From the Assistant Principal

This week marks the commencement of the HSC Examinations for our Year 12 students. As the College is accommodating the HSC demands stipulated by NESA, I thank the students of Years 7-11, who have actively and effectively engaged in their remote learning this week. The staff at the College have and will continue to upload lesson plans in COMPASS and lesson content in Google Classroom during this time. It is important that students continue to engage in these learning platforms at all times.

Hygiene measures

Please be assured that as students transition back to the College, we are continuing to maintain high standards of hygiene on site. The following processes are in place to ensure the ongoing safety of our community:

• Each classroom has hand sanitiser and antibacterial spray and wipes. Students are encouraged to sanitise their hands and wipe down their desks during lesson time;
• Our cleaners continue to sanitise frequently touched surfaces daily.

Once again we encourage our students to continue to practise good hygiene and to frequently wash their hands while at school, particularly before and after eating and after going to the toilet. Likewise, students are reminded to cough and sneeze into their elbow, dispose of tissues and use alcohol-based hand sanitiser.

As a community, we will be monitoring student health and we ask that parents keep their daughters at home if they are even slightly unwell. If students present with any signs of cold or flu-like symptoms while at the College, we will be in touch and ask that you come and collect your daughter.

Symptoms of COVID-19 are similar to colds and flu and include:

• Fever
• Sore throat
• Cough
• Tiredness
• Difficulty breathing.

A reminder that if your daughter presents with these symptoms, a COVID-19 test is required and results are to be sent to attendance (mscw-attendance@syd.catholic.edu.au) prior to her returning to school. Please note that a Rapid Antigen Test is not a recognised test result for return to school.

Study skills tip for November – Making the most of class time

There are many advantages, apart from deeper learning and improved results, to making the most of class time. By completing more work in class, you will have less to do at home, your teacher will be pleased with your application and so will your parents when they read your report. You will also learn more! What happens if you don’t use class time efficiently? Well, you will have to do more work at home, you will find you don’t always understand the work, your teachers will have to be continually disciplining you and you may even make it harder for other people in your class to learn. It’s a no-brainer!

What does working effectively in class mean?

1. Sit next to someone who will help you stay on task rather than someone who distracts you.
2. Ask questions whenever you are unsure, unclear or do not understand something.
3. Be polite and respectful of your teacher and your classmates at all times.
4. Come prepared for the lesson, with all the books, technology and equipment you will need.
5. Contribute your thoughts and ideas at the appropriate times.
6. If you find yourself daydreaming, ask yourself questions about what is going on or take notes about what is being discussed so you regain your focus.
7. Try at all times to stay on task and be engaged in the work you are doing.

This article on College life meets The Archbishop’s Charter for Catholic Schools – Charter #2, #6 & #8