From the Assistant Principal

From the Assistant Principal

Set Times for Home Learning

PARENTS: Many students come home from school and end up just waiting until they might ‘feel’ like doing schoolwork. Or else they drag everything out over the whole night. A much better way is each night have set allocated times for home learning. Many students find that learning in 20-30 minute blocks works well for them. During this time students should do homework first, then work on any assignments or upcoming tests, then use the rest of the time allocated for schoolwork to complete independent learning activities such as reviewing work they find difficult, making study notes or doing practice questions to build their skills. All distractions should be removed during this time, so students learn to focus for 20-30 minute blocks of time. It is a great idea to make a timetable of the home learning and place it on the fridge so everyone is clear when students are focusing and when they are doing other activities or having free time.

STUDENTS: Some of the benefits for students of having set times allocated for home learning are:

  • You are more likely to learn at home if you know when to start and when to end.
  • You will be more effective when you remove distractions and learn to focus for 20-30 minute blocks.
  • In all the times NOT allocated to schoolwork you can do whatever you like without feeling guilty about it.
  • Having set times stops arguments between students and parents as everyone has agreed when the timeslots allocated to students will be.
  • You know that you are definitely doing enough work for school.
  • Keeping your home learning and personal life separate means you will be able to manage all of the distractions in your life and still complete your work for school.

Learn more this year about how to improve your results and be more efficient and effective with your schoolwork by working through the units on www.studyskillshandbook.com.au which is accessible via favourites tab on COMPASS. You can also print a sheet outlining independent learning activities (click on the More menu then on Things to Print).

COMPASS Student Card

It is a College expectation that all students have their COMPASS student ID card with them everyday. The card is used in particular for students to tap in and out of the College for late arrival or early departure. I ask for the support of parents in ensuring that your daughter/s have this with them everyday.  If students have misplaced or lost their student ID card it is a requirement that the card is replaced. Please see below for how to order a new card online.

Winter Uniform Expectations

Finally, I encourage you to check your daughter’s winter uniform and be reminded of our uniform expectations.

  • The College blazer is always compulsory when the winter uniform is worn off campus.
  • The wearing of navy tights is a mandatory requirement of the winter uniform.
  • When a student is kneeling, the bottom of the hem of the kilt is to touch the floor.
  • Shoes are to be black, lace-ups and are to be regularly polished.
  • The jumper is NOT to be worn as the outer garment off campus
  • T-shirts, singlets and any other item of undergarments are not to be visible at the neck of the blouse, or elsewhere.
  • Each student’s hair is to be clean and well-groomed and of a style and colour that is considered acceptable by the College.
  • A student may wear in each earlobe one small plain gold or silver earring. The stud/sleeper in one earlobe is to be matching in both ears. No other jewellery is to be worn, apart from a wrist watch. ‘No other jewellery’ also includes multiple piercings and non-metal variations.
  • Students are permitted to wear a small religious icon or cross on a thin chain worn inside the uniform and sitting below the uniform’s collar or top button.
  • Makeup – foundation, mascara, fake eyelashes, fake tan or bronzing products or similar – must NOT be worn with the College uniform.
  • Students’ nails are to be short to medium length. Only clear nail polish is considered acceptable. No fake or acrylic nails are deemed appropriate whilst at school. 
  • The College backpack is the required navy school bag that can be purchased with the College uniform.
  • An appropriate parentally signed note is to be completed if, in the short term, a student is unable to wear the required uniform, and is to be shown to a student’s House Coordinator or Tutor upon arrival at the College. Parent or carers should liaise with their daughter’s House Coordinator on this matter.

Ms Melinda Alvarez, Assistant Principal

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