Have you ever met someone who refuses to listen to advice, who is a know it all and tells everyone else what to do? Many people in society have this attitude where they won’t be told what to do and won’t take sound advice from anyone. It can be very frustrating. This attitude stems from their pride. Proverbs 13:10 says “Where there is strife, there is pride, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.” It is easy to often think we are better than others, to think that we know more about how to do life than others". Often teenagers will not heed their parent’s advice and say things like, “I need to learn from my own mistakes in life to learn”. It is true that we should all learn from our own mistakes but wisdom would suggest it is beneficial to learn from other people’s mistakes. Avoiding unnecessary strife in your life by seeking advice from others is beneficial for the individual, loved ones around them and for their future. Proverbs 18:2 says, “Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions”.
Students have been encouraged to learn to actively listen to others instead of wanting to share their own opinions on any given topic all the time. Listening to the advice of others requires us to put our pride aside and humble ourselves with the attitude that I don’t know it all and can learn from others. Learning to do this requires us to be intentional and develop the habit of taking advice from others. Not everyone’s advice is always good but we hope that students will learn to take advice from trusted family and friends and grow in wisdom in dealing with the issues of life.
Year 12 Study Camp
Year 12 Study Camp is being held this year from Monday 30 September to Friday 4 October at Stanwell Tops – the Tops Conference Centre. A range of staff will be supervising students and assisting them as they prepare for the HSC Examinations. We encourage all Year 12’s to attend the optional camp. The cost involved is $350. The final cut-off date to confirm numbers with the campsite is on Monday 23 September. Please book online and hand the permission slips and paperwork to Mr Howe, Year 12 Advisor.
World Skills Competition
Congratulations to Year 11 student, Dejan M who recently won the local Worldskills Competition for VET Automotive Engineering at the Worldskills Competition. The Worldskills Competitions are held in 34 regions across Australia. They test the skills and knowledge of 4000+ apprentices, trainees and students, who have the chance to win gold, silver and bronze medals and go on to compete at a national level. Dejan will now go on to compete at the Regional Worldskills Competition, held during Term Four. If successful, he will then represent us at the National Worldskills Competition held in 2020! Well done Dejan!
HPE Day
Students in Years 6-12 participated in HPE Day (National Health & Physical Education) on Thursday 12 September. Students were able to complete a series of activities involving critical thinking, problem solving, physical ability and fitness, communication and teamwork skills. Funds raised on the day was going towards the Cerebral Palsy Alliance as part of the Steptember Charity event. The College has 36 teams (114 participants) participating in the event which is a great example of service to the community. Thank you to the PDHPE faculty for their organisation of the event and for staff supervising different year groups throughout the day.
Year 11 Final Examinations
Year 11 Final Examinations will begin on Monday 16 September and conclude on Thursday 26 September. Friday 27 September has been set aside for catch up examinations. Students who don’t have catch up examinations will not be required to come to College that day. The new Prefects for 2020 will be required to serve at the Year 12 Graduation ceremony and morning tea on that day. Year 11 students have received their Final Examination Timetable and Study Guide on Friday of Week 4. Year 11 students can stay home to study on days when they don’t have an examination and can sign out of College each day after their examination. Parental permission will need to be provided for this to occur. Students who want to study at College when they do not have an examination, need to sign in at the IRC and wear full College uniform. Students should be studying now for their examinations if they want to maximise their results. They need to ensure they are using the effective study methods they have been taught over the years such as:
- Spot memory tests of syllabus dot points
- Completing practice examination questions
- Practising paragraph writing (relevant structure, topic sentences etc.)
