Teaching and Learning

 

It’s assessment season, as our Year 11s have begun exams, our Year 10s start on Monday, and Year 7-9 exams start on Tuesday, 3 December week. To provide some continuity for students, we will have Mentor meetings each morning, and avoid any other interruptions.

As in previous exam periods, our Year 11s have the option of studying at home, provided they have completed the form and gained approval from Ms Waldron.

Some of the exams go over the usual breaks in the school day, so students are encouraged to make sure that they bring some food in case they can’t get to the tuckshop at the usual times.

At this week’s assembly, students were reminded to take the following steps in preparation for their exams.

1.   Make sure you know what is on each exam, paying attention to the following:

• Topics covered
• Format (question types)
• Timing for each section – based on the number of marks

2.   Keep your routine:

• Eat, sleep and exercise
• Don’t stay up studying the night before an exam
• Maintain these habits, even on the weekends

3.   Follow a plan for the night before each exam:

• Put out what you need for the day (including clothes, pencil case, calculator, study materials, food, drink bottle)
• Check the pens that you intend to use

4.   Follow a plan for the morning of each exam:

• Have a healthy breakfast
• Fill your water bottle
• Hope for a tough exam, as this will enable students to demonstrate their knowledge and the fruits of their hard work

We wish all our students well for the exam period and we hope that they finish the year strongly.

Ralph Carolan

VCE Step-Up Programme

Following the Examination Period, Year 10 & 11 students will make the important transition into their new VCE subjects for 2020. On Thursday afternoon next week, students will be given their timetables for the 8 days of the Step-Up Programme (Friday 29th November to Tuesday 10th December) and will receive information regarding VCAA matters and VCE Survival tips.

This programme is vital to make an early start on what will be a very busy year in 2020. Teachers will be providing an outline of the course requirements, assessment details and will commence teaching the course content. Preparation work for the holiday break will also be provided and will be expected to be completed by the start of next year.

If your child has any concerns please ask them to speak to their new subject teachers in the first instance, or direct any queries to me regarding subject selections.

Examinations

Congratulations to our Year 12 students who have now completed all of their VCE Examinations. It was certainly a team effort from students, staff and families! With the VCE examinations complete, our Year 7 to 11 students will now look towards sitting their final examinations for the year. Please find attached some guidelines to read with your children regarding our expectations during the examination period. The document outlines how the examinations are conducted and what students are permitted to bring into examinations. These are modelled on what is expected from our VCE students; therefore, forming good habits early.

Rebekah Bonnett

Head of VCE Studies and Head of Science