Academic Care Update

‘Old Dog, Learn Their Tricks’

There’s something special about learning from the successes and mistakes of those who have walked the path before us. Hearing the trials, tribulations and joys of those who’ve ‘done it all before’, brings a uniquely personal reality to our own situations, and helps to bring clarity and understanding. Taking over the Australian Men’s Cricket team after what has been referred to as ‘the darkest hours of Australian Cricket’, Head Coach Justin Langer set about bringing former players back into the fold to mentor the team. He suggested that ‘our young guys and all our players can learn so much from them, they’re great mentors’. Fast forward a number of years and the team, and its culture, had been transformed into a winning machine.

One cannot underestimate the power of your daughter engaging with those who have successfully completed their secondary studies. Be it a neighbour, sibling, cousin or friend, these younger mentors can engage and relate to their struggles in a way that us ‘oldies’ can’t. Whether it’s by giving advice for managing study routines, developing notes, completing past papers, or even how to balance a social life, there is great value in seeking the advice and mentorship of younger school leavers. By developing a support network of parents, teachers, and considered mentors, your daughter will be well equipped to face the challenges of school.

Tuesday morning’s Academic Care session with Year 11 and Year 12 saw the return of four successful MLC School ‘Old Girls’ to discuss their academic successes, failures, tips and tricks. With both the IB and HSC represented, they offered both general advice, as well as course, and even subject, specific guidance. What resonated for all girls, was the importance of creating a stringent study plan, prioritising upcoming assessment, and ‘chipping away’ at study notes or foreign language acquisition. The ‘Old Girls’ were generous with their time, and later gave some one-on-one advice to those keen to know more.

For further information on the After School Study Hub, please click here.
For overall information on Study Options available at MLC School, please click here.

The learnings for our Year 7 – Year 10 students took on a Tech based lens during their Academic Care sessions throughout the week. With guidance and resource development from Director of E-Learning, Marianna Carlino, a variety of workshops were held with the intent to ensure devices and tech were used both appropriately, and for the benefit of the student’s learning. These sessions discussed a wide variety of age-appropriate topics; from engaging appropriately in group chats, organising your online filing systems to maximise efficiency, acting safely in the online dating space, and how to protect your digital reputation. It was a pleasure to be involved in some of these sessions, and the girls engaged enthusiastically and thoughtfully with the content.

laboribus gaude

– David Posker-Hill
Academic Care Coordinator