Middle School Report – November 19, 2015

Grampians Camp

The Year 9 students will attend their Term Four Rite Journey experience at the Norval Camp facility in Halls Gap from November 25 to November 27. During the camp the boys will participate in a number of challenging experiences including hiking, rock climbing, abseiling, high ropes and conservation work.

Objectives of the camp:

ï‚· To conclude the boy’s “Rite Journey” experience.

ï‚· To promote healthy natural environments to our boys.

ï‚· To encourage an appreciation of the natural environment, and to educate our boys about caring for our national parks.

ï‚· To encourage the benefits of team work and being a member of a community.

ï‚· To continue to develop leadership in our boys.

ï‚· To provide opportunities to build relationships between staff and students &- – students and students.

ï‚· To develop concepts of personal challenge and adventure in each boy’s life.

Semester Two Exam Timetable

Monday, November 30th -“ English

Tuesday, December 1st -“ Humanities

– Japanese

Wednesday, December 2nd -“ Maths

– Electives

Thursday, December 3rd -“ Science

Friday, December 4^{th -“ Religious Education}

Middle School Prize Winners

Congratulations are extended to the Middle School prize winners presented at Speech Night last Wednesday evening. Their application to school work and involvement in College activities sets an example for all.

Prize Winners presented at Speech Night

Year 9 Duxã-“ Sam Williamsããããããããããããããããã

Year 9 ProximeãAccessitã-“ Declan Gannonããããã

Middle School Prize for General Excellence -“ Jesse Jury

Year 9 Religious Education Prize -“ Sam Williams

Middle School Graduation Assembly

On Friday, December the 4th at 2.10pm, the Middle School Graduation Assembly will take place in the Pavilion. At this assembly a number of items including a Multimedia Display, Musical Items and an Awards Ceremony will occur. All parents and families are warmly invited to attend this assembly.

Procrastination / Decision Making

After an out of school activity such as the upcoming Grampian Camps, the boys often have difficulty settling into school routines again. To assist the boys get back on track the following strategies may help:

-¢ identify tasks that you regularly delay

-¢ put up a list of them in your study area

-¢ over breakfast each day, set daily goals, a -‘Priority/Due List’ (Must do); and a -‘Things to do list’ (Should do)

-¢ prioritise and categorise your tasks

-¢ ensure that the MUSTS and some of the SHOULDS get done each day

-¢ have your goals for the week/term/year posted boldly on your bedroom wall

-¢ break down tasks into achievable pieces

-¢ set realistic deadlines to complete jobs

-¢ most of all, get started

Being effective means being in control of NOW.

Semester Two Exams

It is an expectation that all boys should be spending time each night refining notes from their day classes and revising in preparation for end of semester exams.

There are many ways to revise for each particular subject. Consider the following:

English

ï‚· Write character studies

ï‚· Explore themes

ï‚· Practise planning essays

ï‚· Practise drafting and writing to a time limit

Maths

ï‚· Write and learn key terms and definitions

ï‚· Write formula with examples

ï‚· Create your exam data sheet

ï‚· Practise examples from your text book and previous exams

Making Idea Maps

ï‚· In the centre of the page print the topic

ï‚· Draw a branch out to each key point / idea

ï‚· Create subheadings under each branch

ï‚· Interlink branches that connect key points

ï‚· Use colour, symbols, trigger words for ideas.

It doesn’t really matter what technique(s) you adopt, the main thing is to revise regularly and actively.

Exam Study Hints

BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR LEARNING…

There are many arguments out there about the effectiveness of studying – ask anyone who has to sit exams, and they will tell you that studying is essential in order to succeed at examinations. Studying allows for serious reflection on the work you have done. In the peace and quiet of study time, you can reflect on your learning, identify areas with which you still need practise and keep the material fresh in your mind. Students who study, are often at great advantage to those who choose not to, or are ineffective at it. The following tips may help you make some positive changes – or to reinforce your good habits – so that you can prepare effectively for exams.

Making room for effective study

Study Area – Having a good study area can make a huge difference to how well you learn. Study in a well lit, quiet area, away from noises and people in the house. Make sure your desk is tidy and organised – it means you can concentrate on studying and learning, not trying to find information.

Knowing the paper

Find Out About the Exam -“ Find out what format the exam will take i.e. Are the questions in essay, short answer or multiple choice format?ãOr a combination of all of these?ãIs the exam open book or closed book? Knowing how the exam is marked – what are the sections of the paper? What is each section worth? Knowing this in advance, can help you plan your time in the exam.

Do I begin with the most difficult material?

To Do Lists – Make a to do list before each study session. Breaking tasks down into small, manageable tasks will make it less overwhelming. Cross them off with a texta as you go. Consider starting with material that you have found difficult. Activate your thinking about the topics and be aware of how on-taskãyou are.

Having peace and quiet

Switch the Phone or Email Off! – If you find that you are being distracted by the phone or emails, facebook, etc., it might help to put your phone on silent or get others in the house to take messages for a while. You can always ring people back, send texts, update facebook later.

Stay in touch with your teachers

Ask Lots of Questions of your Teachers! Your teacher orãtutor can help if you are having trouble developing a study routine or need help with understanding subjects or a particular topic.ãAsking for help doesn’t mean you’re a failure or stupid – it’s smart to tap into their experience and knowledge to help you perform better. Keep going back to them if you’re still unsure or you have more questions. It’s their job to be available for you.ãã

Actively study – it can’t be copied and pasted into your brain

Revise and Learn (Not Just Re-Read) – Sometimes reading through notes doesn’t result in learning or understanding. Include the following in revising each topic:

ï‚· Vocabulary, technical terms definitions

ï‚· Summaries of points

ï‚· Formulae, rules, diagrams, charts

ï‚· Ability to understand relationships

Don’t put off ’til tomorrow, what you can do today

Avoid Procrastination – Procrastination is when you do everything else but the task you need to do. It is normal to procrastinate a little. However too much procrastination can just add to your stress and can result in you not giving yourself enough time to prepare. Managing your time and setting realistic goals for each study session can be helpful ways to avoid procrastinating and make tasks seem less overwhelming.ã

Organise your study time

Make a Study Timetable -“ Write down all the things you need to do each day of the week, and how long you need for each, including time for enough sleep, relaxation, and exercise. Find out the date of each exam and work out a study timetable leading up to them. Include tests that will help you identify gaps in your knowledge. This can give you some direction and help you focus on what to study each week or day.

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