Deputy/Academic Dean

The last stretch … QCAA External Exams & Internal Review It has been a hectic few weeks for our Year 12 students and senior teachers as students completed QCAA External Exams. Since the start of the term, our Senior Leadership Team have been monitoring and reviewing the timing and structure of events arranged for our senior students at this time of the year. I believe our end of year program has allowed our students the time and opportunities to end their schooling in a positive manner; however, there is always room for review and improvement. More details will be provided in the next newsletter.

Senior Study Sessions As a part of the academic end of year events for our Year 12 students, senior teachers offered a large number of timetabled ‘senior study sessions’. Students were able to attend subject-specific sessions to go over their study notes and revise skills for that subject’s external exam. Students responded in large numbers to this offer of help and staff were happy with the attitude displayed in these sessions. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all teachers who offered this additional time to support our senior students. Awards Day Academic Awards Subject Dux, Year Dux and an assortment of academic awards are currently being calculated by teaching staff in preparation for presentation at both the Preliminary Prize Giving and Awards Day Ceremonies. These awards are calculated with the assessment evidence we have up to a date in the middle of this term. This is fine for the subjects that are studied for the full year. However, the Senior Leadership have reviewed the awarding of subject dux prizes for ‘rotation’ (non-core) subjects in Years 7 & 8. Students in these year levels study these subjects on a term-byterm rotational basis. This means there is a set of subjects for each year level that some of the students in the cohort have only just started studying this term when results are closed for awards day calculations. Rather than staff using only draft work or classroom observations to award the Dux award for these subjects in these year levels, the Dux award for these courses will be calculated at the end of the year and presented at the first assembly in 2023. This assembly is set for the first Friday of the year –Friday 3 February 2023. This includes the following subjects in 2022: Year 7 – Drama, Design & Technology, plus STEM; Year 8 –Economics & Business, Music, Food & Nutrition, plus Textiles. Teaching staff for these subjects can provide an interim list of students demonstrating results and efforts worthy of a Merit Award, so these can still be presented at the Preliminary Awards Ceremony. If any student is missed this year, due to exceptional results at the end of the year, they can be awarded a Merit Award at the first assembly next year. We believe this is the fairest way to accurately recognise the top student for these subjects. If you have any questions regarding this process, please send me an email or call the School.

2022 Year 8 into 2023 Year 9 The 2023 Year 9 set of subjects has been finalised. All students were able to get their first set of subject choices for Year 9 next year. This is a great outcome. We look forward to our Year 8s continuing their junior secondary studies at All Souls St Gabriels School next year. 2023 Year 12 Subject Choices are set Students and families currently in Year 11 have been sent an individual email reminder of the fact that subject choices for Units 3 & 4 (and Alternative Sequence Units 1 & 2) are now closed by the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA). This is a decision made by the QCAA so students maintain a consistent and full course of study in traditional Year 12 (new Units 3 & 4 and Alternative Sequence Units 1 & 2). If you have any questions regarding this process, please send me an email or call the School.

2022 Year 11 students and families are also encouraged to note Exam Blocks for 2023 for students studying Units 3 & 4 (and Alternative Sequence Units 1 & 2). These are important dates as the new system is not as flexible as junior secondary exam blocks. This definitely includes the statewide testing QCAA are scheduling for the end of Unit 4 / Alternative Sequence Unit 2 (External Exams). This will take place in Weeks 4-6 and part of Week 7 in Term 4 2023. We, as a School, will have no control over this schedule. I will forward more detail regarding the end of the year schedule and procedures as they are released by the QCAA and we are able to finalise our planning for this important time in our senior courses.

Academic Reporting A reminder that full (semester) reports will be sent home via email for students in Years 7 to 9 at the end of this term. Students in Years 10 & 11 will receive a “Progress Report” providing information on academic progress in the new senior curriculum. Please take the time to read these reports with your son / daughter over the break.

School leaders attended the recent Freedom of Entry march, conducted as part of the celebrations for Charters Towers’ 150th anniversary