Senior School News
Years 7-10 Students - Wollongong University
Wollongong University offers a wonderful academic enrichment program for high achieving students. The program is a challenging and fun experience for those excelling in their area of interest. The workshops are held during the school holidays. Details can be found at https://www.uow.edu.au/engage/outreach-pathways/learning-labs/wollongong-learning-labs/ Applications close on 12 November 2019. Please email me if you are interested and I will assist with your application.
Mr Graham, Director of Studies
How to Stay Positive as Exams Approach
It can be difficult to stay positive or “be up” as exams approach. The more important we perceive the exam to be, the more stress we can feel. While feeling some stress can be positive and help us get motivated to study, we all have a tipping point. When our stress levels reach our personal tipping point, this higher level of stress can lead to inaction, where we avoid doing the work necessary to be prepared and as a result feel even more overwhelmed. If not dealt with, the stress can build and lead to anxiety and depression.
The key to being positive and managing negative emotions such as anxiety and feeling down and depressed in any pressure situation including exams is to “fuel up”. It goes without saying that if we are exhausted, tired, stressed, depressed etc. it is very difficult if not impossible to deal with the pressure of exams. “Fuelling Up” is about boosting wellbeing factors in your life. You need to boost the wellbeing factors in your BODY, MIND and EMOTIONS.
BODY: Put your health first and eat healthily, exercise regularly and get enough sleep. We all know what to do, but we need to make the decision to prioritise our own well-being. Without the right fuel you will feel exhausted and depleted and it is very hard to be positive when you aren’t feeling your best.
MIND: To think more positively, challenge your perceptions. Write down your top 5 fears and worries. What’s the worst thing that can happen? How valid are these fears? Usually fears and worries are not based on reality but on imagined scenarios that have little to no evidence. If it’s something that can’t be changed bring acceptance to it, but if it can be changed, take action.
EMOTIONS: To help yourself feel more positive every day think of 3 good things that happened that day and how they made you feel. Also take the focus off yourself and do 3 simple but deliberate acts of kindness every day. It might be a kind word, a compliment, helping someone or surprising someone with a kind act. You will be amazed at how making other people feel better lifts your mood as well.
Learn more at www.studyskillshandbook.com.au.
Mr Graham
Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award practice hike
It was with a sense of trepidation, but excitement that we, three young men, departed Campbelltown Station on October 28th for the Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award practice hike. Rucksacks were packed to the brim with the essentials necessary for such a venture, including tents, sleeping bags, First Aid kits and a lot of food.
The route had been carefully plotted in the weeks preceding and whilst this presented some challenges, none were as great as the reality of the journey on foot.
The adventure began in earnest at Cronulla where we boarded a ferry to Bundeena in the Royal National Park. Navigational duties were shared amongst the three of us as we each took turns to be the map reader, the compass bearer or the landmark spotter. None of the duties was easier than the other and we soon realised we needed to work as a team to ensure success. Paths that we had predicted would be easy to follow were closed for maintenance or even in some cases, so overgrown that we had to push through, unable to identify landmarks we had predicted would help us stay on course. Reaching Otford on the final day was significant and it was with pride and relief that we were able to look back and reflect.
The route itself was physically challenging, but we soon learned that it was our mental approach to the experience which required the most attention. We recognised that for each of us, our breaking points would come at different times and that we needed to work hard to stay focused and positive.
The experience was rewarding and the knowledge and skills we have gained will definitely set us in good stead for the qualifying hike due to take place next year.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr Serone, Mr Bonfield, Mr O’Brien and Mrs Ursino for their support and guidance throughout the planning stage and throughout the walk itself.
By David De Vecchis, Sanjiv Weerasingham and Lachlan Tucker
From the Finance Office
A friendly reminder that school fees are to be finalised by the 30/11/19. If any families are having difficulties with payment of their
school fees, families are encouraged to contact Deanna Pirovano on 0246 294 112 or Brian Schick on 02 46 294 226. The last day for the Finance Office is 20th December 2019.