From the Director of Studies 

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR UNSW ICAS COMPETITION STUDENTS 

This year, students from Year 3 – Year 10 participated in the University of New South Wales ICAS competition. In total, our students completed 143 tests across Mathematics, English, Science and Digital Technology.

ICAS Assessments are online tasks designed to recognise and reward academic excellence. These tests challenge students to demonstrate a deeper, integrated, and thorough level of learning. 

Congratulations to all the students who completed the testing. It is always fantastic to see students push themselves out of their comfort zone and accept new academic challenges.

Overall, the College achieved:

Lucas Di Fazio is to be particularly commended on his achievement of a High Distinction in Mathematics, placing him in the top 1% of all students across Australia and South-East Asia.

The College would like to congratulate the following students on their admirable effort with these challenging online tests: 

YEAR 7 – 10 SEMESTER 2 EXAMINATIONS

Year 7 – 10 students and their parents have now received timetables for the upcoming Semester 2 Examinations. 

As indicated early in the year, these examinations will now take place in the last week of the term. The goal of this change is to maximise teaching time for students at the end of the year and maintain student engagement in the learning process. 

During study time in the exam block, students will work on study guides and revision activities. There will also be opportunities for students to engage in guided study activities and “brain-breaks” organized by our Academic Care and Year Coordinators and guided by their supervising teachers.

If Year 7 – 9 students are absent for any days during the examination period, we ask that they provide their Academic Coordinator (Year 7 – 8 Mrs Lee Ursino, Year 9 Ms Keir) a Medical Certificate. Year 10 students will need to complete a Student Assessment Form (and include a Medical Certificate) and submit it to Mr Bombardiere via Student Services or email. Since there will not be the opportunity for catch-up exams, these students will receive an estimate based on their previous work. If a Medical Certificate is not provided, the student will receive zero for the task.

Students will receive their tasks back early in the new year. However, students can also pick up their test papers on Saturday 12 December between 9.00 – 10.00am outside the Br Luke Hall.

Friday 27 November – Friday 4 December  

• Students will have study if they do not have an exam

HOMEWORK HELP CLUB 

Homework Help Club will switch to study mode in the next few weeks. 

While our Senior students are always more than welcome to spend Monday afternoons studying, we will also focus on assisting our Stage 4 and Stage 5 students studying for their exams. Teachers will be present to assist students preparing for their exams and our Academic Care Coordinators will be on hand to help students knock out a study plan or developing specific study skills. Wednesday Mathematics afternoons will also continue during this time.

As always, we would encourage students to come and study in the library Monday – Wednesday and Friday. 

HSC PROGRESS IN EXAMS

Our Year 12 students have successfully completed their first week of exams. Already completed are:

• English (Advanced, Standard and Studies)
• Primary Industries and Construction
• Music
• Senior Science and Economics

Exams are scheduled to be completed by 11 November and HSC results will be released on 18 December.  We wish our Year 12 students the very best of luck in their exams.

HSC 2021 – COURSE CHANGES

Over the next few weeks, our Year 11 students are engaging in a process of discernment about the courses they will carry through to the HSC. While students need to complete at least 12 units in Year 11, they are able to drop down to 10 units for the HSC year. In this case, if they are able to move out of a course, it enables them to pick up a study lesson. 

In addition, students can choose to pick up extension courses such as Science Extension, History Extension, English Extension II and Mathematics Extension II if they have excelled in their Year 11 courses.

Students will change to their new courses on Friday, Week 4 although our extension courses will already have begun completing some introductory activities by that time. 

In order to change courses, students need to complete and submit a signed Stage 6 Course Change Application Form.

STUDY SKILLS TIPS – FROM PRUE PSALTER

ELES QUICK TIP IMPLEMENT GOALS FOR THIS TERM

If you have not yet set goals for this term, now is the time to do it.

• What do you want to achieve this term?

• What areas do you want to work on?

• What exams do you need to prepare for?

Then brainstorm the steps you need to take to achieve these goals and

allocate times to do each step. What is the first thing you need to do for each goal and when are you going to do it?