From the Director of Student Learning (11-12)
HSC Fitness Program for Term 4
Last Friday, NESA announced that all HSC exams would go ahead starting on November 9. This is great news for our students as I am always amazed at the growth that can be achieved between Trials and the HSC exams.
The girls have been given a reflection activity for each of their subjects, and they should be taking the time to work through this with their exams and feedback in front of them.
In one of my individual meetings with a Year 12 student this week she remarked “I am so glad you made us do Trials, I now know exactly where my gaps are and what I need to work on in terms of exam technique that I really wasn’t fully aware of before Trials”.
The Senior School Team have published the Pymble HSC Fitness Program for Term 4 to ensure that Year 12 will be exam fit, mentally fit, spiritually and physically fit for their HSC exams starting November 9.
On the first day back, students will be provided with further specific details of class times, seminar times with HSC markers, how and when they can book in for individual sessions with teachers. They will have the support of their Compass teachers to help plan out their schedule so they are working productively throughout this time.
Our advice is to take a bit of a break in the holidays, especially in the first week.
Having a break from the screen, some time with family and friends to relax is vital so they can ‘bring their best self’ to the final preparations and HSC exams.
It has been fabulous to hear the stories of how our wonderful teachers are celebrating their final lessons in such creative ways and the gratitude that students are showing their teachers. Below is a picture of Robyn Rudd with her Biology class making edible models of meiosis, polypeptide synthesis, DNA and more.
A huge congratulations to all of Year 12 on your graduation – you made it!
Year 11
Thank you to the staff, students and parents for a successful Subject Selection evening on Monday night.
On Tuesday 14 September, parents and carers should have been emailed a link and a unique code for students to select their subjects for Year 12 along with the booklist for Year 12 2022.
A reminder to students to talk with their classroom teachers first for advice as to whether you should pick up Extension courses, continue or drop subjects.
Students can make an appointment with me to discuss options by using the link on the Senior School Canvas course.
If in doubt, choose more units to study as you can always drop subjects if necessary at any time throughout Year 12.
Our advice is to use the holidays to have a good clean up, purchase your textbooks, organise your study space and filing system on your laptop in hard copy folders. Don’t throw out Year 11 notes! Your preliminary work is the foundation for Year 12 and in many subjects, you will be required to refer back to those preliminary concepts and ideas.
Year 11 students should also be reflecting on their study habits and time management this year; what strategies worked well, and which need to change for success in Year 12.
Year 12 courses will commence in Week 1 of Term 4 so girls, make sure you have a good break and recharge so you are ready to leap out of the starting blocks on Day 1.
Mrs Natasha Stanfield