Learning and Teaching News

Exam Block Schedules – Change of Dates 

Due to the weather event, the College has decided to adjust the exam block schedule and other due dates that have been impacted. The revised exam block schedule was emailed to parents last week, and the Parent Portal and Orbit app will progressively be updated. It is important, therefore, to check the emailed schedule for exam times. Subject teachers have communicated any necessary extensions to assignment tasks.  

For any further extensions to tasks needed outside of adjusted timelines, the normal college extension processes will apply. Contact a member of the Academic Care Team if you have any concerns. Please note that this will not apply to every assessment task. 

Exam block schedules will now be as following:  

• Year 5, 6 and 7 – Formative and summative assessments will take place in normal timetabled classes (except for Year 7 History/Geography).  
• Year 8 and 9 – Summative exam block will run from Wednesday 26th – Tuesday 1st April.  
• Year 10 - Summative exam block will run from Wednesday 26th – Wednesday 2nd April.  
• Year 12 – Summative exam block will run from Thursday 27th March – Friday 4th April.  
• Year 10 will remain at school during the exam block and are not on exam block privileges.   
• Year 11 students will remain in normal classes as they continue work on Unit One. The end-of-unit exam block will be held in Week Five, Term Two.   

Students in Years 5-11 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.  

A reminder that if students are absent for an exam, a medical certificate is to be submitted for all year levels. Students must be prepared to sit their exams as soon as they return to school, and exams may be scheduled later in the exam block. Year 11 and 12 medical certificates must list the specific illness and not just state “medical condition”.  Please do not arrange holidays during this time. 

All schedules will be updated in the Orbit app and Student Café on the portal once finalised. Your son is encouraged to download this schedule and change assessment dates to his College Diary and any home planners. Please note that the Parent Orbit app will eventually become the primary source of this information, as the College will be moving to this platform in future terms. 

Parent-Teacher Interviews – Term 2 

Parent-teacher conferences will be held on Tuesday 22nd of April (start of term) for face-to-face, and Wednesday the 30th of April for online/Teams interviews. Students are encouraged to attend with parents/carers and are required to wear full winter uniform (including blazer). Information regarding bookings will be communicated before the end of term.  

Year 12 General English Short Story Masterclass

Steve Littleton - Head of English, Literature and Languages 

On Monday afternoon after school about 50 Year 12 General English students converged on the library to have their practice short stories (IA3) read by an English teacher other than their own. The idea was to allow a different set of eyes peruse the stories and for the boys to get feedback and advice on their work. The afternoon proved to be quite successful and I and the other teachers were quite pleased with the quality of work that the boys are producing. My thanks to the following staff who gave so willingly of their time and their expertise: Adam Knight, Kathryn Badini, Luke McMahon, Lucy Colman, Tom Dangerfield, James Lymer, James Walton (on his birthday), Charlie Taylor, Jye Davis, Patrick Denkes, Bonnie Gerry, Damian Nelson, Caroline Smith, Alicia Francis, Berny Byrne, Jo Howe and Gareth Kolkenbeck-Ruh. 

New UQ Maths bridging course 

If you are looking to enter university, but need to fulfil a Maths prerequisite, then UQ College’s online bridging courses are available for you.   

This program is recognised as a Year 12 Maths alternative, helping you to bridge knowledge gaps and meet UQ entry requirements. UQ College is your pathway to further university study. Courses start on the 14 April 2025. 

For more information and course costings please visit: https://uqcollege.uq.edu.au/study-options/online-bridging-courses 

Hear for You holiday workshops 

Hear For You will be running a few school holiday workshops along with delivering some exciting activities during Term 2. These workshops foster peer connections and build confidence by addressing unique challenges, such as navigating social interactions in predominantly hearing environments. Activities are often tailored to enhance skills like turn-taking, active listening, and self-advocacy, empowering children and teenagers to express themselves effectively and form meaningful relationships. Activities include interactive games that promote teamwork, storytelling sessions to practice expressive communication, and role-playing scenarios to build problem-solving and conflict-resolution skills. These engaging experiences create a sense of community while equipping children with tools for lifelong success. The workshops also include practical skills to help the teenagers develop a sense of independence. 

Flyer for this opportunity is found below - please do not hesitate to contact Hear for You with the details below.  

Tutoring

Marist Subject Support: Days and Timings. Starting Tuesday 18 March  

Marist Subject Support starts this week for the boys in years 7 to 12. Marist Subject Support (Tutoring) will be offered in the senior school library. Tutors will be roaming around the library at these times assisting boys. 

Sessions will have tutors with expertise in the following areas. Boys are encouraged to attend and access support if they require assistance.  

2025 Next Step Year 12 Completers Survey 

All Year 12 students from last year (2024) will soon receive an invitation to participate in the Next Step survey. This is their chance to help our school to understand the different pathways of the 2024 Year 12 students and to improve our senior programs and supports for future students. The survey only takes five minutes and asks graduates about their study and work activities since finishing school.  

As a thank you for participating, Year 12 completers who complete the survey will be entered into a draw to win a MacBook Air. 

For more information about Next Step, including previous results, visit http://www.qld.gov.au/nextstep. 

Year 12 Study Session 

On Wednesdays 5 – 8pm, Year 12 students are able to access the Library for their own private study. This is a privilege for Year 12 students in preparation for their senior assessment and a recommended study habit. In the past, students have used this time to work on their external exam study nights, prepare their drafts, or even create small study groups. Students will need to sign in and out. They can arrive and leave at any time between 5 – 8pm; but they are not able to keep coming and leaving during the night.  

Mathspace Parent & Carer Webinar  

For interested parents who would like to support their students at home to maximise the use of Mathspace they are hosting a webinar for parents and carers on Wednesday 26th March (next week):  

• Wednesday, 26th March 5pm 
• Wednesday, 26th March 8pm 

Study Tip