Dear Parents and Carers,
Welcome to the final term of your sons’ formal academic studies before he completes his HSC. Can you believe how fast this has come around? I can remember when most of these boys walked through the College gates back in 2005 for the first day of Year 7. How far they have come! The academic focus for this term is the HSC trials in weeks 4 and 5, the completion of remaining assessment tasks and preparation for the HSC. In week 3 there are no assessment tasks due, this is to ensure that students are focused on the trial examinations. I included with the interim reports the Trial examination timetable and the term 3 assessment calendar. I will also post those documents on the Year 12 blog.
Term 3 is a very busy academic term with many things being finalised in the lead up to the HSC. The following important academic events will occur this term:
- Trial HSC Examinations
- HSC practical examinations
- UAC applications
- HSC Languages Oral examinations
- Finalisation of student internal assessment ranks
The Trial examinations are very important time. These examinations generally carry the highest weighting for an assessment in each subject and are therefore a major determinant in the students’ final HSC rank. It is pleasing to see, when walking through the dorms during night study, the dedication and determination of the boys to succeed in these exams. Most boys are studying with a pen in their hand and many are completing past papers. Just a reminder with respect to illness during the trial period, all absences during this time must be accompanied by a doctor’s certificate and delivered or faxed to me.
The HSC trials are exactly that, trials. Just as a sports team begins the season with trial games to perfect their skills and get the feel of the competition, so too do the HSC trials give students a chance to ready themselves for the HSC season. The trials are replicas of the HSC format and are a chance for the boys to test themselves as will be required in October. With this in mind, the boys should make the most concerted effort they can, after all a strong performance in the trial season pays off when the main competition starts.
I would like to wish all of the boys luck as they undertake their HSC trial examinations. I am filled with pride when I see the students moving so confidently towards their futures. Their hard work and dedication leaves me in no doubt that their results will reflect their many and varied efforts and ensure they are well placed for the HSC exams.
Regards
Darren