Learning and Teaching News

Year 12 General English – Mini-Masterclass

Steve Littleton – Head of English, Literature and Languages

Friday morning saw around 30 keen General English boys descend on the library at 7:30am to get some final feedback on their IA3 Short Story Task. The idea of the mini-masterclass was for the boys to show their practice short story drafts to another English teacher, to get some valuable feedback from a different voice. There was quite a buzz around the Silent Study (which was far from Silent but very productive!) Nine generous staff members attended to give their advice and feedback. My thanks go to Damian Nelson, Scott Minogue, Adam Knight, Charlie Taylor, Kathryn Badini, Andrea Williams, James Walton and Clare Locke. Thanks also to the Library staff for allowing us to take over the Silent Study and Seminar Rooms and to Roxanne Rosenberg, Acting Deputy of College Academics, who popped in to support us all. The boys now have one week to prepare for the short story exam at the end of Week 8. Write well boys.

Visual Arts

Christine Larsen - Curriculum Leader - Arts

Congratulations  to Harry Maher in Year 6 who is our first “Artwork of the Month” winner for 2024 (for the month of February). Harry has produced a continuous line “self-portrait” which he has painted in watercolour using a complementary colour scheme. Harry created this artwork as part of the current Year 6 unit in Visual Art, “Art of the Selfie”. Congratulations Harry!

Year 11 Visual Art students have been developing a broad range of artworks as part of their unit, “Art as Lens”. They have produced a range of natural forms using white earthenware and are eagerly awaiting for these to be fired, so they can trial some of the new glazes that have arrived.

Year 11 Certificate students, as part of their printmaking unit, are learning about different methods of creating stencils for screenprinting. They have skilfully developed some hand-cut stencils which they printed onto calico bags to form simple yet striking designs. The next stencil technique they will learn is photographic stencils and we look forward to witnessing the screenprinted T-shirts they will be producing.

NAPLAN Update  

NAPLAN occurs this week!  Tomorrow is our Writing task for all our boys in Years 5, 7 and 9!  Our boys have been preparing well in their English classes, but also in their ASH lessons and WIRE (Writing in RE). We are excited to see how they all go throughout the tests and look forward to celebrating their success later in the year!

We remind you to:

• Sleep well: Ensure you get a good night's sleep before the exam day. Being well-rested can significantly improve your concentration and performance.
• Eat healthy, balanced meals: Eat a healthy and balanced meal the night before and have a good breakfast on the day of the exam. Proper nutrition can positively impact cognitive function.
• Be organised: Make sure you have all the required materials (pen, corded headphones and a fully charged laptop) in your bag ready to go each day. 
• Maintain a positive mindset: Confidence and positivity are key factors in performing well. Remind yourself of your preparation and focus on the present moment.
• Read questions carefully: When in the tests, take a moment to read every question carefully, flag questions that you don’t know so you can re-visit them, and apply the strategies that you have learned in your classes.

Below is our NAPLAN schedule for 2024. 

Any student who has withdrawn from testing has received an email outlining what you will be doing across these testing times this week.  Please ensure you attend school as usual.

Teaching and Learning as we prepare for the upcoming exams

As we approach the week before exams, the air is buzzing with anticipation and determination. Our young men have been hard at work, embracing the challenges of academia and pushing themselves to new heights of excellence. As we gear up for the examination block, we wanted to share some images of the preparations underway and celebrate the incredible efforts of our students. The classrooms have become hives of intellectual activity, with our boys diligently engaging in revision, group discussions, and seeking guidance from their dedicated teachers. We've captured some moments that encapsulate the spirit of focused preparation taking place within our walls. We wish all our boys the best in their upcoming exams. May your efforts be rewarded with success and achievement. 

Year 7 Tutoring   

The final Year 7 tutoring for this term will take place this Wednesday in Room 105 from 3:15pm-4:15pm.

Term 1 Assessment

Exam block starts this week with our Years 10 and 12 students.  For the remaining cohorts, Exam Block starts in Week 9. 

Students in Years 5-10 will all remain at school throughout the assessment period. The only cohort who are granted study leave (to study at home and only come to campus for scheduled assessments) is Year 12. Any Year 12 student not up to date with all required assessment items will not be granted study leave and will be required to remain at school. This includes modules for Certificate and Diploma courses. 

Make-up exams will be scheduled for Monday 25 March and throughout Week 10. A reminder that if students are absent for an exam, a medical certificate is to be submitted for all year levels. Year 11 and 12 medical certificates must list the specific illness and not just state “medical condition”.

Quiet Study 

Each morning the Resource Centre (senior library) is open from 7:45am to 8:30am for quiet individual study.  All boys are encouraged to use this space to get themselves organised and ready for the day.  

Year 12 Study Night 

The library will be available for Year 12 students on Wednesday nights from 5:00pm to 8:00pm. Collaborative work is encouraged. All normal library and school rules apply. Free dress is permitted. Please sign in and out at the library front desk. This is a wonderful initiative from the senior academic leaders – please use this privilege accordingly.  

Old Boys Maths Tutoring 

It is wonderful that we are able to continue to offer Maths tutoring every morning in Room 402 from 7:40am-8:30am.  We have a wonderful group of Old Boys who return each morning to support our boys with their Maths.  Any boy from Years 7-12 is welcome to attend.    

Old Boys Tutoring List 

Please find here a list of Old Boys who are available to tutor your son outside of school hours.  This list can also be located on the parent portal or via this link.  Please note it is the parent’s responsibility to organise and liaise tutoring times with the Old Boys.   

Study Tip  

Meet Our Academic Captains 

Name: Hayden Barnes

House: Harold

What do you want to do when you leave school? 

I would like to study economics and finance and perhaps go down the pathway of an investment banker, foreign exchange trader or hedge fund manager.

Best study tip you use?  

Revise constantly and put all distractions into another room (phone)

When do you most like to study?  

Any time before 9:00pm as my brain does not like to study too late.

What are you most looking forward to this year? 

Graduating with all my mates I have been with since Year 7 and sitting my final exams. 

What would you spend your last $20 on? 

I feed from maccas (Classic Angus). Then the few dollars left over I would invest in an EFT.