Senior School

SHARRON FRAME

Head of Senior School

The biggest threat to the health of our students is not an infection, but their ability to cope with the demands of their academic programs. The number of students experiencing issues with anxiety and depression has increased exponentially over the past five years. Not all students who find themselves unable to cope with the completion and submission of work requirements by due dates, and the pressure of examinations suffer from anxiety. A review of their time management and organisational skills does show that failure to have good study habits places additional and unnecessary pressure on them.

However, there are those that genuinely do not know how to move forward, and become stalled in their studies. It is important that students not only recognise that it is normal to need extra help at times, but it is also nothing to be ashamed of.

Whilst it seems that there is more suffering from these issues today, a lot of this increase can be put down to where we are as a society. We are more accepting of, and openly discuss, mental health issues. Students need to feel safe and be able to talk about what is happening in their lives.

The appointment this year of our School Counsellor, Fiona Baudinette, has shown there is a need for focus on this very important area of School life. If you have concerns about, or notice changes in your child, I encourage you to speak to us. It may simply be nothing, but it may also mean that they need additional support. A conversation with the relevant Coordinator or Head of School can be easily arranged, and worth it for the peace of mind.

This week, those responsible for the wellbeing of students in the Middle and Senior Schools have attended a two day course on Mental Health First Aid, aimed at providing staff with the tools and knowledge to recognise the signs and ways we can help students, who find themselves unable to understand or cope with issues related to their mental health. The staff PD will be followed by three very important sessions with students in Year 10 in Term 3.

Year 12 Individual Interviews

Each year following the semester examinations, Year 12 students meet with the Head of Senior School and a Deputy Principal, to discuss their year to date progress. These are important meetings and include discussion of the pathway they intend to follow to achieve their goals. A small number need a reality check, a wake-up call so to speak, in order to get back on track and establish suitable study techniques to bed down the theory from course work, and to meet the required deadlines for the completion of work requirements. Discussions will be based on Unit 3 SAC results, work requirements, and the semester examinations. Students will receive a schedule later this week.

Save the Date!

Parents and students in Year 10 are invited to the 2020 VCE Information Evening on Wednesday July 24th. Subject selection for the VCE years requires serious research into options, which should include consideration of the strengths and weaknesses of each individual student. Students have participated in two forms of testing designed especially to provide this information. The Morrisby Report links student interest and strengths in order to suggest suitable career paths for each student, whilst the General Achievement Test completed this week, highlights subject areas most suited to students. Results of both tests will be made available to parents, and will be included in discussions regarding subject selections next term.

Subject Selection Forms for Year 12, 2020

Subject selection forms for 2020 will accompany the Year 11 reports this semester. Students will be required to return these forms to the Head of Senior School by Monday July 22nd.