Dear Parents and Guardians,

The boys have settled back into their studies admirably after the holidays. It has been very pleasing to see how focused they have become in night study. Congratulations to the following students who received Study Effort awards at yesterdays assembly: Matthew Alessi, James Allan, Anthony Baker, Ben Chaplin, Oliver Coorey, Maurice DeCosta, Ted Dwyer, Will Elsley, Sam Gliddon, Cameron Haddad, Matthew Hall, James Keenan, Tom Laban, Michael Lawler, Tim Litherland, Harry Maher, Tom Murphy, Laurence Nelmes, Declan O’Donahue, Clancy Pattinson, Daniel Picone, James Quinn, Josh Schwager, Charlton Wilson and Terence Wong. 

Congratulations must also go to the following students who received an Academic Excellence and/or and Academic Achievement award for semester one.

Below is the Yr 11 assessment calendar for term 2.

Last Tuesday night, the boys had the first of two study skills sessions with Elevate Education. The presenters were excellent. All of Elevate’s presenters have recently faced and succeeded in their final years of secondary education. They were all of an age that the students could easily relate to. They drew on their personal stories and experiences which gave them the ability to relate and engage students after a busy day of classes. At 6.30pm at night it can be quite difficult to keep the boys interested in their studies. The presenters kept the boys engaged and entertained. Their dynamic style definitely helped make study skills interesting for the boys and they are keen for the next session. This week’s session focused on essay writing and the second session will focus on examination techniques. Numerous boys, after the session, commented on how much they learnt from this presentation. 

Next Saturday night the Year 11 Parent Information Evening will take place in the College’s Resource Theatre. The following issues will be addressed:

· Preliminary and HSC Course

· Year 11 Half Yearly Reports

· Study Practices and Learning Environments

· The High School Certificate

· Post HSC Options

I look forward to discussing the important issues that your son will be experiencing over the next two years and hopefully giving you a greater understanding of the requirements of a HSC program.

Now that the students have their preliminary course well underway we have reached the point for students to buckle down and commit to their enrolled program of study. It is no longer possible for students to change subjects or individual classes. Changes at this stage place students in a position where they are unable to satisfy Board of Studies requirements for requisite hours of a course and hence unable to move onto the HSC program.

Last Monday, the Year 11 Half Yearly Reports were mailed. This is the first extensive insight into your son’s progress into his senior studies. Next Sunday’s Parent, Student and Teacher interviews are a perfect opportunity to discuss specific achievements and areas of improvement.  I strongly encourage all students to accompany their parents to these interviews.

 If at any time you are concerned with your son, not only now in light of his Half Yearly report, but anything throughout the year, please do not hesitate in contacting myself at the College.

Regards

Darren Frost

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

Dear Parents and Guardians,

How fast has this term gone? I cannot believe that a third of your sons’ Preliminary HSC course has been completed.

The boys have survived the first major set of exams in their senior education at Joeys. The students’ conduct during this examination period was simply outstanding. Numerous staff and parent helpers commented on their punctuality, politeness and productivity. This shows a commitment to their studies which is to be congratulated.

Next term students will receive the results of these exams and their semester one report will be mailed during week two. 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 examinations. As I have told the boys on numerous occasions, Year 11 is about obtaining the skills needed to achieve a successful HSC. What one does with these early results will directly influence their academic achievements in the future. Although students can say “it is only Year 11, I’ll start when marks count towards my HSC”, this rarely, if ever, happens because students get into a pattern of apathy and complacency. If a student uses these results to recognise their strengths, foster them and implement strategies that improve on their weaknesses, they will see the rewards in the HSC.

The parent, student and teacher interviews on the 9th of May will be an excellent opportunity to further discuss the academic progress of your son in each of his subjects. It is important that your sons attend these interviews with you as most teachers like to discuss specific improvement strategies directly with the students.

On 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.

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

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your support this term. The boys are constantly told that they are a good year group and I truly believe that is because of the strong values that you have instilled in your sons. Have a fantastic holiday with your family and I look forward to working with you next term  to make your sons’ experience at Joeys rewarding and fulfilling.

Darren Frost

Dear Parents and Carers,

How fast has this term gone? I cannot believe that we are almost a third of the way through your sons’ HSC Preliminary course.

Over the past few weeks in night study, it has been pleasing to see so many students developing study schedules. At our Division meetings I have continued to discuss the importance of preparation for half yearly examinations that will occur in week 9 and 10 this term. At last week’s meeting, I told the boys that they need to be at a stage, by the end of this week, where all their study notes are completed. At this stage they need to start to “train how they learn.” I explained to the boys that what I mean by this, is that just reading over study notes is not good enough for effective study, they also have to complete practice questions and responses, similar to what they will receive in their examinations. I have requested that all classroom teachers provide students with the following:

• Past examination papers
• Structure of the exam
• Topics that will be covered in the exam

To the boys’ disappointment, I have also informed all year eleven that I expect them to continue with a study program during weekends that is similar to what occurs at school each night. I believe that the boys should be studying a minimum of two hours a day during the weekend. I left the determination of when this will occur to the discretion of the boys. As I discussed at their Division meeting, some may decide to continue with a similar pattern that occurs at Joeys but others may prefer to complete their three hours early in the morning so that they have the majority of the day to themselves.

