Middle School Report – October 24, 2017

Just a reminder to all Year 9 families that this term will be a very busy one, as the boys continue their journey towards completing the Middle School.

During Week 5 of Term 4 (8/11 -“ 10/11) the Year 9 students will attend their final expedition as part of the Year 9 Experiential Program. Your son will be based at the Norval Camp facility in Halls Gap where he will participate in a number of challenging experiences including hiking, rock climbing, abseiling and conservation work. These experiences will encourage all of our boys to develop an appreciation and respect for the natural environment, promote team work and resilience and continue to develop their leadership skills.

All boys, for the very first time, have been able to select the difficulty of hiking experience they wish to undertake and in some cases this will include the opportunity of camping out in a tent. Can I ask all parents to please check with their son which hike he has in fact chosen to undertake and affirm his choice with him, prior to our departure? The Middle School Team will also be double checking the boys’ choices, as a way of circumventing any possible problems developing mid-way through the hiking experience. I am positive that this last expedition will be the true test of how well our boys have embraced their Middle School journey and are now fully prepared to begin their Senior School experience.

Please note that students will be transported to and from the camp by bus. Buses will leave the College at 9:00am, Wednesday, November 9 and return to Ballarat by 3:15pm on Friday, November 11.

If you have any final questions or concerns regarding this final expedition please contact our Year 9 Coordinators, Mr Stuart Harridge or Mr Shane Hayes.

Some other major dates of note for the Middle School students include: The Year 9 Examination period starting Monday December 4 until Thursday December 7 which will be the final day in Year 9 for your son. This day will conclude with our Middle School Awards Ceremony starting at 2.10pm in the Pavilion. The 2017 Semester Two Examination Timetable will be developed in time for the next Crest. To continue my theme of final Examination preparation can I suggest the following:

Firstly, boys’, YOU must accept full responsibility for the preparation YOU must complete towards YOUR final Examinations. This preparation must begin in full earnest immediately. YOU must commit yourself to an increased level of effort and undivided dedication in every attempt to, not only improve upon YOUR Semester One results but also set a clear goal of achieving YOUR personal best. This can be achieved when you:

-¢Complete all set homework nightly.

-¢Synthesise class notes and complete any extension questions.

-¢Never waste time whilst in class or at home completing tasks.

-¢Keep up to date with all class work by setting completion deadlines for these activities.

-¢Follow your teacher’s directions explicitly and personally see your teachers for extra assistance regularly.

-¢BEGIN TO STUDY CONSISTENTLY.

KNOWLEDGE is POWER and therefore Middle School SUCCESS is very POWERFUL!

As always I hope that all of our boys achieve the success they are busily working towards throughout this last term in the Middle School.

Michael Busscher

Director of Middle School