Year 12 Academic News. Week 8, Term 2, 2011
Dear Parents, Carers and Students,
As mentioned in last week’s Blog, I attach a copy of the 2011 Trial HSC Timetable for your information. Two printed copies have also been enclosed in the Term 2 Interim Reports which were posted today. Also attached below is the Assessment Schedule for Term 3. Please read the second page of the Assessment calendar which has the College’s rules and procedures for assessments on it. Students will be given hard copies of both of these documents upon their return to school.
Term 3: The final run home
Term 3 is huge in relation to the HSC for a number of reasons. Firstly, the Trials are the last time that students sit for formal exams so it is the last practice session before the big game kicks off in October. Exam techniques need to be honed and everything from timing, pen speed, essay technique, quotations, drawing tables and diagrams, short answer responses and multiple choice strategies need to be fine-tuned. What students do in the Trials, they will likely do in the HSC examinations. The examination timetable will also test how organised students are in their study program – there will be some days, perhaps even several consecutive days, when they don’t have an exam and others that are fully loaded with examinations. What will your study patterns involve? What recreation and sleep patterns will be put in place? What sacrifices have to be made? Secondly, many of the Trial examinations are weighted heavily for assessment. For example, the Economics exam in the Trials is worth 40% of total assessment marks. Students should refer to their HSC Course Handbook that they received in Term 4, 2010 to check the weighting of these exams in each of their subjects. Finally, the Trials signal the end of assessments for many subjects so it is the last chance to make an impact.
During the holidays
Students should remember that teachers can still be contacted by email over the holidays. They should use this technology to their advantage to send practice exam responses to their teachers for correction. My advice is to handwrite your practice papers and scan these documents to your teachers. Typed essays are unrealistic at this point because you won’t be typing the exams in October/November.
While it is important to get good rest over the vacation, it’s not good to sleep late into the day or even grab that siesta after lunch. Trial exams will commence as early as 8.30AM and afternoon exams may kick off immediately after lunch. Students need to train their body clocks to be ready for action at these times so being asleep at times that you should be awake over the next three weeks will be a bad habit to break.
At least 4 hours per day for 5 days of the week should be dedicated to Trial HSC preparation. Studying day and night is also not helpful – find a balance that works for you.
Parents and siblings should be prepared to allow students to have a bit of quiet around the house while study is going on. They can help by providing yummy snacks or a partner for recreation time – shooting some hoops; kicking the footy; going for a run or a swim. Instead of nagging boys to hit the books, compliment them for those times that they do – (if they don’t make a start, then I would definitely nag them!)
Returning to school
It is important that all students return to school on time for the start of Term 3 lessons. Make travel arrangements early because I don’t want anyone to be late back. Most importantly DON’T LEAVE ANYTHING AT HOME that you need to have with you for classes and the Trials.
Mr Rodgers and I will be very strict on disruptive boys next term. They can expect to be excluded from classes if they wish to disrupt lessons and they can expect to lose the privilege of their rooms if they are disturbing others or out of bounds during Study. We want a productive and peaceful working environment for all Year 12 students during Term 3 and the HSC exams.
English Advanced
By now, most students and parents would know that Mrs Julie Burke will not be returning to the College in Term 3. Mrs Burke has resigned as Head of our Learning Enrichment Centre and valued English teacher to take up a similar position at another school. We wish Mrs Burke all the very best and thank her for her outstanding work at St Joseph’s College. Mrs Burke’s English Advanced class will be ably continued by Mrs Christine Smith who has taught English and Ancient History at the College for many years. Mrs Smith is very experienced in the English Advanced course both as a teacher and HSC marker.
Best wishes for a safe and rejuvenating holiday,
Mark Fenech
Year 12 Careers News
The Western Sydney Careers Expo 2011
Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park, Homebush (Hall 4) – Map
Thursday 23, Friday 24, Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 June 2011, 10am – 4pm. Refer to the following site:
http://www.westernsydneycareerexpo.com.au/sites/default/files/wsce_2011_exhibitor_list.pdf
HSC Study CoursesA reminder to book for July holiday HSC preparation courses.
Visit the websites below to see what’s on offer and how to register.
Tsfx at the University of Sydney
http://www.tsfx.com.au/nsw/
The Centre for Continuing Education at the University of Sydney
http://www.cce.usyd.edu.au/courses/hsc+preparation
The University of Western Sydney College at the University of Western Sydney
http://uws.edu.au/uwscollege/courses/local/Professional_development/hsc_preparation_days?gclid=CIKztLn0w6kCFQTzbwodhll1RA
Macquarie University Physics and Chemistry HSC enrichment program
http://www.chem.mq.edu.au/news/HSC_Enrichment_Day_flyer_2011.pdf
http://shop.accessmq.com.au/shop/index.cfm?fuseaction=display_course&page_id=1303&course_id=1028
http://shop.accessmq.com.au/shop/index.cfm?fuseaction=display_course&page_id=1303&course_id=1027
Studying in the USA
This information evening on Thursday 30th June is highly recommended for any studnets thinking about studying at universities in the USA. Just click on the poster to enlarge.
Mrs Lorna Charters, Careers Adviser