Learning and Teaching News

Years 7-10 Exam Block and Reporting

We would like to congratulate the Years 7-10 students on their behaviour and efforts across their exam block. The boys were well-behaved and generally well prepared for each of their assessments. This is especially impressive considering the interruptions and busyness of Term 1 this year. 

We would like to thank the parents and teachers of the boys who prepared them for their assessments, as well as the boys themselves for their commitment. 

Interim reports for Years 5-10 students will be released to the Parent Portal and also emailed home this Friday afternoon - 1 April. Thank you to the teachers for their work in marking and preparing these reports as valuable formal feedback to you and your sons. 

End of Term 1 Catch-up Exam Process Years 7-10

Due to the significant number of students who have not been able to return to school due to COVID-19, we are holding catch-up exams throughout this week for students in Years 7-10.  If your son has missed an original exam across Weeks 8-9, he will need to attend/have attended the make-up exam (if he is able to be at school) according to the schedule below. If your son has missed both the original exam and the scheduled exam, he will sit a make-up exam at the start of Term 2. He will need to be prepared to sit this exam from the first day of term.

Tuesday 29 March

Wednesday 30 March

Thursday 31 March

Friday 1 April 

Please note 10 Drama, 9 Japanese and all French exams will be made up in class time. 

Reporting information:

• Teachers will ensure that if results are atypical in these exams, this will be taken into account when determining Semester 1 results.   
• Any student that completes make-up exam in Week 10 will receive a N/A for academic progress on their Interim Report. Feedback and results will be uploaded to Parent Lounge early next term so that students and parents will still be able to see the outcomes and feedback of these tasks. Learning Behaviours will still be awarded on the Report Cards.
• If students are unable to sit exams due to being unwell/isolating across Weeks 9-10, they will also receive an N/A on their Interim Report for the relevant subjects. Rest assured, they will complete the assessment, with feedback and results uploaded to Parent Lounge early next term. Learning Behaviours will still be awarded on the Report Cards.

Year 12 Exam Block

The delayed Year 12 Exam Block commenced last Friday 25 March. Please note if a Year 12 student cannot attend an exam due to illness a medical certificate must be provided to the College. For those needing to isolate due to being a close contact, a medical certificate of the household member is appropriate. For COVID-19 cases, these certificates can be obtained by making telehealth appointments.

For students who are unwell/required to isolate, make-up exams will be rescheduled for later in Week 10 or from Day 1, Term 2, depending on the length of their isolation and the timing of the exam. More information will be released to parents about the make-up exams throughout the exam block once absentee information is received and make-up exams are scheduled.

Due to the delay of this exam block, Year 12 Unit 3 reports will not be released until Week 3 Term 2.

Year 12 Student Exam Block Expectations

When you arrive on College grounds you are required to sign in and out via the QR codes placed around the school.

Please remember that exam block privileges will only be given to students who have completed and are up to date with all assessments including Year 12 Certificate and Diploma competencies. All Year 12 students will be expected to attend school and complete the work they have due before being given the privileges of exam block. 

When utilising the exam block to study at home, the expectations are as follows:

• Normal College rules apply when on campus
• Boys must arrive to and from school in full school uniform, including College hat and bag.
• Boys are to travel directly to and from school without congregating at shops, outside other schools or the like.
• Boys must arrive 15 minutes prior to their scheduled exam.
• Boys must bring all required equipment (calculator, pens, highlighters etc).
• Boys must always adhere to the exam coordinators’ instructions.
• Boys are also encouraged to bring their equipment in a clear plastic sleeve or container and that their water bottle should be clear. This is great practice for external assessment in Year 12.

Extensions for Assignments

Years 7-10

Students can request an extension form through the Studies Office or via the Portal / Curriculum Form tile (Special Consideration Form). It is easiest if students present with the form complete with the assistance of their parent/guardian stating why they require an extension (illness, COVID-19 quarantine, bereavement) and that it is signed by their parent/guardian. Students will need to take the Special Consideration form to their relevant subject teacher/s and discuss the reason for the extension as well as the new due date. Once this conversation has taken place, the from needs to be returned to Mrs Kim Rabie through the Studies Office. Your son will receive an email confirmation once it is processed.

Years 11-12

Students can request a Special Consideration form for extension/s on assessment due through the Studies Office or via the Portal / Curriculum Form tile. According to QCAA regulations, in senior this extension must be accompanied by a medical certificate. Students will be given an extension form to take to their relevant subject teacher/s to discuss the extension and a new due date. Once this conversation has taken place, the from needs to be returned to Mrs Kim Rabie through the Studies Office. Your son will receive an email confirmation once it is processed.

Year 10 Subject Changes

As you are aware, Year 10 elective courses run for the entire year. This is in preparation for senior studies where it is highly recommended that boys maintain their course of study for the two-year program. Thus, if your son is in Year 10 and considering a subject change in order to align with his senior course of study he will need to come to the ACT Office (via the Studies Office) to have a discussion and collect the required paperwork for changes to occur. Subjects changes will be open until Thursday 28 April (Thursday of Week 2).

Learning from Home

If you are unable to attend school due to COVID-19 please access your classwork via the Moodle subject page and ensure you are revising for your upcoming exams.  If you are unsure of what work to complete or require further work or assistance, please contact your classroom teacher for further guidance.

NAPLAN School Readiness Testing

On Thursday, students in Year 7 and 9 will participate in the school readiness testing for Marist College.   Students are required to install the NAP lockdown browser before they are able to sit these tests.  No preparation is required but students will need to have a fully charged laptop and a pen/pencil for the day.

If your son has not installed the browser they must do so before Wednesday.  If they have having difficulties they must go to IT as soon as possible.

Thank you at the end of Term 1

Finally, Roxanne, Adam and I would like to thank the entire Marist community for their support and commitment to the learning process across a difficult term. We are sure none of us would have guessed that Term 1 2022 would have begun with online learning in Week 2, seen school closures and more online learning due to floods, then had increasing numbers of COVID-19 cases in the last few weeks of term cause significant assessment changes. Thank you to our parents/carers for the continued partnership with our staff in order to maintain a focus on achieving each students’ personal best, even when times weren’t easy. No doubt this term has helped to build further resilience in our young men. 

We would also like to thank the teachers and support staff of Marist. I’m sure you would agree that our staff have worked tirelessly to provide the best education for your boys in these ever-changing times. We hope they spend some time relaxing and re-energising this Easter.

We wish all members of the community a safe and relaxing break and look forward to returning to a more stable Term 2!

Best Wishes for a happy and Holy Easter.