We all love to win, or when we see people we know win, we all love to celebrate the best of results. We always aim high; that gives you a great launching pad. The problem with focussing on the win or the result is that you can take your eye off the hard work and the next step and the process of putting in place all the training you have done. This is why we talk so much about progress. Are we getting better, stronger, thinking more clearly, and predicting better results?

As many of our students are undergoing assessment, it is really important that they are supported at school and at home. These can take the form of checking in, providing time, or making decisions on where students can best use their time. Please look to celebrate the progress of your student rather than only the final results.

As we head toward the end of this term, it’s not uncommon for students to feel a sense of exhaustion creeping in. The pressure of assignments, study and exams can feel overwhelming. However, there’s a powerful tool that can help students navigate these challenges - cultivating a positive mindset.

A positive mindset is not just about maintaining an upbeat attitude. It’s a powerful approach that can significantly influence your academic journey. A positive mindset can:

1. Boost Mental Health: Positive thinking nurtures mental health. By focusing on the positive aspects and maintaining an optimistic outlook, you can reduce stress levels, combat anxiety, and improve your overall emotional well-being.
2. Enhances Motivation and Productivity: A positive mindset fuels motivation and productivity. When you believe in your abilities and maintain a positive outlook on your potential, you become more driven to achieve your academic goals.
3. Improves Academic Performance: A positive mindset can directly impact your academic performance. Students who cultivate a positive mindset are more likely to engage actively in their studies, embrace learning opportunities, and seek solutions to academic challenges.
4. Strengthens Relationships and Social Skills: A positive mindset can also enhance your relationships and social skills, both inside and outside the classroom.

Cultivating a positive mindset can be particularly beneficial in managing the pressures of assessments and the exhaustion that comes with the end of the term. Here are some strategies:

1. Embrace Challenges: View challenging assignments and exams as opportunities for learning and growth. This perspective can help you build resilience and adaptability.
2. Practice Regularly and Seek Feedback: Regular practice and constructive feedback can help you improve. Use the feedback from your assignments and assessments to make immediate improvements.
3. Adopt a Growth Mindset: Foster a growth mindset, the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed through dedication and hard work. This mindset encourages you to embrace new challenges and focus on effort and learning, rather than just outcomes.

Remember that your mindset can significantly influence your academic journey. Cultivating a positive mindset can help you navigate through exhaustion and assessment pressure, leading to academic success. So, let’s make sure we end the term in a positive way and then we can enjoy a well-earned break.

QCAA Year 12 External Examination Timetable has been released!

Please refer here for the latest published QCAA External Examination timetable

QCAA external assessment timetable 2025

The external assessment timetable is designed to:

• minimise clashes for students across the examination period. Where there is a clash within a morning or afternoon session, students will be allocated to the alternative session on the same day
• ensure most students sit no more than two external assessments on one day
• provide sufficient breaks between external assessments for popular courses and frequently combined courses
• enable all external assessments to be marked in time for students to receive their final Year 12 results.

Artificial Intelligence – in Assessment

At this time of the term, I would like to provide a reminder to students about the inappropriate use of AI. All year levels have been spoken to about the use of AI.  Year 11 and 12 students have also completed the QCAA Academic Integrity course which also outlines the inappropriate use of AI.

When authorship of student work cannot be established or a response is not entirely a student’s own work, the College will provide an opportunity for the student to demonstrate that the submitted response is their own work in consultation with the Curriculum Leader. Results will be awarded using any evidence from the preparation of the response that is available that is verifiably the student’s own work and that was gathered in the conditions specified by the syllabus, on or before the due date (in class time / 3.30pm in CANVAS).

Uniform Term 2

A gentle reminder that going into Term 3, the expectations regarding the uniform will not change. We continue to emphasise with the students that the uniform is important in setting the tone for the College community. A student wearing the uniform correctly shows that they have pride in themselves and pride in the community they belong to. A school uniform reduces incidents of bullying and the stress of peer pressure as all students are the same. Uniforms do not distinguish between socio-economic backgrounds like free dress does.

The uniform also helps the students focus on their job at hand. They are students not fashion statements while at school. Wearing their uniform helps the student 'switch on' to student mode and it provides the students with a reminder of what the expectations of the College are and how they are supposed to behave and apply themselves to their learning.

A student wearing their uniform well in public shows they are proud of being a part of this community. When a member of the wider community sees a student who is proud of where they come from, it often reflects to the student in the way the member of the community interacts with them and their opinion of the school.