Year 7 and 8 Study Skills Evening Workshop with Dr Prue Salter
This week Dr Prue Salter from Enhanced Learning Educational Services (www.enhanced-learning.net) ran a study skills evening with Year 7 and 8 parents, caregivers and students. The evening helped families assess what changes could be made to help students move towards achieving their personal best efficiently and effectively.
Families examined the following areas: home study environment, the way they organise and manage their resources, how to work effectively at home and deal with distractions, how to manage the workload in high school, and the steps to studying in high school: making study notes, learning the notes by testing yourself and doing as much practise as possible.
The feedback from the parents, caregivers and students was really positive, students indicated they really liked the tips on how to plan their study time and the project management skills. The session included valuable opportunities for students and their parents to discuss approaches to home study together.
It was a really information packed session as Dr Salter was presenting a lot of ideas and tips for the Tools for Success. Fortunately, both students and parents have access to a video link until early June of the evening session.
For the families who could not make it on the night, I encourage you to make a time to sit together and do the workshop at home. I have advised all Year 7 and 8 students who couldn’t attend to collect a Family Handout to take home for this session.
Parents and Caregivers are encouraged to review the slides and handout from the session with students and discuss the main areas identified where changes need to be made: Year 7 Slides, password is achieve.
Parents can also find extra study skills tips on the following website: http://studyskillstoptipsparents.com/.
All students at our school also have access to a great study skills website to help students develop their skills. Go to www.studyskillshandbook.com.au and enter the username: forfortstreetonly and the password: 21results and start improving your results today!
Don’t forget you can access the Parent Portal for Assessment information and much more to support your child’s learning.
Year 8 Students and the Future Proofing Study with the Black Dog Institute and UNSW
We were thrilled to announce in Term 1 Mercurius, that Fort Street HS is taking part in Australia’s largest ever wellbeing study for high school students – the ‘Future Proofing Study’. We’ll be working with the Black Dog Institute and UNSW, along with 170+ other Australian schools, to improve the mental health and wellbeing of Australian teenagers.
Ms Propsting, our Year 8 Year Adviser has worked hard to communicate with all Year 8 parents and caregivers about the value of this project for your child.
We strongly encourage all parents and caregivers to complete the consent forms online to ensure every student in Year 8 participates in this research and benefits from this project.
Year 8 Parents/Carers – Please could you let us know if you consent to your child participating in ‘Future Proofing’, the mental health project which we are running at Fort Street High School next term. Read more and register your consent and response here: https://www.fpstudy.org.au/FortSt
Starting in Term 3 this year, participating students will try out new mental health apps and complete surveys about their health and wellbeing at school until they are in Year 12. The surveys will ask about a wide range of issues important to young people, including health, emotions, friendships, school, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Police Schools Liaison Officer Talks
A couple of the Police talks planned for Term 1 this year were postponed. I am pleased to advise they are going ahead this term.
On Friday 4 June 2021 this term Snr Constable Danny McManus, the Police Schools Liaison Officer for our region, will return to deliver a talk about Bullying and Harassment to our Year 9 and 10 students.
On Friday 18 June 2021 this term Snr Constable Danny McManus, the Police Schools Liaison Officer for our region, will return to deliver a talk about Cybersafety and the range of issues about staying safe online to our Year 7 and 8 students.
You may want to take this opportunity to talk to your children about what they learned or found interesting from this discussion, and about what experiences they, their friends or their peers may have had in these areas.
If you are looking for further information or support in this area, the school subscribes to an online parent resource hub called School TV, which includes an excellent range of resources on Social Media and Digital Reputation, including Staying Safe Online.
School TV publish new resources each month, which can be accessed through the Latest News section of the school website. Parents may also be interested in the Special Report: A Conversation on Consent.
Penelope Starr
Head Teacher Wellbeing