Dear Parents and Guardians,

Welcome back to term 4 and the start of your sons’ HSC course. Your sons’ Preliminary course was over in the blink of an eye and the HSC course will be over even more quickly. The first two weeks of term have been very quiet with respect to assessment tasks except for the boys in the accelerated maths class, who will complete their HSC mathematics exams next week. The next fortnight is also relatively quiet with only an assessment task due in Biology. Things start to speed up after this with weeks 7 and 8 having assessment tasks due in over 20 subjects. At our last Division meeting, I provided all students with a hard copy of the term 4 assessment calendar (I have attached a copy with this blog). I told the boys that despite sounding like a broken record, the importance of organisation and planning is key to achieving a successful HSC result and specifically completing all assessment tasks this term by the due date and at a level that reflects their ability.

Thank you to all parents for completing your sons’ pattern of study forms. This has helped me immensely as I was able to process all subject changes last week, enabling Year 11 to start their new timetable and study periods by the middle of last week.

Most boys have received their textbooks but there are a few who have not ordered them. If you son has ordered textbooks but not received them, please either email me or ask him to see me as soon as possible. I also asked this of the boys at our Division meeting but I don’t need to tell you how short some of their memories are, especially regarding assessment tasks, study, examinations and organisation.

Better Books, the textbook supplier, has been outstanding. Many days I will fax an order through in the morning and this order will arrive by lunch the same day.

The next twelve months will be a busy time for your son and your families. There is a lot to deal with. Year 12 brings unique challenges in terms of dealing with disappointing results, study, application to universities, TAFE or Colleges and scholarship applications, just to name a few. My main role at the College is to support both you and your son in dealing with these challenges. Please do not hesitate in contacting me at the College to be of any assistance (dfrost@joeys.org or 9816-0871). I look forward to continuing to work with you to ensure that Joeys provides your son the best possible education he can receive.

Regards

Darren Frost