Year 12 Boarding News: Week 1, Term 2, 2011
Dear Year 12 Parents/Carers,
I hope that you had a relaxing Easter and a holiday break with your families. It was pleasing that so many Year 12s gave of their time in the holidays: the European football tour, the Bougainville immersion trip, the musical rehearsals, the cross country training and the Coffs Harbour Rugby camp all included boys from this year group who contributed so willingly. Reports from all of these activities have been very positive.
The boys have begun the term well overall. From a boarding perspective we welcome Mr David O’Malley to the Year 12 staff. David is an old boy who is training to be a teacher and he will be able to assist Economics and Business Studies students in particular. We have had the volleyball court resurfaced and the dorms have had a thorough clean in the holidays.
Winter sports have started and a reminder that of the compulsory attendance at 1st XV rugby games starting this Saturday at Scots. The debaters continue the ISDA and Fed. Cup competitions this Friday, while those involved in Joseph, the musical have a big rehearsal on Friday evening also.
You would have received order forms for the boys’ photos in the mail with their reports. For Year 12 there is just an individual photo to order. A whole year group shot will be taken and order forms for it are being sent in the mail to full boarders today. All other Year 12 boys will be given an order form to take home for this weekend.
The main events for Year 12 this term are the Parent Information Evening on Saturday May 28th at 6.30pm in the Br Michael Theatre. This is followed by the Year 12 social function at the Hunters Hill Club. This invitation was sent last term and I will be resending it. I would encourage as many as possible to attend on this evening. The following day the parent teacher interviews are being held.
I wish all of the mums a very happy day on Sunday. Return time for Sunday night is by 9pm as a result.
All the best until next week
Pat
Vincent Musolino at Wembley Stadium, London, holding the FA Cup
Year 12 Academic News: Week 1, Term 2, 2011
Dear Parents and Carers,
It is only Thursday of the first week back from holidays and it seems like we were never way; such is the life of a Year 12 student. I hope that you were able to spend some quality time with your boys over Easter and that it gave you an opportunity to discuss their report and academic progress. I mentioned to the Form on Wednesday at our weekly meeting that it was great to see the improved marks and encouraging comments on many of the reports as they came off the printer. This was reinforced this week when one student came to my office to discuss an estimated ATAR; the look on his face was one of happy surprise as the estimation exceeded his previous plans. However, not so the case for just as many students. The Half Yearly Report served as a rude wake up call for some that downing tools on the weekends comes at a cost. Whatever the situation, the Half Yearly Report provides all Year 12 students with a very timely opportunity to re-assess their commitment to study, the quality of their exam preparation and the realism of their own expectations relative to their ability and application.
Term 2 Study: Beware of Complacency
Term 2 can be fraught with difficulties for Yr 12 students in terms of their academic progress and study program. The fact that the next formal examinations are the Trial HSC exams in August may cause some students to think that they can ease of their studies. Add to this the excitement of Winter Sports, the increasing regularlity of 18th birthdays and the challenge to stay on track becomes difficult. All subjects have assessment tasks this term, mostly in the form of written assignments, in-class tests, practical exams and performances or speaches. I will include a Term 2 Assessment Schedule in next week’s Blog to keep parents and carers informed of the nature, marks value and dates of HSC assessment tasks for Term 2. In the meantime, students and parents can still refer to the HSC Assessment Booklet that was issued at the start of the HSC course back in Term 4, 2010.
I advise parents and carers to keep a tight reign on the weekend activities of their sons during this term. A string of late Saturday nights and Sunday morning sleep-ins won’t add up to respectable grades.
I have encouraged all Year 12 students to heed the following advice with regards to working on Assessment Tasks during Term 2:
- List all assessment task dates on your wall calendar. Keep these in sight to avoid losing track of time.
- Start the assignment as soon as you get it – even in the smallest way – by making a title page, collecting resources, complining a bibliography’ sketching out a contents draft or a mind-map. Hours searching the internet doesn’t really count in terms of a productive start.
- Keep the assignment outline and marking guidlines on your notice board so they are easy to refer to.
- Plan to finish the task before the due date. This will allow some time to read over the work in order to make any final adjustments.
- Organise any special equipment that you need for the task well in advance.
- For class tests, complete as many practice papers as you can under the same conditions as you will have for the actual test. Run these practice papers past your teacher for advice.
- Give it your very best shot. It will probably be the last time you will do an assignment for that subject.
Board of Studies Notices
On Wednesday, I was able to hand each student a letter from the Board of Studies that listed their HSC PIN details. I asked boys to immediately put this number into their mobile phones and I have advised them to “get mum to write it down somewhere!” The boys also kept the hard copy of the letter. This PIN, together with their HSC student number will allow students to access their HSC Exam Timetable and their results via the Students On-Line site at the Board of Studies.
I also distributed a notice from the Board about Assessment rules and procedures, particularly relating to plagarism.
Parent, Student, Teacher Interviews (Sunday May 29th)
Parents and Carers that live outside of the Sydney Metropolitan Area now have access to Parent Teacher Student Interview appointments through the College Website. Metropolitan residents will be able to make their appointments on-line in the same way from Wednesday 11th May. These interviews provide an opportunity for all parties to follow up on the Half Yearly report marks and grades. As interviews are only very brief in duration, I encourage these discussions to be frank but constructive. Should parents wish to continue with the discussion, then a telephone appointment or alternative meeting time should be made so that appointments can run on time. It presents as a formal opportunity for parents and students to thank Year 12 teachers in person for their work.
I take this opportunity to wish all our Year 12 mothers an enjoyable Mothers Day this Sunday.
Regards,
Mark Fenech
Year 12 Careers News: Week 1, Term 2, 2011
Law:
UNSW Law School Parent & Student Information Evening – Thursday 12 May
Once again, UNSW Law School is inviting Year 11 and 12 students, their parents and careers advisors to a night of information and insights into what studying law is really like.
When: Thursday 12 May 2011, 6-8pm
Where: The Law Building, UNSW Kensington Campus
Places are limited and registration is essential at www.law.unsw.edu.au.
Medicine UMAT
The Undergraduate Medicine and Health Sciences Test (UMAT) is a requirement for undergraduate admission to medicine at most universities.
Admission to university medicine courses generally requires a minimum UAI of 95, UMAT and also involves an interview process.
Important dates:
Registration for UMAT is now open and closes Friday 3rd June 2011. The UMAT test is only offered once each year – in 2011 it will be held on Wednesday 27th July.
• Information on the UMAT test http://umatweb.acer.edu.au/
• University courses requiring a UMAT test
http://umat.acer.edu.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=9&Itemid=39
• UMAT practice questions are available on the UMAT website at:
http://umat.acer.edu.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=3&Itemid=3
• UMAT coaching information:
http://umat.acer.edu.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=108&Itemid=9
http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/189_05_010908/gri10324_fm.html
St Joseph’s College cannot recommend coaching organizations but examples are:
MedEntry http://www.medentry.edu.au/
Face 2 Face http://www.f2fumat.com.au/?gclid=CMfhstus5p8CFc4vpAodWz6vGQ
Icarus http://umed.edu.au/icarus.html
Mrs Lorna Charters, Careers Adviser