LEADERS OF WELLBEING REPORTS
All articles published week beginning 26 October 2020
Year 7
Welcome back to Term 4.
It is great to see so many fresh haircuts and beautiful uniforms. Year 7 adapted very well to the changes in sport and had an excellent first day last Tuesday. Today, students were actively involved in completing a range of activities as a part of the ‘Minute To Win It’ sport program.
Please be aware, it is policy for students to wear a hat outside during Term 1 and Term 4.
For the first two weeks of Wellbeing this term, students are focusing on Positive Student Behaviours. It has been great to have the Acting Director of Students, Mr Ross Kennedy, initiate this, allowing students to focus on Learning, Self and Respect. This will assist students as they move into the exam period during Week 4. Students will have the opportunity to develop their study skills during homeroom and in classes.
We understand that this year has been a whirlwind for all and we would like students to continue with their positive approach to learning until the end of the Term.
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 2 edition of our Year 8 report for Term 4.
Throughout the year, I have continually been impressed by the involvement of our Year 8 cohort across the College in a wide variety of areas. If there is an activity across Year groups, I am always so pleased to see the percentage of them who are Year 8 students. Whether it is the Open Boys’ Hockey side, the Agricultural Show Team or any of the College Musical Ensembles, our students continue to take on the opportunities that our school has to offer.
This term will go so quickly, even just because it is an eight week term. Yearly examinations in Week 4, followed by the Year 9 Leadership for 2021 process will ensure plenty of nerves amongst the cohort. When it comes to exams, please contact me if you would like some tips on how to best support your child through study. The Elevate resources throughout the year have given some great advice on study routines and methods. While the results of Year 8 exams will be by no means life-determining, there are plenty of lessons to be learned through the process.
There has been plenty of excitement regarding subjection selections for 2021 coming through. If there are any issues with the choices, please let me know. It is important to note, however, that movement from now will be limited and only be approved with appropriate reasoning and is contingent on subject lines and class sizes. Another thing to note - the timetable software does not default back to subjects that weren’t selected, so if your child has been given an elective that means that it is a subject that they wrote on their form.
I am always happy to discuss your child’s progress via email, phone, or face-to-face. Please contact me 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
Welcome back, I hope you all had an enjoyable and restful break.
As we are greeted with the warmer weather, it is important students are now remembering their sun protection at school. Students are required to have their hats for their practical PE lessons and Thursday afternoon sport. While on uniform, please refer to Mr Humble’s email in regards to how the uniform should be worn and the rules about haircuts, jewellery and hair accessories.
I am lucky enough to be attending Year 9 sport each week and it was a great start to the new way of doing things. The majority of students were involved and it was a very positive afternoon. This week we will be completing a number of different physical activities and scoring each one to see who can come out the superior House.
Congratulations to the students who completed their OED paddle. It is both physically and mentally challenging and they did a great job. I hope they enjoyed their time on the water and learned some valuable lessons.
The students should have received their exam timetable for Week 4. Please have a conversation with your child in regards to these exams and if they feel organised and ready. We will be looking at organisation and study tips next week in our Year meeting. It might be useful for you to print these timetables out and have them visible in their study space.
Have a great week. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact myself or Mr Mannion.
Emma Smith | Leader of Wellbeing - Year 9
Issac Mannion | Assistant Leader of Wellbeing - Year 9
Year 10
The term is moving quickly and the weather warming up. The examination week is fast approaching in Week 4. All students are required to be present and sit these examinations unless there are extenuating circumstances.
During the year, many resources from Elevate and information sessions have been offered to both students and parents to assist with strategies and processes to study. This period of time can be stressful for students and parents alike. Focusing on balance and encouraging your child to do their best is a healthy approach to such situations rather than a results focused approach. Ensuring that your child is eating, sleeping, exercising and communicating well during this period of time is imperative for their health.
Subject choices are now finalised and allow your child to enjoy more authority over their learning, continuing ownership of their learning path and future.
I am currently working on an alternative program for Weeks 7 and 8 which will focus on collaboration, teamwork and preparation for their senior years. Normal school rules and expectations will apply for this period of time for all students.
Meegan Johnson | Leader of Wellbeing - Year 10
Trevor Dawson | Assistant Leader of Wellbeing - Year 10
Year 12
Wellbeing Day
The Year 12 students were blessed with beautiful weather on Tuesday 13 October to partake in the inaugural Wellbeing Day. The day consisted of fun team building activities where the students were magnificent! The encouragement and support the students showed each other was incredibly admirable. I would like to thank the Wellbeing Team and the Year 12 students for a fabulous day.
Academic Wellbeing day
Thursday 15 October was set aside for the Year 12 students to receive further information regarding the HSC/IB requirements.
Information regarding the resources that the college provide for Senior students was also provided.
Session1 - Library resources.
Presented by Mrs Marie Knight and Mrs Sue Graffen on the services the library provides the students. Year 12 were asked for feedback on areas of concern regarding studying. The teachers then provided further information in reference to their needs. Please see below the information that the students were given.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BQ33e0fWiLZCl5vfyDVLXzBf-XxRa01C29OYMhY_FYY/edit?usp=sharing
Turnitin
Turnitin is an originality checking and plagiarism prevention service that checks your writing for citation mistakes or inappropriate copying. When you submit your paper, Turnitin compares it to text in its massive database of student work, websites, books, articles, etc.
Turnitin is integrated into the Assignments tool in all online classrooms and is managed by Classroom Support. This means that when you upload your paper to your classroom for grading, it will automatically be sent through Turnitin's repository. The Similarity Report that it generates will help identify possible instances of plagiarism.
All Year 12 students have an account and were given the opportunity to spend time submitting assignments and experiencing the functionality of the program.
Session 2
Information on Scaling and moderated marks were presented to Year 12 by Mr Anthony Heffer and Ms Helen Foster. The following links have been provided to parents for further clarification.
In the IB session, Mrs Humble reviewed some of the key aspects of internal and external assessment and the processes around grade determination and the submission of work. She also updated students on the latest news from the University Admissions Centre in NSW and other Australia states on the process for IB score conversion into an ATAR equivalent and university admission processes. Students had the opportunity for reflection to consider how they can maximise the opportunities provided by IB Diploma Programme to their advantage in their future endeavours.
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1yZeFjOW_SD2AGpa8GTP1AanBFdSPUu1oJ6WXVXCkH_Y/edit?usp=sharing
Leaders 2021 Induction
During Week 2 Principal’s Assembly, the leaders of 2021 were inducted. The induction was followed by morning tea to commemorate the occasion. There will be a video package sent out to parents.
Until next time…
Why did the girl always wear glasses in maths classes?
They improve di- vision
Amall Liakatos | Leader of Wellbeing - Year 12
Kelly Bowen | Assistant Leader of Wellbeing - of Year 12