LEADERS OF WELLBEING REPORTS

All articles published week beginning  16 November 2020

Year 7

As the unprecedented year of 2020 draws to a close, we see Christmas decorations being put up around the streets of Wagga and satellite towns. It is an excellent time to reflect on the year that has been and what 2021 may bring. 

Reflection on Exams

Year 7 have now completed their first end of year examinations, and the teachers will be returning results. Examination results are an indication of the progress that students have made throughout the year but do remember that they are only a snapshot. We encourage you to spend a bit of time with your children looking over these exams and identify where the academic improvement can come from.

We know that not every student is going to receive outstanding results. Being aware of the areas of improvement and setting achievable goals will help set an upward academic trend in Year 8.

Examinations are an important part of the school assessment procedures but not the most important! Be kind and caring, and get the best out of yourself each day! 

Progress Throughout 2020

A year ago your child attended the Year 6 Orientation Program. This week, we had next year’s cohort attending the College. Our 2020 cohort will have a massive part to play in mentoring these students next year in our new House structure. This is a good time to reflect on the positive relationships that have been built up with the older students at the College. These students will be looking up to your child and your child will have so many great opportunities over the coming years to demonstrate leadership. 

We encourage you to chat with your child about how they can positively influence Year 7 - 2021. What small actions can your child take to welcome them to The Riverina Anglican College family?   

We thank you for all of the amazing donations for the Anglicare Christmas Appeal that have begun to roll in over the past week; your generosity is phenomenal! If your child has not brought in their pledged item, there is still time to do this.

Justin Buckley | Leader of Wellbeing - Year 7 Fox and Stanley House

Lauren Kelly | Leader of Wellbeing - Year 7 

Browning and Sheppard House 

Elizabeth Passlow | Leader of Wellbeing - Year 7 

Fox and Stanley House 

Year 8

Welcome to the Week 6 edition of our Year 8 report for Term 4 - the penultimate one for 2020. This fortnight has seen our Year 8 cohort enjoy themselves in completing the Colour Run fundraiser and celebrating the individual and team successes of our public speakers, girls' cricket and aerobics.  

The formal exam period has come and gone and will have provided your child with one method of feedback regarding their learning this year. It is important for us all to be able to see exams for what they are - a snapshot of progress that tends to suit some children more than others. In saying that, everyone can gain information from sitting exams and exam skills are an important part of schooling success when gearing toward senior study. One line I deliver regularly to my classes (much to their dismay), is that typically everyone gets the mark they deserve. That is, more often than not those who have put in a sustained effort all year and applied themselves to sufficient study leading up to the exam will get a positive mark; whilst the contrary is also true. One important moment of reflection for you to have with your child, involves a self-assessment on the dedication to academic study this year and whether it led to confidence and success in formal assessments. One thing that students particularly of a Year 8 level haven't necessarily mastered, is the ability to apply effort in the right areas. So particularly if you/they feel as though they gave it their all, but still didn't quite so the results they were after, then please make contact with me about some strategies to improve going forward. Some simple organisation or study technique improvements can lead to marked improvements across a variety of subjects.

I look forward to the leadership process happening over the coming weeks, as I believe we genuinely have a plethora of suitable candidates across the Year. I am confident in that whoever is chosen by their peers will do an outstanding job, while those who miss out will still be leaders within the Year group.

I am always happy to discuss your child’s progress via email, phone, or face-to-face. Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns.

Luke Richardson | Leader of Wellbeing - Year 8

Jennifer Jenkins | Assistant Leader of Wellbeing - of Year 8

Year 9

I wanted to start by saying a big congratulations to all of Year 9 for their participation and attitude during the Colour Run last Thursday. The weather was not ideal but the students conducted themselves in a very pleasing manner. All groups managed to get through their colour run and the remnants of the day are still visible today. It was very enjoyable and a great way to raise some much needed funds for such a rare disease. So thank you for your involvement.

Students also completed all of their end of semester exams last week, and from all reports, they were completed maturely and with great effort. Thank you to those people that contacted the school for absences and completed catch up exams.

Although the exams have been completed, it doesn’t mean that students should switch off. There are a number of important things still going on in and outside the classroom.

