Year 9 & 10

Year 9 – how to study smarter

Term 3 continues to be an important period of growth for our Year 9 students as they begin to recognise that success at school is rarely the result of one outstanding moment. More often, it comes from the small choices made consistently each day.

This was the focus of our recent Academic Success presentation:Take Pride. Build Habits. Create Success. 

Students were challenged to consider whether they take genuine pride in the work they put their name to. Pride does not mean perfection; it means being prepared, working carefully, persisting when things become difficult and taking ownership of the standard of work produced. 

We also explored how to study smarter, rather than simply longer. Retrieval practice, flashcards, spaced practice, practice questions, mind maps and explaining concepts aloud all require students to actively engage with their learning. Just as importantly, students were encouraged to plan ahead, remove distractions and ask for help early. The message was simple: Year 9 is a habit-building year, preparing students for the increasing independence of Years 10, 11 and 12. 

As we move towards the end of Term 3, I encourage Year 9 to keep building on the positive foundations already established: show up, keep up, speak up and step up.

Year 10 - Growing at Yeagarup

A real highlight of Term Three for our Year 10 cohort was our camp at St Hilda’s Yeagarup site. It was wonderful to see students step away from their normal routines, spend time together as a year group and embrace the opportunities placed in front of them.

An important part of the camp was the series of workshops facilitated by Growth Hunting. Students were encouraged to look beyond simply asking, “What do I want to do?” and instead consider some bigger questions: Who do I aspire to become? Who are the people I look up to? What qualities do those people possess, and which of those qualities would I like to develop in myself? These were valuable conversations at an important stage in their schooling, as students increasingly begin to make decisions about Senior School, future pathways and the type of young adults they want to become.

Of course, camp also needed plenty of fun! The aerial course in Pemberton provided exactly that, with students challenging themselves, encouraging one another and, in some cases, discovering they were capable of considerably more than they initially thought. It was terrific to see the support, humour and camaraderie amongst the group.

Back at school, students have continued their Protective Behaviours learning, exploring healthy and unhealthy relationships, recognising controlling behaviours and understanding the importance of trusted networks. Discussions have included warning signs such as possessiveness, put-downs, threats, isolation and grooming behaviours, as well as the importance of seeking support when something does not feel right.

Together, these experiences have encouraged our Year 10 students to know themselves better, recognise the qualities of healthy relationships and approach the next stage of their journey with greater confidence and awareness.

Mr Bradley Cotterell

Head of Year 9 and 10