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