Daily Archives: July 29, 2011

Academic News Term 3 Week 2

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Dear Parents and Guardians,

Welcome back to term three, a pivotal term in your sons’ education. This is the final term before your son starts his HSC course.  During division meetings I have been emphasising with the boys, the importance of this term in preparing them for their HSC. Starting next term, all assessment tasks will contribute to their final HSC result. The important skills of comprehension, exam technique and extended response composition need to be developed this term so that starting next term, understanding new HSC content taught is their main goal. As you are aware, the boys last term undertook a study skills session with Elevate Education that focused on extended response writing. In a survey conducted at the end of this session, 98% of the boys indicated that they had found this session beneficial to their development of effective extended response writing. At division meetings I have stated to the boys that the development of this skill does not stop at these sessions, they need to be constantly liaising with their classroom teachers to continue to develop this skill. It is not a skill that can be completely developed at one study skills session.

Next Tuesday night, 8th August, will be the second and final study skills session conducted by Elevate Education. The theme of this session is effective examination preparation. It introduces students to the critical exam skills that will allow them to excel in the exam room:

· Learning styles – Students are introduced to the different learning styles and are encouraged to develop a multi-layered learning system

· Semantic learning – Students are introduced to a range of semantic learning techniques to help  them move beyond rote-learning.

· Exam room techniques – Including stress management, planning, how to tailor a succinct, focused answer and time allocation.

The cost of the session is $15 per student. All boarding students will be undertaking this session and I strongly encourage all day boys to attend.

This term is a very busy one with respect to assessment tasks. Below I have attached a copy of the term’s assessment schedule. It is imperative that the boys are well organised and start these tasks as early as possible because weeks five and six are busy weeks for assessment tasks, with over twenty tasks due in this period.  After this period, year 11 will only have two weeks before the final Preliminary course examinations.  The term flies when the boys are having fun!

Numerous boys have seen me about dropping subjects for the HSC course that commences next term. I believe the time to start thinking about dropping subjects is not now but during the term 3 holidays when a discussion with parents can occur. It is essential that the boys make an informed decision about the course of study for their HSC. This informed decision can only occur when the boys devote 100% to all their subjects, especially in their final examinations at the end of term. Only once this has occurred, can a decision be made about which subjects they should continue for their HSC and which subjects to discontinue. It is important to remember that students at Joeys must undertake 11 units in the HSC course, with at least one unit being a Religion course.

At the end of term, teachers of subjects that offer an extension course will talk to their classes about these courses and indicate which students these courses would be appropriate for. Also, towards the end of term, I will have a discussion with all of Year 11 about the number of units boys should be undertaking in the HSC. This communication with the boys will also be expressed in a forthcoming newsletter so that you are informed and that discussions over the holidays about patterns of study are constructive.

As we prepare to embark on the most important step in your sons’ educational journey a collaborative effort between teachers, parents and students will ensure the best possible start to the HSC.

On Wednesday this week, Yr 11 Business Studies students were involved in their Business Expo in the Resource Centre. The hard work that they put into their business presentations was a testament to this outstanding year group. Below is a movie from the expo.

Regards

Darren Frost

Boarding News Term 3 Week 2

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QUOTE: THE PROPER OFFICE OF A FRIEND IS TO SIDE WITH YOU WHEN YOU ARE WRONG. NEARLY EVERYBODY WILL SIDE WITH YOU WHEN YOU ARE RIGHT!”

Week two has come and basically gone and all boys now are well and truly back into their regime. I commended the boys how they dealt with the wet week and the changes to last Saturday sport. With the skies clearing, it was good to see them back out on the fields this week to burn up some built up energy.

A Highlight of the week for me was watching the boys putting their Business and entrepreneurial skills to work at the Business Studies Expo. Miss Beatrix Vincz and Mr David Drain ran this day, and the boys were asked to create their own Business venture, advertise it and explain its aim, what it provides and how they would finance and run theIMG_9058 operation. A wide variety of ventures evolved such as Adventure Holidays, Restaurants and Hotels, Security, Confectionary, Sports Apparel and Supplements, Street Luge and the customary Personal Training company to name a few. It was great to see the boys being the drivers and propagators of ideas and services and getting out of their comfort zone to push what they believed to be a valuable business venture. Check their work out in the photos.

Our Year 11 Drama students worked tirelessly over the holidays preparing for their performance of the Roy Murphy Show that has been performing this week. A take of the 1970’s Rugby League program, Controversy Corner, under the direction of Mr Patrick O’Shea, saw the cast and crew put on a really enjoyable and humorous production. The cast of Michael Thompson, Jason Ren, Chris Belsey, Brendon Follington, Lawrence Nelmes and Morgan Thomas, along with four talented young ladies from Woolich and the crew of Luke Donlon, Lewis Mullins and Chris Spooner produced a thoroughly enjoyable night’s entertainment. Congratulations to Pat and his cast and crew who capped off an outstanding production.

