From The Principal

The start of term 4 has seen the following staff join us:

• Ms Bridie Connell teaching English
• Mr Nigel Lockyear working as the Aboriginal Community Education Officer (ACEO)
• Ms Laura Morden working in Learning Support
• Mr Jeremy Holmes working in Learning Support

The final term of the 2022 school year has arrived and is rapidly going by. On 1 November we will say farewell to our year 12 students at a whole school assembly followed by a BBQ. Completion of assessment tasks are ongoing to make sure that students complete all of their course requirements. One of the final assessment tasks for some students is examinations. These can prove to be stressful. As parents and caregivers, along with our staff, we can do some things to support students to manage the stress. The following infographic is useful in how we can support not only our year 12 students but also year 7 to 12 students who have tests and other assessment tasks that can make them feel stressed. The infographic is from Reach Out an organisation that supports schools in thinking about not only nurturing a student’s academic progress but also the importance of wellbeing in order to engage in learning to achieve and experience success.

Where students are not coping support can be sought from professionals including psychologist or counsellor. 

The following are some useful links for students and families:

• How to manage expectations at exam time 
• A parent's story about exam stress
• Exam stress and teenagers

Year 12 results will be released on 19 December. A number of staff will be at school to answer any questions. We wish our students all the best as they traverse the end of their 12 years of schooling. Subject teachers will make themselves available in the lead up to the finalisation of assessment tasks. Wednesday 30 November will see the graduation of the 2022 Class of Year 12 at the Adelaide Town Hall.

This term will see the continuation of the learning program for year 7 to 11 students. In the newsletter and in email correspondence, specific information has been provided for year levels and what is happening:

• Year 7, 8 and 9 students will continue with the full learning program until 14 December followed by two days of curriculum related activities.
• Year 7, 8 and 9 students will have panel presentations on 12 December giving them the opportunity to talk about their learning.
• Year 10 students formal lessons finish on 9 December.
• Year 11/SACE Stage 1 students finish formal lessons on 25 November. This will be followed by Headstart to Year 12 in the week beginning 27 November. The same week sees the continuation of the IBDP classes.

Information about year 7 to 11 report distribution will be sent home in the coming weeks. It is important that students remain committed to attending each and every day and all their lessons, focus on their learning and complete all assessment tasks to the best of their abilities. Significant improvements in the lead up to the end of the learning program can occur with commitment, sound organisation and a willingness to listen to and act on feedback from teachers.