Dear Parents and Guardians,

Welcome back to term 2! This week, students will receive the results of these exams and their semester one report will be mailed during week two. As I said in my last blog, I strongly encourage all parents to discuss with their son their achievement in these examinations. It is important to remember that the change in academic rigour of subjects may lead to students being disappointed in their first set of senior results. The boys have reached an important stage of their academic development, that is, the time for students to develop academic resilience. Senior students need to have the ability to identify their strengths and the areas that they need to improve in. Identification is only the first step in academic progress, the critical step is to put strategies in place that foster these strengths and help improve areas of concern. Academic resilience gives students the confidence to tap into the support networks at the College that will help in their academic progress. These networks include:
• Academic Coordinator
• Classroom teachers
• Careers Counsellor
• School Counsellor
• College free Mathematics and Science nightly tutoring

It is important that the boys seek out the help of these networks’. These people have firsthand information with respect to the students’ academic needs and therefore they are the ones who can directly discuss these matters. Part of academic resilience is taking responsibility for one’s own learning. Students should no longer be relying on parents as mediators when they can approach teachers or coordinators directly. This will make feedback and discussions more beneficial and prepare students for life beyond Joeys.

Next Monday, the 9th of May, “Elevate Education” will conduct the first of two study skills sessions being run for Year 11. Session one is entitled “Essay Booster”. This session deals with essays and extended response style exam questions and assignments. These often present one of the biggest stumbling blocks for students in senior school. This seminar will look at the tools and techniques students need to excel at, what can often be a difficult format to master.

The skills that are covered include:
• 12 do’s and don’ts of essay writing.
• Question analysis and understanding.
• Students are taken through an essay template modelled on the top English students in the state and are shown:
* How to structure an essay
* How to structure an introduction
* How to structure a paragraph
* How to structure the conclusion
* How to make an essay stand out
* How to format and write a report

Session two will take place on the 8th of August and will address examination techniques. All boarders will complete these sessions and I strongly encourage all day boys to attend. The total cost per student, for both sessions, is $25. If you want more details about Elevate Education please visit their website at www.elevateeducation.com

A reminder that on the 28th of May, 6.30pm—7.30pm, the Year 11 Information Evening will occur in the Resource Centre Theatre. I look forward to seeing you there.

Sorry for all the reminders but the parent, student and teacher interviews are the 29th of May from 9am to 3.30pm. All families should now have received the individual pin numbers for booking interview times on our online booking program and this program is now open for country and overseas parents to make bookings. Metropolitan parents can start making bookings on Wednesday next week, 11th May. Bookings will close on the 25th May.

As is evident from this blog, a very busy term is ahead.

Regards
Darren Frost
Year 11 Academic Coordinator