Assistant Principal's Message
Subject Selections
Year 10 have just completed the survey to help us determine what subjects we will be offering for Year 11 in 2020. Thank you to all students and parents that participated in this and returned the forms promptly to the college. The next step is to work out the least amount of clashes and draft these subjects into lines. This will be done in Week 5. Students will then pick a subject from each line to form their pattern of study. It is important for students to understand that there may be 2 subjects they wish to do on these lines and that decisions need to be made. It is also important to know that if a subject does not get a critical number of students, it may not run. It is possible for students to study subjects not offered by Distance Education. This needs to be considered carefully as it requires a large degree of motivation and self direction. Years 8 into 9 and Years 9 into 10 will be undergoing a similar process in the near future.
Year 12 Trial Exams
Good luck to Year 12 as they undergo their Trial Exams starting in Week 5.
Here are some tips!
1. Make a study schedule. Get into a routine.
2. Create a study environment that works for you
3. Practice old exams. Past HSC papers are available online.
4. Teach. Tell your parents and friends what you know. Meet up with others to make study groups.
5. Take regular breaks and drink plenty of water.
During the exam consider the RUNFAR technique
R - Restate the question, clarify.
U - Underline key terms
N - Note down definitions and key syllabus vocabulary that you will need
F - Formulate a small plan
A - Answer the question. Use TEEL or some other way of formatting your writing.
R - Review and read your response to ensure it completely answers the question. Consider the following: Do you need to edit your response? Have you used quotes and examples? If a stimulus was included, have you used it in your response?
What I did in the Holidays!
In the last school holidays I had the privilege of witnessing the work of the Marist Fathers Asia Foundation in Ranong Thailand. My Brother Glenn and his wife Sue work as volunteer teachers at the Marist Fathers School catering for Burmese migrants. Ranong is one of Thailand's southern provinces, on the west coast along the Andaman Sea. It is a short boat ride to Kawthaung in Myanmar. Ranong has a burmese population of approximately 80 000 residents representing more than half the population. They work mainly in the fishing industry trying to escape economic hardship in Myanmar. These migrant workers have limited access to education for their children, suffer greater economic hardship than their Thai counterparts and a poorer level of health including a high incidence of AIDS. Most of these migrant workers children will leave school at the age of 12. The Marist Fathers run a school for these children employing Thai and Burmese teachers as well volunteers. Four Education Programmes respond to the needs of Burmese Migrants.
Firstly there is a preschool program that provides a positive early education experience for 75 children and allows both parents to work to support their families. There is a Burmese Migrant Secondary Education Programme that provides an opportunity for 85 Burmese students to receive a 4 year secondary education. There is an English Programme that prepares selected students for University Learning by completing Intermediate & Academic English. Finally there is an online University program for promising young adults through Australian Catholic University Thai – Burma Border Program. The Marist Fathers also run a health service for the Burmese community.
In my time there, I saw a real desire to learn and the value that these students and their families place on an education. By Australian standards conditions for learning are tough. The classrooms are hot, cramped and under resourced. What is there are dedicated teachers and enthusiastic students. They have very few possessions but are cheerful and happy. While at school I tried my best to teach the rudiments of Rugby but overall I learned much from this wonderful caring community.
Thank you ..
For your ongoing support & Cooperation
Damian Roff
Acting A.P