On Thursday in our Year meeting, we are lucky enough to have a guest speaker coming from Headspace in Wagga. This is a great service for teenagers and young adults and it will be good for students to know what services they provide.

Thank you to the Year 9 Leaders and the extra students who are involved in the Year 7 2021 Orientation days this week. It’s great for the younger students to have such positive role models and have a connection with other people when starting the year next year. All students have been really enthusiastic about the days and I would also like to acknowledge those that put their hand up to volunteer to help. It would have been great to be able to use everyone that wanted to be involved but we did have to limit the numbers.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me. Have a great week.

Emma Smith | Leader of Wellbeing - Year 9

Issac Mannion | Assistant Leader of Wellbeing -  Year 9

Year 10

As I sit here and write this, many things are running through my mind. Much of these are thoughts of your children and how, not only this past year has looked and been experienced by them, but since they commenced in Year 7 and what the future holds for them. It really astounds me just what lovely young men and women they have become. And, yes, they are now young adults. I see this each day, not only at school. One of the most special things I believe about living in the country is seeing students and their families outside of school. Whether that be at a sporting event, a dinner, down the street or in the park. I thoroughly enjoy these incidental meetings with your children and yourselves. Often I am greeted with delightful manners, a warm hello, sometimes some lovely long chats. The sense of community that Year 10 bring to the College is truly something you as parents should value and feel a sense of pride in. 

COVID and 2020 have brought challenges for students and staff alike. Although historically, it will be remembered due to the pandemic and its worldwide effects, I have been thinking lately of what it has brought to my life. Much of that, is my job. Not only am I grateful to be employed, but I am thankful that I love my job and what I do. Teaching and being a Year Leader have their challenges, but there has not been a day due to a student in our Year group, perhaps your son or daughter, that I have not been afforded a smile because of them. I know such interactions are sacred and speak to our school community. 

As Year 10 embark on their Senior Success program I am very excited to see them prepare for this program. Although components such as All My Own Work and Minimum Standards are compulsory and will allow students to prepare for Year 11 there is a range of activities planned for the afternoons, to allow students to enjoy the end of the year as a Year group. Please read through the schedule and ensure payment is made to the office by COB Friday 20 November. 

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me. 

Please see below a great opportunity available to our Year 10 Cohort. Application forms can be found in the Classroom. 

Interested students must submit application forms to Mrs Knight by Tuesday 24 November at 9.00 am

Wagga School Leaders Program (WSLP)

Committee for Wagga has invited us to nominate three students to participate in the 2021 Wagga School Leaders Program (WSLP).

The student application form includes the dates for the 2021 WSLP. 100% attendance is expected for students to be eligible to graduate. Students are required to acknowledge and accept the dates and their ability to attend all modules when completing the application form.

The 2021 WSLP dates are listed below:

Applications Close 5pm, Thursday 26 November 2020 (forms signed and submitted by the College)

Orientation - Wednesday 10 February 2021

Module 1 - Wednesday 24 February 2021

Module 2 - Wednesday 10 March 2021

Module 3 & 4 - Wednesday 24 March 2021

Module 5 - Wednesday 5 May 2021

Module 6 - Wednesday 19 May 2021

Module 7 - Friday 18 June 2021

Meegan Johnson | Leader of Wellbeing -  Year 10

Trevor Dawson | Assistant Leader of Wellbeing -  Year 10

Year 12

We are nearly there!

Year 12 have been exceptional throughout the Year 7 Orientation this week. They have been most supportive of both teachers and students. It has been so pleasing to see Year 12 embrace their leadership roles through initiatives and service towards the College.

Assessments

The next 2 weeks will be extremely busy for Year 12 as the first round of assessments will take place. Please have the conversation with your child around the next two weeks. Students should all have an assessment schedule template. If they do not have one, there is a copy on the Year 11 Wellbeing Classroom.

Until next time…

How do you keep warm in a cold room?

Go to the corner as it is always 90 degrees!!!!

Amall Liakatos | Leader of Wellbeing - Year 12

Kelly Bowen | Assistant Leader of Wellbeing - of Year 12