PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE

Dear Teachers, students and respected parents,

Last week, our students started sitting their VCE exams amid concerns that disruption from COVID-19 has increased the stress and anxiety young people are already experiencing. Many senior students have admitted that the COVID-19 restrictions have made their studying more challenging and to us as educators this news comes as no surprise.

However, with the exams now in full swing, students are focused on doing the best they can in tough circumstances. Key to this is focusing on the basics, taking a smart approach to memory, and keeping things in perspective. I know that students may be anxious about whether they will do as well as usual. I recommend them to go back basics. Schedule study, exercise and downtime, and have a Plan B just in case it is needed.

“Research shows that memory works best when study is targeted to the exam and discipline; when students use active study methods such as decision making and self-testing rather than rehearsal; and when switching back and forth between topics rather than trying to learn them one after the other,” Assoc/Prof Van Bergen says.

This gives the brain multiple opportunities to encode and retrieve the material. Good sleep is also critical.

My management team and teachers are ready to support our students. We have extended the school for 3 more weeks to study more. I would like to thank VCE teachers and Mr Kara for organising this. I recommend to study till last minute and do not hesitate to contact with your teachers if you have any query. Lastly, don’t forget that most Universities and degrees have early entry and alternative options old special consideration.

Due to COVID-19, school could not organise events as usual. But, we did organise debating competition. Our students did well and bring pleasing result. I would like to thank my debating teachers, Mr Verga, Mr Kulkewycz and Mr Gezer.

The swiftness with which teachers adapted to remote learning, the long hours spent preparing material for online classes or learning-at-home packs, their willingness to rapidly learn new digital delivery techniques, their ingenuity and creativity in keeping students engaged and their ongoing care for individual students and their families have rightly been recognized and applauded during recent month. I celebrate my teachers’ day. You deserve a massive shout out and a loud and heartfelt ‘thank you’.