Learning @ Brigidine
“Learning is not attained by chance. It must be sought for with ardour and attended with diligence.” Abigail Adams
Learning and Innovation
“Pray as though everything depended on God.
Work as though everything depended on you.” Saint Augustine
As we launch into Term 2, this may be the point where students need to realistically gauge how their “learning race” is unfolding and to now implement their strategy for their learning for the term.
Term 2 is an important and busy term and it is important that students stay up to date with all they need to know to best prepare for the term ahead. The expectation is that students open and read their student emails at least twice every school day in their College email account. Often they will discover an important communication that will assist them with something they are involved in or become aware of something they did not know.
Year 10 will shortly commence the process of discerning their subject choices for their senior years. I will share with Year 10 parents and students information regarding what is in place to best support these choices and the process that will unfold over the course of this term. At the very end of this term, we will be in communication with Year 8 students and parents to outline the process of selecting Year 9 Electives for 2023. This process will commence at the start of Term 3.
Year 11 students, Parents and Guardians have had the opportunity to meet with class teachers to discuss how the Preliminary year is progressing. I hope these conversations were rewarding and provided students an opportunity to reflect on their approach to learning thus far. As our Class of 2023 have now reached the halfway point of their final year at the College, students will have received their Semester One Report. I encourage all Year 12 students to engage with these reports, to reflect on the learning that has occurred and identify what is required to ensure success.
Throughout Term 2, I encourage all students to persist with their pursuit of rigour in all that they do and have the resilience to maintain the effort knowing the reward may not be immediately obvious, but will come in time.
Year 10 - Stage 6 Subject Selection
This Term, our Year 10 students will commence the Stage 6 Subject Selection process. The process will commence with the Stage 6 Parent Information Evening on Tuesday 16 May. Heads of Departments will be available from 5:00pm to speak with parents and students and answer any questions you may have. The official presentation will commence at 6:00pm.
As we prepare for subject selection it is important to note that one of the key aspects of your daughter’s success will be choosing the best pathway and courses that will ultimately set her up for success. We strongly encourage our Year 10 students and their parents/guardians to discuss subject preferences carefully. Our experience over many years suggests that parents/guardians and students who work together to achieve goals in schooling find the Higher School Certificate more manageable. Having clearly defined goals, which your daughter can measure, will allow her to take pride in accomplishing her targets.
Accelerated Reader - Years 7, 8 and 9
Throughout Term 2 our Year 7, 8 and 9 students will continue their engagement with the Accelerated Reader Program (AR). The AR Program identifies a student’s Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) which identifies a selection of books that are matched to their ability whilst also challenging them to develop their reading aptitude and extend their vocabulary.
Using their ZPD and Reading Range, our students have been selecting books, actively reading and then upon completion have taken an AR quiz that assesses their understanding of what they have read. Your daughter’s English teacher will continue to guide and support participation in the AR program throughout the term.
To complement the 10 minutes of reading occurring in Period 1 of each day at the College, it is imperative that students read regularly at home for a minimum of 20 minutes a day. We encourage you to explore the Accelerated Reader Bookfinder site to assist your daughter in engaging with her reading journey.
Ms Natasha Fox & Ms Eleonora Agazzi
Director of Learning & Innovation Director of Curriculum