Time is moving quickly for all of our students and staff. We are halfway through our first term of the year and learning is taking place in our classrooms.
Since we are at the midpoint, I would like to remind our parents and the wider community of a few things that establishes who we are here at St Agnes:
Attendance; all students need to be at school each and every day. Whilst we do know that illness will occur and we are all hyper-vigilant as a result of the COVID world we live in, students do need to be at school. Their attendance will ensure that they are across all dimensions of their learning and maximise their potential.
Uniform; whilst most students are across the uniform requirements, some do need to remember that students are only permitted to wear their Sports Uniform on days they have PE Practical or on a Thursday IF they are representing the school at PDSSSC events. No student needs to wear their Sports Jacket with the School Uniform.
Device; please ensure that this is fully charged overnight so that the students are able to use it effectively throughout the day. However, the students do know that their mobile phone is to be out of sight and not to be used during class or break time.
Positive Interactions; this is not only between student and teacher, but also between student and student. We are a Franciscan community and are respectful of each member who walks through the gates every day.
Year 12 - they need to ensure that suitable blocks of time are being spent on homework, assessment tasks and overall study (further information about this is outlined below). This will allow all students to be suitably prepared and ready for the demands of future assessment tasks, the Trial HSC (in July/August) and the actual HSC Examinations (in October).
Year 11 - they are well and truly into their studies, with most students applying themselves diligently. We had our Information Session on 19/2 and the students were spoken to about Stage 6 study. All students are reminded to carefully check their Assessment Handbook which states when their assessments are due and also covers the essential procedures around submission of tasks. All students have been issued their first assessment task and MUST follow the correct procedures.
Years 7 - 10 - have all received Assessment Handbooks from their Learning Mentor via Google Classroom. It is important that each student acknowledges receipt of this and downloads a copy for themselves. The Handbook contains vital information about assessment tasks, assessment processes and who to contact if needed. This handbook has also been shared with parents via the SkoolBag App and email. Please take the time to read through these so that you are aware of when an assessment task is approaching for your son/daughter.
It is vital that our students in Year 10 look closely at theirs, as this year marks the start of them working towards their first credential, that being the Record of School Achievement (RoSA). This is a cumulative record of achievement beginning with Year 10 and ending with the HSC in Year 12. At the end of Year 10, grades are submitted to the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA). The allocation of these grades is based on student performance in the assessment tasks outlined in the assessment handbook and also, class work and application.
When students are issued with an assessment task, this is uploaded by the teachers onto their respective Google Classroom page AND SkoolBag App. All parents are encouraged to subscribe to the respective SkoolBag App year level so that they can discuss with their son/daughter upcoming assessment tasks. Even a simple question about when an assessment is due has proven to be most successful for student engagement.
Study Skills Tip: WHY DO WE HAVE TO DO HOMEWORK?
Homework, or Home Learning as some schools now prefer to call it, serves many purposes. It may be to consolidate or check or extend the learning from the day, or prepare for the learning to come in subsequent days. It could be to do with longer term work such as assignments or preparing for tests and examinations. Ultimately it comes back to what school is all about – learning. And learning not just about learning content, but learning and developing skills. At times students feel that the work they are doing at school is not relevant to their lives, however sometimes we need to look beyond the content to the purpose of the learning exercise. At times the content will be a vehicle to teach particular skills. Much of what we learn in Mathematics develops the problem solving circuits in our brain. When you are analysing Shakespeare you are learning not just about Shakespeare, but to think critically and expand your point of view and broaden your experience of the world through examination of different lives, emotions and experiences. The message is that everything you learn at school has purpose and value, even if you can’t always quite see it at the time.
There is much debate in the media as to the value of homework. In Primary school it has been shown that only a small amount of students actually benefit from doing homework in terms of academic achievement. The exception to this is reading at home – every student benefits from this. However, other benefits can’t be discounted: developing independent working skills, establishing study routines necessary for learning in later years, helping students master things they are struggling with and allowing parental involvement.
In secondary school homework has been proven to be an essential component of academic success in the senior years. The reality of Year 11 and 12 is that a large component of independent learning needs to be undertaken at home. One of the biggest problems for students transitioning to the senior years is that they have not learnt to work effectively and efficiently in the home environment. This is why developing good habits and learning to do at least a solid hour a day of home study is essential in Years 7-10. It is also about developing the qualities of discipline and perseverance, both essential for senior studies. Students will not like every subject equally, so students need to learn how to make themselves do the work even for their least favourite subjects.
What can you do this year to manage your homework effectively? Try these top tips:
- GET ORGANISED STRAIGHT AWAY: As soon as you get home unpack your bag before you have a break and something to eat. Lay out all the work first. It is easier to get started if you have everything ready to go.
- PRIORITISE AND PLAN: Before you start work, write a list of what needs to be done and decide what order you will do it. Focus on what is most important, not just what subject you like best! Also write down how long you think each task will take to do.
- DEVELOP THINKING PATHWAYS: Keep in your mind that it is all about learning. Try and look beyond the actual content to what type of skill this homework might be developing in you – analysing, critical thinking, writing skills, or problem-solving skills for example.
- CHUNK TIME INTO FOCUSED BLOCKS: Do your work in 20-30 minute blocks with no distractions during that time. So switch off the TV, turn off your phone for that 20-30 minutes. When you just focus on the work that needs to be done you’ll be amazed at how much work you complete. Of course if you are on a roll, you can keep going past the 30 minutes.
- ALTERNATE AND CHIP AWAY: If there is a task you really don’t want to do then alternate this with a task you enjoy doing. For example, 15 minutes on the homework you like, 5 minutes on the homework you don’t like. When you chip away at it you will be surprised how quickly you get through the work.
Learn more this year about how to improve your results and be more efficient and effective with your schoolwork by working through the units on www.studyskillshandbook.com.au. Our school’s access details are:
Username: stagnes
Password: 24success
Mr Geoffrey Kemmis
Acting Assistant Principal