The boys are constantly told that the majority of them are working well and are a pleasure to teach, I truly believe that is because of the strong values that you have instilled in your sons. Thank you for your constant support.

Darren Frost

Dear Parents and Carers,

The Year 11 Dinner last week was fantastic and I would like to thank all those parents who attended and Jeremy for all the hard work he put into making it such a perfect evening.

Two weeks ago, every Year 11 student received a hard copy of the 2011 Preliminary HSC Assessment Booklet. A copy of this document can be found on JNet under parents, documents, teaching and learning.

This document clearly states the student requirements for the successful completion of the Preliminary HSC course, including what to do during times of illness and misadventure. It also includes the assessment schedule and weights for assessment tasks for all preliminary subjects. I encourage all parents to take the time to read this important document to help with any misunderstandings you or your son may have with the Board of Studies and Joeys’ requirements for successfully completing the Preliminary HSC course.

At yesterday’s Division meeting I continued my discussion about effective study. Building upon my discussion of study schedules, I provided all students with a simple, study scaffold. Below is a copy. I reminded the boys that in four weeks they have their half yearly examinations. This was not meant to shock the boys, some faces indicated otherwise, but to encourage them that it is time they started to prepare for such examinations. This study schedule scaffold is designed to help them create an effective study program. The scaffold has 35 time slots for subject revision, homework and assessment task preparation. I have indicated to all students that a minimum of 30 minutes a week to revise each subject is needed. The boys did not like my next comment; work needs to take place over the weekend. The ‘down tools’ for weekends is no longer a viable option if they seek personal academic success in senior studies.

I also gave the boys some tips on effective study

· Take good notes

· Be involved in your classes

· Review your notes everyday

· Complete all homework

· Always seek help when having difficulty

· Keep up your personal reading

Below is my presentation to Year 11.

This week I organised for “Elevate Education” to come to the College on the evenings of the 9th May and 8th August to conduct  two seminars on extended response writing techniques and effective examination preparation. “Elevate Education” have been operating these seminars at the College for Year 11 over last few years and both students and staff speak very highly of them. As we approach these dates I will provide students and parents with more information.

As we enter the second half of the term and rapidly approach the half yearly examinations, lets hope that the boys continue in their growth in their academic studies. Please find below a copy of the Year 11 Half Yearly Examination Timetable.

Regards

Darren

Dear Parents and Carers

Last week I posted the term one assessment calendar for all subjects on the Year 11 blog. If you have had the opportunity to look at this document, you will have noticed that over the next few weeks the boys have a lot of work to be completed. It is hoped that this document is used by the boys as an organisational tool that will allow them to complete assessments on time and at a standard that reflects their abilities.  I have instructed all students, if they are having difficulty completing any task, to discuss this with their classroom teacher. We have an amazing staff at Joeys and all teachers are more than willing to help students who are having troubles. I have also encouraged the boys to come and see me if they are having any difficulty with assignments, class work or any other classroom issues. I constantly tell the boys that communication is essential to effective learning. If they are struggling, there are numerous networks and support people at Joeys who are more than happy to help them out.

At last week’s Division meeting Mr Lee MacMaster (Director of Teaching and Learning) discussed the HSC: All My Own Work program. This program is designed to help Higher School Certificate students to follow the principles and practices of good scholarship. This includes understanding and valuing ethical practices when locating and using information as part of their HSC studies. All Year 11 students must complete this online course by Week 8 and hand me a copy confirming successful completion of the quiz for each of the modules. Students must achieve at least 90% for each quiz in order to fulfill the Board of Studies requirements.

Below is Mr MacMaster’s presentation.

Study

Everyone is different and for some students, studying and being motivated to learn comes naturally. I believe that a student’s success is dependent on their ability to study effectively and efficiently. The results of poor study skills are wasted time, frustration and low or failing grades.

Effective study skills must be practiced in order for a student to improve. It is not enough to simply “think about” studying; students have to actually do it, and in the process, use information from what they do to get better.

