At the start of this term we were fortunate enough to have Dr Ian Lillico spend our Student Free Day with us, educating our staff about boys education. I would like to share one of his factsheets that focus on boys and homework. Of course when we talk about boys, this is not discrediting our girls. Strategies that work for our boys will also work for our girls as you will read below.

Boys and Homework

By Ian Lillico (Boys Forward Institute)

Homework is an issue for many parents of boys and girls. Homes have become difficult places for students to study with the advent of television, two parents working, family fragmentation and general noise and confusion. Recent research indicates that students need to work more in class and less at home. However, when homework is set it needs to be done well and marked or assessed by the teacher. Boys (when reading) need to look for information and fact to direct their reading. You can assist them in doing their reading by asking them questions to find out prior to their reading a chapter or book. When writing an essay or assignment, get the boy to verbalize to you what he is going to write prior to writing it. This greatly aids the fluency, content and volume of his writing.

It is a good idea to spend two minutes each night with your son to help him organize his homework before he starts it. Help him order the sequence of subjects etc and then send him to his room for a set amount of time to complete it. Boys should not spend waisted hours in their room each night presumably doing homework as they begin to get a negative attitude to it as a result. I am asking teachers throughout Australia to put a time limit on each piece of homework set to give boys and their parents an indication as to how much time should be spent (on average) on the particular piece of work. This also gives parents an idea of appropriate time that should be allocated. Send him to his room for the sum of all the times suggested and have him return to you to see how he is gone. Give him positive feedback and praise him for good work completed. It is important to show an interest in his work as it makes him feel less isolated from the rest of the family. Boys are very social creatures and often don't want to make the sacrifice of isolation doing homework away from the family. Try to ensure his room has no fluorescent lights, as these are disastrous to boys' learning. An incandescent light and preferably the low voltage 12V Quartz Halogen down lights are the best for giving atmosphere. The décor, lighting and general ambience of the area where your son does his homework is critical in giving him the incentive to spend time there. The same suggestions are very effective for daughters, but with boys we often have to try much harder to get him to make the sacrifice that homework demands of him.

Subject Information Night for Year 11 2024 - 25 July 2023

This information night was for Year 10 students who will be transitioning to Year 11 in 2024. The event covered important topics such as the Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE), Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR), School-Based Apprenticeships/Traineeships (SBA/T) pathways, University pre-requisites, and the subjects that will be offered in Year 11 in 2024. After attending this event, students have been asked to select their preferences for Year 11 subjects. The final subject selections will be determined during Year 10 SET plan interviews.

Year 10 SET Plan Interviews - 2 to 7 August

SET plan interviews are scheduled for Year 10 students to discuss their subject preferences and academic goals for Year 11. Parents/guardians should have received notifications of the interview times in the last few weeks. If the scheduled time does not suit, rescheduling can be done through the College office.

Year 9 and 10 2024 Semester 1 Subject Selections

Year 8 and 9 students will receive a curriculum handbook outlining the subject options available for Semester 1 of 2024. They will also receive a web preference link, enabling them to make their subject selections for Semester 1. The selections for Semester 2 of 2024 will be made during Term 2, 2024.

Semester 1, 2023 Reports

Semester 1 reports for students in Years 7-11 were published on the parent portal in Sentral during the first week of the holidays. Parents who have difficulty accessing the report are encouraged to contact the College office for assistance. Open communication between parents and teachers is encouraged to ensure the students' success. In case of concerns or queries regarding the Semester 1 reports, parents can contact the College office to discuss the matter.

Semester 1, 2023 Academic Pins

The Academic Pins ceremony was held last week on Tuesday, 25 August 2023 to celebrate the academic success of over 70 students. The ceremony took place during the Assembly, and parents/guardians of these students were invited to attend. The criteria for these awards are below.

Years 7, 8, 9 and 10:

GOLD -  7 As and nothing less than a B

SILVER -  6 As and nothing less than a B

BRONZE – 5 As and nothing less than a C.

Year 11 and 12:

GOLD - A combination of 5 As and/or Achieved All Competencies (CA) for certificates, and nothing less than a B.

SILVER - A combination of 4 As and/or Achieved All Competencies (CA) for certificates, and nothing less than a B.

BRONZE - A combination of 3 As and/or Achieved All Competencies (CA) for certificates, and nothing less than a C.

Year 11 Academic Coaching

Year 11 Academic Coaching sessions have been conducted over the past few weeks. These interviews provide an invaluable opportunity for students, parents, and the College to discuss the student's academic concerns and set learning goals to ensure their success. Parents are encouraged to schedule additional meetings to discuss their child's progress whenever necessary.

I look forward to Term 3 as we navigate pathways and prepare our students for their next phase on learning in 2024.