Week Two was a very busy one for all of our TAS students spending many extra hours in the Wood and Metal work rooms as they put on the finishing touching to their major works for the year. The TAS Display Night is being held IMG_9075tonight and it will present the great work of our students with many a candidate for Young Inventors Awards. The highlight of the night is the Year 12 HSC major works that will certainly provide our Year 11 boys with lots of food for thought. Congratulations must go to the boys for presenting their work so well and to Mr Drewitt-Smith and the TAS Staff for putting on the night.

The Ministry Work of our boys continues again at Matthew Talbot Hostel with Will McManus, Daniel Picone, David Ryan and Lachlan Cairns serving the guests today. Tom Laban is to be commended for fulfilling the important role of Leader of the Yr. 8 group at Colo this week, even more impressive was he did this on his own due to HSC commitments of the Accelerated Maths boys. Chris Spooner gained a second place in the Ryde Eisteddfod on Tuesday, well done.

On Wednesday evening our boys received an Invitation from Father Andrew and Ms Helen Smith to apply for the positions of Acolytes; certainly important roles in leading our College liturgies. Boys were invited to write a letter of application that is due in by Wednesday, 3rd August for this important role. This is the first sign of our boys now preparing to take over the leadership of the College, as our Year 12 boys become more engrossed in their HSC Trial exams.

At yesterday’s Assembly Ross challenged the boys to consider the tragic events witnessed this last weekend in Norway. He asked us all to pray for the people of this country and the families whose lives have been changed forever by this evil human moment. He implored the boys to, at all times, show dignity and respect for all human life and reject any form of fundamentalism, especially the misguided path taken by some that cannot be described in any other way than evil. Again, this is a time that we give thanks for the world we are fortunate to experience but at theIMG_9106 same time not being naïve enough to believe that such evil is not also on our doorstep. Boys should never engage in any form of ideological fundamentalism regardless of how innocuous it may appear to be. This starts in how they act and treat each other in the dorms and classrooms and at all times around the College.

Our Cross-Country team were presented with their competition singlets and well done to Sam Clarke, Matt Hall and Gus Rae for being selected in this team. Congratulations to Tim Palmer for qualifying for the National Cross Country Championships.

Five of our boys achieved High Distinctions in the Australian Schools Geography Competition. 90,000 students from 800 schools took place in this competition and Ross Davey, Joe Duffy, Brendon Follington, Declan O’Donahue and Sean Quigley are to be congratulated on their achievements.

Br Anthony then spoke to the boys and told them of an experience he had when he went to Notre Dame, whilst living in Chicago for a year. Unable to gain a ticket (along with Bill Clinton),  to watch the College Gridiron team play as the 90,000 seat stadium was sold out for the year, Brother went to the pre-match rally the night before the game. Here addressing the crowd of a few thousand Notre Dame supporters, Lou Holtz, highly regarded football coach offered 5 points he believed were fundamental for success:-

  • Take pride in making sacrifices.
  • Get rid of excuses; too many offer excuses for short comings.
  • Stay focused on what you want for extended periods of time.
  • Believe in yourself; your team, your teachers. Be trusted to do your job.
  • See/imagine yourself being successful, achieving what you want.

Good advice for all the boys.

Tomorrow is Round 4 of the Winter Competition season, with most teams playing Kings so there will be plenty of good tough matches for the troops and tonight our Debaters away at Parramatta. Whilst on this, just a reminder that the fixtures against Riverview has been brought forward in time, so now the 1st XV match will be at 11:15am with the 2nd XV at 10.00am and the 1st X1 will play at 9.00am with the 2nd X1 match commencing at 8:00am.

Marie Carney, from our Yr 11 Parent reps would like you to pencil the following occasion into your diaries, Friday 5 IMG_9107August we continue the tradition of our Annual Lunch at the Woolwich Pier Hotel.  Please find the attached invitation with details and rsvp to marie@ogormanlawyers.com.au. The RSVP date has been extended to Wednesday 3 August 2011. Thanks to Marie for doing this and hopefully a few can knock off early and make it.

Whilst on gatherings the College Foundation would like to draw your attention to the following Rugby Dinner:

“On Friday, 19 August, St Josephs College Foundation will celebrate 130 years of Joeys achievements at their “Men of Rugby” dinner, and invites you to get join with Matt Burke, Kurtley Beale and other Wallaby and Waratah legends for a fantastic evening. Hosted by award winning Sky News sports reporter James Bracey, guests will be treated to a three course meal, drinks and entertainment. A live auction of a few very special items will also be conducted on the evening.

Tickets to the dinner are $150 per head. A limited number of Premium Tables (seating nine or ten guests) are also available for $2,000, and will be located in a front of house/premium location and include the option of having a special guest (e.g. Wallaby or Waratah player) seated with your guests for the evening. Individual tickets can also be purchased, and if you indicate your son’s year group we will arrange a table for you.

All proceeds from the evening will go towards supporting the St Joseph’s College Capital Appeal: Realising the Vision”.

Tickets can be purchased in two ways:

Online through the Joeys shop

or

Download a booking form

Want more information?

Contact Joanne Wilson (SJC Development Office) on email events@joeys.org or  telephone: +61 2 9816 0958. 

So that ends another week in your sons’ lives, next Monday sees some of our boys sit the Trial HSC Accelerated Maths paper and we wish them all well. Take care, enjoy your weekend with your families.

Regards

Jeremy