- Re-writing notes into a condensed form
- Flash cards of key ideas for specific topics – used for testing themselves
- Self-testing (verbal recall or written recall without accessing notes or flash cards)
- Make an audio recording of notes and listen back
- Mind maps of key ideas for specific topics
- Lotus Diagrams or concept maps to create essay plans for specific topics
- Accessing Edrolo to revise topics
- Studying in groups and testing one another – in person or online
Studying the night before and reading over notes is not an effective study technique for preparing for examinations. It does not reinforce knowledge and understanding in long term memory which is essential for effective recall of information. Students need to begin studying now to build up their knowledge base in their long term memory so they can recall the correct information in examinations.
Uniform Reminder
Please be reminded that all students need to wear a hat at College now that we have changed to the summer uniform. They are required to wear their hat during the break times during the day and their sports hat for PE and sport lessons.
A number of students are coming to College wearing their sports uniform all day. Students are required to bring their sports uniform to College to get changed into their sports uniform for PDHPE or PASS lessons. If you or your child is unsure of what is expected, please speak with your child’s respective PDHPE/PASS teacher or the PDHPE Coordinator, Mr Weir. We appreciate your cooperation in this matter. Please refer to pg 54 of the Parent and Student Handbook for more information on the Uniform Code.
Parent Portal changes
Within the Parent Portal, there is a number of new functions available for parents to improve the flow of communication between the College and Parents. Some of the new functions include:
- Viewing College notices each week about upcoming events
- Parents being able to grant permission for events (eg excursions) online. Please familiarise yourself with this function as we transition to parent online permission this term.
In addition, there are a number of instructions including screenshots of how to use the various Parent Portal functions. Please click on the link below that will take you to the instructions on how to access and use the Parent Portal.
https://www.thac.nsw.edu.au/content/how-use-parent-portal
Forms available on College Website
There are a number of forms that you can access on the College website. Please click on the link below to access the following forms:
- Extended leave form
- Exemption application form
- Assessment Extension Application – Years 7-10
- Assessment Extension Application – Years 11-12
- Assessment Task – Misadventure/Illness Form – Years 11-12
https://www.thac.nsw.edu.au/content/forms
Carpark - drop off and pick up reminders
There is a lot of congestion in the Flynn Avenue Carpark of a morning from 7.40 am onwards as well as during the afternoons during pick up time. Please read below the drop off and pick up arrangements to assist in the improvement of the flow of traffic. More detailed information about transport related information can be found on our website by clicking on the link below.
https://www.thac.nsw.edu.au/content/current-student-transport
Morning Drop off
- All cars using Flynn Avenue will access the College via Gate 3 only
- Cars may then turn left or right to either of the two 'set down and pick up zones'. You may be directed by a staff member to go left or right to help with the flow of traffic. Please fill up all the spaces in the drop off/pick up zones to maximise the number of students being dropped off.
- Cars will then exit through Gates 2 or 4
Afternoon Pick up Arrangements – Years 10-12 – Turn left only
- All cars using Flynn Avenue will access the College via Gate 3 only
- For students in Years 10-12, cars must turn left to the 'set down and pick up zone' in front of N Block.
- Cars will then exit through Gate 2 only
- Please note the carpark opens from 2:30 pm only
Afternoon Pick Up Arrangements – Years 7-9 – Turn right only
- All cars using Flynn Avenue will access the College via Gate 3 only
- For students in Years 7-9, cars must turn right to the 'set down and pick up zone' in front of J Block.
- Cars will then exit through Gate 4 only
- Please note the carpark opens from 2:30 pm only
Where your family spans multiple year groups, you should use the 'pick up zone' of the eldest child.
Staff will be available to assist with traffic flow and we ask that you follow their directions.
No Senior School students are to be picked up in the front of the Administration Building.
Lines of Communication
If you need to contact the College, we would encourage you to use the following lines of communication that will assist you in speaking with the right person to resolve any enquiry/concern you may have as quickly as possible.
I encourage parents to keep the College informed of anything that you feel may impact your child’s performance or behaviour at the College so that we can support and assist them.
“Where there is strife, there is pride, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.” Proverbs 13:10
Mr Hugh Renshaw
Acting Head of Senior School