Last week I encouraged the boys to make a checklist to help get them organised for each lesson and night study. At this week’s Division meeting I emphasised the need to develop a study schedule.   A good schedule keeps the boys from wandering off course. A good schedule, if properly managed, assigns time where time is needed.    The boys’ schedule should take into account every subject, music practice and tutoring if appropriate. Their schedule should be:

· strategic : it assists them to achieve their goals

· measurable: they can tell when they have completed each task

· achievable: they are likely to succeed in completing their schedule

· realistic: it fits their circumstances

· flexible: it can be adapted if the circumstances change

I have asked all boarding supervisors, during night study, to monitor the study patterns of students. At last week’s Division meeting, I emphasised to the students the importance of a balanced study program. The boys need to realise that simply doing homework each night is not enough for successful academic achievement, a productive and consistent study program is also needed as well as planning and completing assessment tasks well before they are due.  I also discussed with the boys the importance of undertaking study on weekends. At times there seems to be a culture amongst the students that weekends are only for sport and leisure. This is an important part of being a teenager and a student at Joeys but the boys are now at a stage when weekend study is imperative if they are going achieve their personal best academically at the College.

Max Hall Assembly Music Performance

As always, please don’t hesitate to contact me should you have any concerns about your son’s academic progress.

Regards

Darren Frost

Dear Parents and Carers,

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate your sons on their excellent start to senior studies. I have been very pleased with the energy and enthusiasm demonstrated by the boys in all areas of school life. Numerous teachers have commented on their application, commitment to learn and their maturity. During nightly study I have been most impressed by the boys’ organisational skills and productivity.

I have included in this blog the Year 11 assessment schedule for the term. As you are no doubt aware, boys, at times, are very good at telling you what you want to know and hear but the proof is in the hard evidence. Even though your son is at a stage in his life where he needs some independence and the opportunity to develop self-discipline, knowing that you will be looking for evidence of completion of assessment tasks may be the support that he needs to complete such tasks. I have asked all Year 11 teachers to indicate to me as soon as possible any student that they are concerned with, especially with respect to the completion of assessment tasks and I will be speaking with any boys identified to counter any problems. As the students undertake their preliminary HSC, it is imperative that they develop an attitude that will translate to success in the HSC.

At our Division meeting this week, the boys were informed that the final day to change subjects is the 16th of February. Before a change in subject can occur, I require the completion of a “Change of Course Application” form from all parents whose son wishes to change subjects. You son will also need to get approval from the subject coordinator, teacher of the class they wish to enter and the class they wish to discontinue. This process is immensely important as it allows us to ensure students are undertaking the right subjects at the right levels which will ultimately benefit their HSC program. Choosing the right subjects is the key to a student who is willing to work hard and put in the hours needed for success.

As you are aware, textbooks are now ordered through Better Books and are delivered directly to your home or the College. The process has been relatively smooth but there are still some textbooks on back order and disappointingly some students have still not ordered their textbooks. Hopefully all textbooks will have arrived by early next week. For those students who change subjects, the process of exchanging and ordering new textbooks is to be organised through Better Books. Their details are:

• Fax: Fax: (02) 9816 3559
• Email: betterbooks@betterbooks.com.au
• Phone: (02) 9879 6411

At this week’s Division meeting the boys were informed about the free tutoring service at the College. It is a free service where two young Old Boys tutor Year 11 students in Mathematics and the Sciences. The sessions run for twenty five minutes. All Year 11 students will be told that if they wish to undertake this tutoring, they are to express their interest to Mr Ticehurst at lunchtime on the day they wish to have tutoring.

For those parents who wish for their son to continue with private tutoring, could you please email Jeremy and myself your son’s weekly tutoring schedule. If you decide to employee a new tutor to the College, all such tutors must complete a “Tutor Application Form” which is processed and administered through the College’s Teaching and Learning department. Please email me if you need an application form for your son’s tutor.

I look forward to working with you to ensure that your sons’ senior years at Joeys is one which exemplifies the sense of community we are so proud of at St Joseph’s College.

Regards
Darren Frost

Welcome to the Year 11 blog. Jeremy and I have decided to embrace technology and provide information for Year 11 parents through this website. 

I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself and welcome you to the new College year. My name is Darren Frost and it is with great honour and excitement that I am your sons’ Academic Coordinator for Year 11 and 12. As many of you are aware, I was also your sons’ Academic Coordinator in Years 7 and 8.

 Essentially my role concerns both the academic and pastoral needs of your son, during the school day. I am the first port of call for both you and your son and my priority is to ensure that the holistic education that your son will receive at St Joseph’s is administered effectively and is of maximum benefit to your son. As well as my role as Academic Coordinator, I am also on the Year 11 boarding team as a supervisor which will allow Jeremy (Year 11 Boarding Coordinator) and myself to have a collegial, all-encompassing approach to your sons’ education and well-being. One of my roles is to ensure that the transition to senior studies is as smooth as possible for both you and your son. Please do not hesitate to contact me at any time during the year should you have any concerns regarding your son. My direct number at school is 98160871, if I am unavailable you can leave a message and I will return your call as soon as possible. If it is more convenient you may also contact me via e-mail, dfrost@joeys.org.

 I look forward to working with you to ensure that your son’s senior years at Joey’s is one which exemplifies  the sense of community we are so proud of at St Joseph’s College.

 Regards

Darren Frost
dfrost@joeys.org

Office and Fax (9816 0871)