Learning and Teaching News

Get to know our 2025 Academic Captains

Name: Aidan Phillips 

Role: Vice Captain - Academic 2025

What do you want to do when you leave school?

I want to go into neuroscience/surgery medicine or acting.

Best study tip do you use?

The best study tip I use is numerous practice exams.

When do you most like to study? Why?

I am most likely to study in the evening (8:00pm-10:00pm), because I find this is when my brain can concentrate the best and when I do not have any other activities on.

What are you most looking forward to this year?

Travelling to Europe at the end of the year and graduating next year.

What would you spend your last $20 on?

I would spend my last $20 putting it all on black.

Key dates for Term 4 2024

As we enter the last term of the year, please take note of the upcoming key academic dates –

• Monday 21 October – Tuesday 12 November – Year 12 External Exam Block
• Wednesday 20-27 November – Year 7 -11 Exam Block
• Friday 6 December – Year 5 -10 Academic Reports released to parents 

Year 11 Academic interviews with Unit 1 and 2 ATAR estimations will begin in Week 5. Further information will be emailed to parents in the coming week.

Year 12 External Exams

Yesterday, the Year 12 cohort commenced their External Assessment for 2024. The updated schedule with exam locations was emailed to boys and parents last week and is also available on the Orbit App.

A reminder that Year 12 students can book in times with their classroom teachers during their normal timetabled double periods to ask questions or review content in preparation for their exam. We wish every boy sitting an exam the very best for their last assessments at school.

A reminder to now ensure that your son has the correct equipment necessary for External exams. The list of prescribed equipment can be found here - External assessment equipment list (qcaa.qld.edu.au).

Years 7-11 Assessment Schedules

Assessment schedules are available on Student Cafe, Parent Lounge as well as the Orbit App (School Links > Assessment Information). Your son is encouraged to download this schedule and transfer assessment dates to his College Diary Term Planner and any home planners, to ensure he is managing his time effectively. 

Please remember that assessments during Exam Block will be scheduled at some point across that week.  The exact timing of these exams will be released in the Exam Block Schedule (approx. Week 6), however, know that it will fall between Wednesday 29 and Wednesday 27 November. If boys are absent during the Exam Block and consequently miss an examination, they will be required to submit a medical certificate in alignment with our College Assessment Policy. They will complete the assessment once they return to the College, which could be on the day they return.  No exams in the Exam Block are sat early.

Any Year 10 students who have unapproved leave at the end of the year (eg. family holidays, etc.) and cannot complete examinations will be issued a summative grade of NR (No Result) for the subject on their end of Semester report. This is in line with QCAA policies. 

Parent Webinar Opportunities

Parent Orbit App

Student results and feedback for assessment items can be accessed at any time by parents on Parent Orbit. Term 3 assessment results and feedback for students in Year 5-10 are available via Parent Orbit. Please follow the steps below that highlight how to access your son’s results and feedback. 

Parent Orbit App

Student results and feedback for assessment items can be accessed at any time by parents on Parent Orbit. Term 3 assessment results and feedback for students in Years 5-10 are available via Parent Orbit. Please follow the steps below that highlight how to access your son’s results and feedback. 

Nominations now open for the myQCE Student Reference Group

The Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) is recruiting new members for the myQCE Student Reference Group in 2025. The group gives students the chance to have their say about the QCE system processes and senior schooling. 

Queensland students who will be in Years 10, 11 or 12 in 2025 are eligible to apply. The group meets four times per year and membership is ongoing until students graduate from Year 12. 

Nominations close on Friday 25 October 2024 — for more information and to nominate, visit the myQCE website.

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: 2024 Year 12s 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, boys 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 sports or social gatherings.       

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

Study Tip