Heads of Year Reports

Welcome back to Term Two. I trust that our Year 7 and 8 students enjoyed their Easter holiday break, took the time to rest and recharge, and returned ready to engage with their learning in Term 2.

During Extended PCG this week, Year 8 students were fortunate to have a Guest Presenter from Anglicare. They spoke on the issue of homelessness and covered what is homelessness, types of homelessness, why it happens and what we can do as individuals to provide support. The students are to be commended for demonstrating active and respectful listening throughout the presentation. On Wednesday evening Year 8 students joined their teachers and parents for parent-teacher interviews where Academic progress was the topic of conversation. Thank you to the families who made time to come in and participate in these valuable meetings.

Welcome back everybody, and a big welcome to those parents and guardians joining us this term, I hope you have all enjoyed a wonderful Easter break! We have gone straight into Term Two with smiles and positivity from the students and it has been so lovely to see. We started the term with some disappointing news of our Year 9 camp having to be postponed due to urgent accommodation issues on the allocated campsite – something that was beyond our control. I am now busily in the process for finding another camp for the Year 9s later in the year and will be in touch as soon as a new camp date and venue have been confirmed. I would like to reassure you that Year 9s will indeed have a camp experience this year.

With examinations and ESTs approaching quickly, it is very important that the senior school students have an action plan to help them prepare and maximise their results to ensure that they reach their potential. Through The Dragon I will be sharing some helpful tips every fortnight to guide them through what can sometimes be a stressful time.

Tip One - Snack on food that will help improve your study habits and memory. It may be tempting to go straight to chocolates, sugar, and junk food because they provide us with comfort during stressful times. Research suggests that eating a healthy and nutritious diet can improve mental health, enhance cognitive skills like concentration and memory and improve academic

Year 7 students spent time during Extended PCG this week creating and recording SMART goals for Term 2. They are encouraged to share these with their families and to keep checking in and measuring their progress towards achieving these goals as the term unfolds.

There is always a lot going on at St George’s and the past fortnight has been no different. We enjoyed a lovely St George’s Day Service at the Cathedral, Co-Curricular clubs and Park Play have recommenced this week, the Cross Country was run and won on Thursday and many of our 7’s and 8’s are involved in the Interhouse Performing Arts Festival to be held this evening.

Wishing the Year 7 and 8 students a positive term.

Ms Taryn Sephton Head of Year 7 and 8

I encourage the Year 9s and 10s to be challenging themselves this term and setting their own goals and aspirations for the term ahead.

As always my door is open for students to come and see me at anytime on Level 2.

Miss Katie Wilkinson Head of Year 9 and 10

performance. Keeping your body and brain fuelled with nutritiondense foods such as fish, nuts, seeds and berries will help provide sustained energy which will help improve concentration and memory. As appealing as sugar is, it is short-lived and you will begin to feel the crash after about an hour. When you eat a healthy diet with a wide variety of fruit and vegetables in that diet, you actually perform better in the classroom. You’regoing to have better stamina with your work, and at the end of the day, it means you’ll get better learning results which will impact you in the long term.

I wish our Year 11 and 12 students happy eating as they commence Term Two.

Mr Peter Quan Head of Year

11

and

12 (Acting)

As students’ progress through high school, the pressure to succeed becomes increasingly intense. Nowhere is this more evident than in Years 11 and 12, where the stakes are higher than ever before. The final two years of high school can be a challenging time for many students, but the rewards for those who study hard and achieve good grades can be enormous.

First and foremost, studying for exams in Year 11 and 12 is important because it sets the foundation for academic success in university.

The habits that students develop during this time will shape their approach to learning for years to come. By studying consistently and developing effective study skills, students will be better equipped to tackle the rigours of university-level coursework.

In addition, good grades in Years 11 and 12 can open doors to a range of opportunities in the future. A strong academic record can be a valuable asset when applying for university scholarships, internships and job opportunities. Moreover, some universities offer early entry programs for students who achieve excellent results in their final year of high school, giving them a head start on their university studies. Additionally, strong academic records indicate to employers that you have good time management and organisational skills. By prioritising studies and developing good study habits, students can develop a sense of discipline and responsibility that will serve them throughout their lives.

If you need help in planning your studies, my door is always open!

Mrs Sharan Tagore APEx, Careers and Curriculum Coordinator

This week we had a new collection of Barrrington Stoke books for dyslexic and reluctant readers arrive on our shelves. This publisher specialises in providing books in order that every child may discover the joy of reading. As we work to improve literacy in the school, these books will be very important. We have been able to purchase these specialist books thanks to a generous grant from the Anglican Schools Commission.

Did you know …

• that black text on white paper can hurt sensitive eyes, while offwhite paper helps?

• that careful spacing between letters and lines can help new and struggling readers?

• that justified text can mean readers get lost on the page?

• that many young readers feel more confident about opening a book if it has clear, manageable chapters to give natural ‘rest’ breaks?

• that illustration can help to carry the story forward and help struggling readers if they lose their place?

• that research has shown boys prefer books of 100 pages or under?

(https://www.barringtonstoke.co.uk/dyslexic-reluctant-readers/)

The Library is now hosting Lego Club, Book Club and a Crime Fiction Club. Lego Club is full, but the two book clubs have places for newcomers.

Homework Club also runs in the Library on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday with specialist teachers available to help students in all curriculum areas. Please do come and join in the fellowship of learners in the library on these nights.

Our series of informative eboard slides now includes a series on Endangered Species. With the destruction of habitats through climate change and deforestation, many iconic species, large and small, face extinction. Australia has the highest rate of mammal extinction in the world. Our West Australian numbat is facing extinction if habitat continues to be lost and feral animals are not controlled.

Together, let us read.

Dr Annette Pedersen Library Services Coordinator