PRINCIPAL

COMPASSIONATE, CARING COMMUNITY

We reflect on the past this week whilst looking to the future and our shared responsibility in creating a compassionate, caring community. I thank our Christian Service Coordinator, Mrs Susan Rodriguez, for her work in fundraising for the Kimberley Mission last Saturday and all those who supported this cause.

RECONCILIATION WEEK

National Reconciliation Week commences this Friday with a multitude of events around the country. This week started as a week of Prayer for Reconciliation back in 1993 supported by all major faiths in Australia. 

We all have a role to play in this area and in doing so we strengthen relationships and communities that value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, their history, culture and future. This is an ideal time to talk with your family and friends about why it is important for all Australians to build respectful relationships with each other.

O'REILLY FEAST DAY - "THROUGH DIFFICULTIES TO GREATNESS"

Students and staff from O’Reilly House celebrated their Feast Day yesterday. O’Reilly House is named after one of the five original Sisters who made the pilgrimage from New Zealand to Perth in 1897. The Sisters’ mission was to establish a Catholic school in Perth in order to provide quality education for students that included faith development.

EXAMS

Next week, our Years 11 and 12 students commence their Semester One Examinations. Performing well in examinations is always a challenge. At last week’s Whole School Assembly, our Head Girl and Head Boy, Kate Cleaver and Dylan Frkovich, gave some tips to their fellow students on how to prepare for the examinations. They strongly stressed the need to maintain a healthy and balanced lifestyle, and to ensure that they rest appropriately. 

Below are my tips to students on how to tackle the examination paper. Examination technique is so important and will assist in maximising your examination score.

1.  USE YOUR READING TIME EFFECTIVELY: All examinations will have a dedicated reading time. This is an opportunity for students to read the examination paper prior to commencing the writing of responses to the questions. It is so important to utilise the reading time to one’s advantage. Quite often, students do not use this time effectively and are observed ‘just waiting’ for the commencement of writing. It is very important that students read each question carefully and commence thinking about their answers, even though writing is not permitted. It is also an opportunity for students to ask questions for clarification, if necessary. In summary, students should see the reading time as part of the examination and utilise the time provided to a maximum. 
2. ANSWER QUESTIONS CAREFULLY: A common error students make is to rush through questions, particularly those questions with which they are most familiar. It is important to tackle each question thoughtfully and ensure the questions that appear easy are answered with the same rigour as all other questions. Complacency is the downfall, at times, with easier questions.
3. DO NOT SPEND TOO MUCH TIME ON QUESTIONS: Whilst it is important to ensure that you do take time in answering all questions, a trap for some students is to take too much time, particularly when they are struggling with the question. As mentioned in Point 2, it is important to answer all questions to the best of their ability. It is a shame when students do not answer questions that they knew the correct response to because they ran out of time. Typically, this scenario occurs when students are spending too much time on a particular question and then do not finish the paper. Times are given on the paper to guide you. It is also important to avoid leaving blank spaces on the exam paper as no marks can be given. Students are better served to guess a multiple-choice answer rather than leaving it as a blank response. 
4. ALWAYS SAVE SOME TIME FOR CHECKING: It is always important to check your work, particularly in an examination. Students are more likely to make clumsy errors in an examination setting than in the classroom. Checking one’s work could gain some extra marks.

I wish all the students all the very best for the examinations and I hope that my tips are of assistance to students.

PUPIL FREE DAY

Families are reminded that tomorrow, Friday 27 May, is a Pupil Free Day for all students. Staff will continue with our 2022 Health and Wellbeing Week theme of Self-Compassion.

God Bless.

Mr Leo Di Gregorio

Principal