released last week and form an important basis for your son's planning. Using this document, your son should be writing key dates (draft and due dates, along with exam block) into his college diary.

Please note that some subjects will conduct assessment during class time. This will be slightly different per class. For example, Drama performances will occur across Drama classes which fall at different times. Your son will be informed of due dates for these subjects during class times. 

Year 11 and 12 – Registering for myQCE 

The QCAA is running a competition to encourage all Queensland students to sign-up to myQCE – a platform to allow them to access key information and results as they progress to their attainment of a QCE by the end of Year 12. The myQCE competition opens on Monday 10 July and closes on Friday 15 September. It offers Year 10–12 students a chance to win one of four prizes: a MacBook Air and three Sony WH1000XM5 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones.

To enter the competition students must:

• follow the myQCE Instagram account
• like a myQCE Instagram post
• tag three friends in the comments
• register for the Student Portal (if they haven’t already), log in and check/update their information such as their personal email address and phone number. 

Students can enter the competition and find more information at: https://myqce.qcaa.qld.edu.au/get-motivated/get-involved. The QCAA will contact the four winners by email, and their names will be published on the myQCE website, myQCE Instagram account and in the Term 4 myQCE update.

Senior Library Hours

Our senior library is open from 7:30am every morning until 5:00pm Monday-Thursday. It closes at 3:30pm on Fridays. 

Your son is encouraged to head to the library before and/or after school to complete his homework or study, free from the distractions at home. 

Study Hall 

Year 12 Night Study Sessions

The Night Study Sessions are weekly study times available to Year 12 students who wish to work in collaboration with their peers for assessment, complete revision, revisit classwork or work on external exam preparation. 

When: Every Wednesday during term time from 5:00pm-8:00pm

Where: Senior Library

Who: 2023 Year 12’s only

Requirements:

• Current ID card is to be presented on arrival 
• All students must sign in and out of the library
• All standard library rules are to be followed (including no eating)
• Normal student behaviour expectations apply; if these cannot be met, students will be prohibited from returning to future sessions
• Students are free to wear full College uniform or plain clothes
• Students are free to arrive and leave as they see fit. Supervision is only provided in the library between 5:00pm-8:00pm. 
• Students are to be in the library only. This is not a time for sport or social gatherings.

A librarian will be on duty from 5:00pm-8:00pm to assist if required; however, these are not tutoring sessions. 

Accessing Student Results 

Student results and feedback for assessment items can be accessed by parents on Parent Lounge. Please follow the steps below which highlight how to access your son’s results and feedback.

1. Open parent portal and click on “Parent Lounge”

2. On the left-hand tab select “Curricular Activities Due” and select “view all activities” on the top right-hand side of page.

This will take you to a screen that lists of your son/s assessment to complete or has been completed. 

3. Click on a subject to view feedback. 

4. Once you click on the subject you will be able to find the following information: 

1. Task sheet for assessment – this will outline what your son needs to do to complete the task successfully 
2. Draft due dates and due dates
3. Criteria sheet
4. Feedback 
5. Result