Dean of Studies | Mrs Julie Quinn

Assessment Calendars and The Checklist

All students have been issued with their assessment calendars for the term ahead. I strongly encourage boys and parents to review this together so that everyone is aware of the deadlines for each subject.

The checklist on Moodle outlines all learning for each subject this term. I again encourage boys to use this checklist as if it was an exam – using pen and paper answering the skills and then checking work against notes and texts. 

Mentoring Week

In the coming weeks, our focus will be on the mentoring of boys following Term 3 outcomes. Boys will continue to have conversations with their Tutors around their Term 3 results with the view to sustain or improve their outcomes for the term ahead. Hopefully these conversations will be relayed at home.

Year Level Assemblies

Year level assemblies have taken place this term for all year levels. These assemblies acknowledge boys who have made significant improvement and also give an overview of the outcomes from Term 3 for each year level. This information, coupled with strategies offered, should allow boys to reflect on their own practices and outcomes for further improvement.

Growth Mindset

One of the areas of educational interest is around the topic of growth mindset. 

Mindset is a simple idea discovered by world-renowned Stanford University psychologist Carol Dweck in decades of research on achievement and success - a simple idea that makes all the difference.

In a fixed mindset, people believe their basic qualities, like their intelligence or talent, are simply fixed traits. They spend their time documenting their intelligence or talent instead of developing them. 

In a growth mindset, people believe that their most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work - brains and talent are just the starting point. This view creates a love of learning and a resilience that is essential for great accomplishment. Virtually all great people have had these qualities.

The challenge is for our boys to believe that their efforts will result in their success in whatever venture they choose to pursue.
Below are two links:

Technology Use

One of the ongoing areas of concern for parents is the use/misuse/overuse of technology.

In my role across the past years, but particularly in the more recent years, this area has become even more of a concern. At the most extreme, boys engaging in hours of gaming/Youtube/etc. often leads to a lack of sleep, which can then spiral into disengagement with learning, physical and mental well-being.

In the US there are now technology “detox” centres for adolescents - requiring a stay of three months to address the issue. As explained by our guest speaker and expert in this field – Cam Adair - parents need to set firm boundaries and monitor the use of technology. 

The link below may also be useful. https://parents.au.reachout.co...

Reports

Term 3 reports are available via Parent Lounge. These reports show both the result for a subject for the term and the cumulative result across the year to date. With our Celebration of Excellence approaching, the cumulative results will contribute to awards for Academic excellence.

I congratulate all the boys who will receive Academic Excellence and Diligence awards.