Heads of Year Reports

Year 7 and 8

It is wonderful to see our Year 7 and 8 students engaging with the many opportunities on offer at St George’s. Whether it is one of the co-curricular activities, involvement in the Puff’s School Production, Park Play, the recent ACC carnivals or signing up for House Challenge week next week, these opportunities all assist students to make widen their connections and strengthen their friendships within both their own year group as well as across the school. These are all crucial for school success and positive wellbeing.

The Year 7 Silent Disco last Friday was once again a hit.

Year 9 and 10

Well done to our Year 10s who have just completed their first exam period and thank you to parents and guardians for your ongoing support with ensuring their confidence is high and minds are clear. Work Experience Week is just around the corner, and I hope it is huge success for everyone. Thank you to all those who have encouraged and helped them find and secure work placements. It is an exciting first for St George’s in promoting work experience in the city.

Year 11 and 12

As the Year 11 and 12s return from examinations and receive feedback from their teachers, it is important to remember an important process that can be forgotten throughout the hectic daily processes that are ‘our lives’ - reflection.

Reflection is important not only for a teacher but for people who continually want to grow. For the students, engaging in reflective learning entails elevating your learning to a conscious level, fostering an active approach by posing inquiries and critically evaluating your own ideas. This practice can be incorporated into your personal study strategies or integrated into formal assessments. Embracing

With the assistance of our Year 12 leaders, Level 4 was transformed with balloons, streamers and coloured lights and became the perfect space to hold the disco with the city lights visible through the windows. With three channels of music on offer, everyone found something they wanted to dance to.

Pizza, chips and drinks were enjoyed midway through the evening. All students who attended the Silent Disco should be commended on their enthusiasm and support of the social evening. It was a wonderful way to end the school week.

Ms Taryn Sephton Head of Year 7 and 8

A reminder that the Year 9s have their social on Thursday 22 June. If there are any last-minute tickets needed, please do let me know via email or direqt message, as there are a few spots left. We are off to Wembley to play golf.

Finally, you will have undoubtedly heard that I am sadly leaving St George’s at the end of this term. I have loved my time as part of the St George’s Family and would like to congratulate Conrad Sloan as I pass the baton of Head of Year 9 & 10 on to him. I know the students are in very safe hands.

Miss Katie Wilkinson Head of Year 9 and 10

reflective learning can yield unforeseen benefits, unravelling new insights and potentially enhancing your academic writing skills. For the students who achieved what they wanted in their examinations, I say congratulations, keep doing what you are doing.

To the students who did not think they achieved what they wanted to, I will leave you with a quote from my favourite TV show at the moment, Ted Lasso: “You know what the happiest animal on earth is? It’s a goldfish. You know why? It’s got a 10-second memory. Be a goldfish”. Learn not to focus on your mistakes but be proactive in how you prepare in the future.

Mr Peter Quan Acting Head of Year 11 and 12

Workplace Learning - Gain an Edge Benefits of Practical Education

Year 11 and 12 Students at St George’s are discovering the advantages of workplace learning while studying for VET Certificates. This unique combination of classroom education and practical experience offers numerous benefits, shaping their careers, fostering personal growth, and providing a competitive edge in the job market.

WA’s education system recognises the value of workplace learning, allowing students to apply their knowledge in real-world settings. Work placements, internships and vocational programs empower students to explore potential career paths, make informed decisions and set meaningful goals.

Engaging in different industries exposes students to the realities of the working world, helping them develop crucial employability skills such as teamwork, communication, problem-solving and adaptability. Students gain insights into workplace dynamics, industry practices, and professional expectations.

By bridging the gap between theory and practice, workplace learning enhances critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and confidence. Students develop a deeper understanding of how their academic studies translate into real-world outcomes, preparing them for future challenges. Five of our students recently completed their first block placement at primary schools, putting what they have learned at TAFE into practice. They all said they loved being able to turn theory into practice.

Studies show that students who engage in workplace learning are more motivated and focused on their studies. They see the practical application of what they learn, making education more meaningful and relevant. This increased motivation often leads to improved academic performance. This is good news for our Year 10 students who will be going out on work experience in Week 10 of Term Three – a new venture for St George’s. Our students will make use of the collaborations St George’s has with local businesses, organisations, and industry partners to facilitate these unique experiences. This collaborative effort benefits students and strengthens the relationship between education and the wonderful city community that we are so blessed to be part of.

Mrs Sharan Tagore APEx, Careers and Curriculum Coordinator

to the Library. Titles included; Addicted to Plastic, Superworms Eat Plastic and The Plastic Wrap Alternative. Also added was the recent release of a documentary on Andy Warhol from the South Australian State Gallery – nothing to do with the environment, but an excellent resource. ClickView provides wonderful resources for teachers, often these are interactive and have support material for teachers.

Homework Club has been particularly busy preparing for the Year 10 examination period with teachers on hand to run seminars or work one-on-one with students, assisting them with effective study routines. In the aftermath of the examinations there is an opportunity for our students to reflect on where they performed well and where they require further assistance to improve. Homework Club on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons is the perfect opportunity to finesse skills with teacher assistance and support.

Our new books are all processed and the library shelves have been replenished. We have a lovely selection of new publications with something for all tastes. All our new senior fiction is ready for readers. Included in that is a selection of local writers’ works from Fremantle Press. These include, for example, David Whish-Wilson and Karen Herbert, whose novels are set in Western Australia, a setting readily recognisable to us. We also have Steve Hawke’s novel, The Valley, set in the Kimberley.

World Environment Day was June 5. To support raising awareness

ClickView released new documentary material that we have added

Our most popular reads this term are Catching Fire, the second novel in Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games series. Also popular is Loveless, by Alice Oseman. This young adult novel explores the difference between love and romance. The third most popular novel, Anything But Fine, by Tobias Madden, conflates two seemingly mutually exclusive worlds, ballet and AFL football and the results are fireworks. I would like to say, “these books are available on our shelves”. But the reality is they don’t seem to ever return to the shelf.

As Term 2 concludes the Library has expanded its fan base. Many more of our young people are finding peace and quiet, access to other worlds and help with their studies in our space. We have a group of devoted readers and it is interesting to see them extend their reading beyond the popular. One young student who reads prolifically has accepted the challenge of reading T H White’s Once and Future King. I am excited to hear what the student makes of this classic.

Together, let us read.

Dr Annette Pedersen Library Services Coordinator