Year 12 Boarding News. Week 3, Term 4, 2011
Dear Year 12 parents,
It was good to see so many of the Year 12 mothers at the Farewell Mass last week. Thank you especially to Hilary Keighley for her reflection which all enjoyed hearing.
The boys have been very cooperative while studying for the exams in the dorms and completing them in the Hall. They are all at different stages of course but most are more than half way through now. Thanks to all parents who have kept me informed about the comings and goings of their sons. This has been very helpful and I urge you to keep this communication up.
I have emailed what needs to happen on the boys’ final day here and ask you to consult that carefully. The Year 12s all have a copy of this. It is important that you know their movements and that cars are often not a good idea on that day. We are very conscious of them being safe even though they are naturally excited.
A few reminders:
1. Clothing Pool items can be left outside my office
2. The Year 12 DVDs that have been ordered will be distributed from next week. For boys who have finished, these will be sent in the post.
3. Sports photos will be sent home by Melba Studios in the next month.
4. When boys return from leave can they be reminded to return properly groomed. We have some problems with unshaven Year 12s which sets a bad example for the younger boys at the school.
Thanks again
Pat
Year 12 Academic News. Week 3, Term 4, 2011
Dear Students, Parents and Carers,
We are now half way through the HSC examination period and already, quite a few students have already finished and entered the big wide world. All students are to be congratulated on their cooperation and excellent conduct during the examinations. It makes a big difference to all concerned when things flow easily and distractions do not interrupt our concentration. The externally appointed examination supervisors have been very pleased with all of our candidates in the exam room and impressed by the effort they are putting in to writing the exams.
It seems that some exam papers have been difficult this year and that is something out of everyone’s control. One benefit of difficult examinations is that they differentiate between students who have done the hard yards all year and those who haven’t. I have asked some teachers for comments on their respective HSC examination papers are here are a few comments:
Mr Bentley, Head of English comments on the English Advanced and Standard papers:
English (Standard and Advanced)
Paper 1 – Area of Study (AOS)
The response from our students this year to the AOS English paper was quite positive. All three sections of the paper had a strong thematic focus on place which many students were able to identify and assisted them with analysis of the material. Questions for the paper followed a similar pattern to that of recent years. Section II was quite similar in focus to the CSSA Trial paper completed by students at the College.
English (Standard) Paper 2 – Modules
This was a traditional paper in the sense that it required students to respond to all three sections of the paper in the form of essays. The questions were fair in what they asked of students and mapped well into the focus of school assessment tasks during the past year and the Trial Examination as well. The question for the final section of the paper had a very similar focus to that College’s assessment task held early in Term 3.
English (Advanced) Paper 2 – Modules
This was a reasonably rigorous paper with a strong focus on students demonstrating a detailed knowledge of their prescribed texts and topics. The question for Section II of the paper was quite specific. It required students to demonstrate, via a printed extract from the closing section of their text, their knowledge of both the extract as well as broader ideas in their set text. The last time this type of question was asked was in 2007. While challenging, it was a fair paper.
Head of mathematics, Mr Thompson, says:
General Mathematics:
A straight forward standard exam, no real questions from left field and less diagrams and graphs than last year. Comments from the boys were that they were happy with the paper.
Mathematics
A number of questions involved preliminary concepts as well as Component B (Applications of reasoning) type questions. This exam was not a “typical” exam which in the past for 2 unit has become predictable. A deeper knowledge of basic concepts were examined.
Ext 1
This paper received a lot of press (SMH in particular) for being “cruel and difficult”. I found the first 4 questions to be fairly predictable and our students should have been well prepared for this. Question 5 was a difficult one and hence the press articles. I then found Question 6 and 7 to be a similar standard to past years.
Ext 2
Mrs Sweeting has looked at this paper and felt it was weighted more towards Component B type questions (Applications of reasoning). Interestingly, from 2012 the weighting of Component A and Component B type questions in assessments will change so that more Component B type questions will be assessed (50% each). Below I will include a definition of the two types (styles) of questions.
Component A
Use of concepts, skills and techniques to solve mathematical problems and interpret practical situations
Component B
Application of reasoning and communication in appropriate forms to construct mathematical arguments and to interpret and use mathematical models
Mr Wallace, Head of Economics, Business Studies and Legal Studies commented on the Business Studies Examination as follows:
Business Studies was excellent paper and all associated teachers couldn’t fault it. There was nothing controversial and judging by the demeanour of the students at the end of the exam all of them were really happy and are confident that they will do well. The students were particularly pleased with the multiple choice questions and commented favourably on the essay questions.
In Drama, Mr O’Shea said:
The HSC Drama examination was a fair and accessible question for our students. The Australian section presented a photograph of a stage and asked how the ideas and images in the plays the boys had studied might be presented in the theatre space. The Approaches to Acting section asked how the practitioners studied explore the connection between mind and body. Both questions require theoretical and experiential knowledge of the type which we directly explored in class, workshops, excursions and in revision…there should have been no surprises and indeed the questions should have offered scope for detailed and relevant reflection on the learning experience in Drama during their HSC year.
Mr Halsted’s comments on Ancient History:
The Paper, in terms of the options we do, was the “trickiest” I have experienced in 10 years! The Core Study was good. The 10 marker on Pompeii, which was about challenges facing conservation in Pompeii, was directly on a talk given in late Term III by Jaye Mackenzie-Clark to our boys.
However in the societies there were some very picky questions and the term “nature” popped up eg. Discuss the nature of Cleopatra’s relationship with Rome.
More reports as they come to hand.
Please keep checking your emails and this blog for important Careers and university admissions information right up to the end of January.
Regards,
Mark Fenech