Senior School Report
Senior School Report
New building and a new Senior School Team. We would like to welcome all the students back to Reservoir High School in 2021 and a special welcome to the Year 11 students who have transitioned well from the Middle School into the Senior School. 2020 was a very disjointed year and we are hoping that 2021 will be a smooth year for everyone.
As was stated we have a nice new Senior School building which looks fantastic and the learning environments are state of the art. The students have settled into their new location well as have the teaching staff.
It was also mentioned that there is a new Senior School Team in 2021. The team is comprised of Ms Lorraine Cross and Ms Phillipa Phillips (Senior School Office Manager), Mrs Toni Gray (Year 11 Coordinator), Ms Shannon Lazarus (Year 12 Coordinator), Mr Ken Sinderberry (Senior School Leader), Ms Natalie Manser (Assistant Principal – Year 11), Ms Lea Volpe (Assistant Principal – Year 12). The team is very excited and eager to work with all the Senior School students.
Year 11 Report:
I am so excited to be part of the Senior School Leadership team and I am really enjoying my new role as Year 11 coordinator. We have such a wonderful team of highly skilled and supportive staff, sub-school managers, careers and well-being team, who are continually collaborating to ensure students receive their best learning experience. I have noticed that our students are very friendly, and I love walking, being greeted and greeting everyone with a kind smile.
Year 11 Assembly
A major emphasis from our first assembly was on ‘Communal Respect and responsibility’ and Accountability, where students ‘Are the AUTHOR’ of their next chapter. We also value our ‘School wide positive behaviours program’, with a focus on celebrating our successes and providing positive recognition and rewards for students who demonstrate ‘communal responsibility and respect.’ Staff regularly recognise student achievement, effort, improvement, and respect with ‘quick praises’ and ‘respect passes’ through Compass. The accumulated Compass points can be ‘cashed’ in. Congratulations to students who have already received one hundred or more!! Keep up the great work. Lunch with our Sub school manager ‘Mr Sinderberry’ might not be too far away…should this be the prize you are aiming for J
Our top Year 11 students demonstrating ‘school wide positive behaviours’
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ELEVATE – High impact study skills sessions.
On Friday 11th February, all our Year 11 students participated in our first ELEVATE SESSION - ‘Study Sensei’ which was an interactive session to assist students to know how to achieve their best results through effective study habits. The instructors were highly engaging, sharing personal stories, anecdotes and jokes to ensure key themes were taken in by students and made relevant. Students were provided with a booklet and great resources / tips and tricks, taking notes, ready to begin putting the ideas shared into practice.
4 Key themes / tips from the session:
- Top students know how to study and how to work effectively and efficiently throughout the year – Note taking, mind maps, practice questions, study schedule.
- What do I currently do and how can I improve – CONSISTENCY is the key?
- How to take and structure notes, anticipate questions and revise efficiently.
- How to be an independent learner – I know I can do better.
Year 11 Early Start University- Prepare @ La Trobe
Our school has been invited to join a program where students undertake online subjects which can lead to an offer of a university course. We would be keen to have a pilot of the program with a small group of students who are keen to take up this offer.
Future Opportunities ‘Latrobe Prepare Program’ is a new learning program we are offering to a small number of Year 11 students with the appropriate skills to engage in independent online learning.
The ‘Prepare’ program offers students a direct entry into certain post-secondary Latrobe Courses for students who achieve high enough result in 3-6 ‘micro-subjects’.
It’s 100% free and online.The first subject this year is ‘Critical Thinking’ and it starts at end of term 1. There are other micro-subjects in Academic Writing, Digital Literacy, Thinking Mathematically, World Changing Science and more.
Interested students must contact Mr Sinderberry by Tuesday 23rd Feb to discuss whether this program works for you and to complete the application process.
Study Support
Need to improve your study routine?? Looking for a quiet place to work each night afterschool??
Students can work in the Senior school space after school each day until 4.30pm or are welcome to attend homework club in the library on Monday to Friday and receive teacher support with their homework.
Future Events:
Term 1: Senior Interschool Sports – We have teams competing in Interschool Volleyball. Check compass for key event dates and payment / permission form deadlines so you do not miss out.
Remember ‘You are the AUTHOR’….No regrets!
Year 12 Report
“Focus on the journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity, but in doing it.”
It is with much pleasure that I welcome you to the 2021 school year. In a special way I welcome the many new families who have joined our school community. The Year 12s have made an incredible start to the school year. Although there was a temporary return to remote learning, VCE students faced the challenge with patience and determination.
Whilst there is still construction work to the external surroundings of the Senior School, the students are enjoying this new space and are making the most of all its facilities. The Year 12 Jackets look incredible and so do our students. Well done to Eboney Jackson and her team for designing and organising the jackets.
It has been great to see our senior students, really take ownership of their education. On the first day of school, the Senior School Leadership team spoke to our class of 2021. The common message and simple piece of advice given to students was to adopt a growth mindset. This final year of school can seem quite fast paced for both our VCE and VCAL students, especially with meeting deadlines, attending VET courses, and keeping up with their subjects. However, it is important to stop, BREATHE and enjoy small yet significant moments and new friendships that the year brings with it.
As you know life is ever evolving and changing, and so is this year. Therefore, it is important to set yourselves up for success and develop some effective strategies to help maximise your learning. Here are some suggestions that could help you make a start:
- Establish a routine: Dr Sean Kang, a senior lecturer in the Science of Learning says, “a schedule will help keep your learning activities on track and minimise distractions. But it’s important to incorporate regular breaks and opportunities for revisiting previously studied topics – spacing out your practice can help promote consolidation of learning.”
- Focus on what you can control: A key factor is the importance of focusing on “what is most important right now”. A positive mindset and setting goals will help with motivation. Look ahead and do not give up.
- Ask for help: You are all able to count on your teachers for guidance with your learning goals and questions. It is important to connect more regularly with those that support you. Take every opportunity to speak with the wellbeing, careers, or the senior school staff about any concerns that you may have. There is no harm in asking for some help when you feel like you are not coping. Sometimes, a quick chat is all you need to help you feel better.
We as a school and a staff are here to support you through this year. Remember,
“Life’s a CLIMB, but the view is GREAT!!
We’d like to remind all Senior Students and families that our office is always open to you if you have any concerns or need to talk. We’re in this together and will support however we can.
Cheers
Senior School Team,
Ms Cross & Ms Phillips (Senior School Office Managers)
Mrs Gray (Year 11 Coordinator)
Ms Lazarus (Year 12 Coordinator)
Mr Sinderberry (Senior School Leader)