Deputy Principal's Report

A Message for all Students

How do I learn? (Thanks to vark-learn.com)

Cognitive science has identified a number of methods to enhance knowledge acquisition, and these techniques have fairly universal benefit. Students are more successful when they space out their study sessions over time, experience the material in multiple ways, test themselves on the material as part of their study practices, and elaborate on material to make meaningful connections rather than engaging in activities that involve simple repetition of information (e.g., making flashcards or recopying notes).

Your learning preferences can be used to help you develop additional, effective strategies for learning and for improving your communication skills.

If you want to explore better ways to consolidate your learning you could access the Academic Helpsheets below. Students can select their particular preference(s) to understand how they should:

1. take in information;
2. use information for effective learning;
3. and communicate more effectively.

• Visual Strategies
• Aural Strategies
• Read/Write Strategies
• Kinesthetic Strategies
• Multimodal Strategies

A Message to all Parents

Being a parent is tough. Especially during the teenage years. Advice on how to be a ‘better parent’ seems to be freely given and can often seem judgemental and impossible to apply.

We know that parents have the greatest influence on their children and how they interact with the world and with others. They have watched you as they grow up as they try and make sense of the world. They model themselves on you. They look up to you. They use the ways you react to the world to guide their own choices.

Your behaviour affects your children's behaviour because they are listening and learning, whether or not they seem like it. Just as they learned to talk from repeating your words, they learn to behave by repeating your behaviours.

If you are polite and compassionate, they are more likely to be polite and compassionate. If you are a fun-loving free spirit, they too should exhibit these qualities. Whatever your good qualities are, your children will probably share them.

Unfortunately, the reverse is true as well. Parents who lose their temper easily, yell often, or are rude have children who behaviour poorly.

Be your best self in front of your kids! In doing so, realise that being your best self may mean learning from your mistakes rather than not making them.

Often the information available to us when we look for help in understanding how to do this seems unrealistic and is often from the US or the UK and feels like it doesn’t apply to our families.

These two weblinks are Australian and have great advice for Australian families.

http://raisingchildren.net.au/articles/role-modelling.html

http://raisingchildren.net.au/articles/improving_behaviour_teenagers.html

Twilight Open Evening and Careers Expo at Catholic Regional College Sydenham on

Wednesday 1 August 2018

The Twilight Open Evening provides students and their parents with vital information about course selection and pathway planning. It is essential that all students and at least one parent attend the evening as vital course selection information will be provided.

The following information provides an overview of the day’s events:

Wednesday 1 August 9.00 am – 4.00 pm: Student Information Sessions and Careers Expo

Year 10 students from Catholic Regional College Caroline Springs, St Albans and North Keilor will be transported to Catholic Regional College Sydenham for the afternoon.

Students will be placed into groups and will be presented with information regarding the full variety of programs on offer at Catholic Regional College Sydenham. These presentations will provide students with information about the subjects available for study and the career options that these subjects can lead to.

Students will also have the opportunity to tour some of the specialist facilities at the College including the Trade Training Centre and to attend the Careers Expo to gain pathway information.

The afternoon is designed specifically for students and will provide them with a general overview of the options available to them at Catholic Regional College Sydenham.

Wednesday 1 August 4.00pm – 8.00 pm: Twilight Open Evening

The Twilight Open Evening has three elements.

1. Learning Area Displays in the College Hall: Families are invited to visit the College from 4.00pm to review each of the subject areas, meet with teaching staff to receive valuable advice about subject requirements and course selection.

We recommend that families should allow at least one full hour in order to visit subject displays. Current students will also be on hand to provide insights into subject and course selection

2. Careers Expo: This expo will occur in the College Hall between 5.30 and 8.00 pm and will

provide an opportunity for students and parents to research and receive quality information from our exhibitors regarding employment, apprenticeships, traineeships , TAFE institutes,

Universities and both Government and Private Providers. This will enable families to develop an understanding of the post school pathway options available to students and how their choice of programs will influence their future options. Some of our exhibitors will include: The University of Melbourne, RMIT, Victoria University, NMIT, VACC, AFL Sports Ready, Pivot Point, Australian Catholic University, and Apprenticeships Group Australia.

3. Formal Parent Information Sessions will be held in The Crate Theatre between 5.30pm and 8.00pm on the evening.

Michael Flaherty

Deputy Principal