Peer Mentor Program

Below is an article written by one of the 7P Peer Mentors, Josie Grayden, reflecting on her groups recent session with Year 7 in Week 4, which focused on preparing students for their first official assessment period.

Two students from the Year 7 class, Sofea Davey and Victoria Poniros, delivered personalised thank-you notes to the Peer Mentors of their form group, expressing gratitude for the mentors’ support and words of wisdom.

It’s wonderful to see such appreciation and the strong relationships being built through this program.

Please enjoy reading Josie’s article.

The jump from primary to high school can feel like overwhelming at times, especially when moving to a new school. New friends, new teachers, a new timetable – it can be hard to navigate. And to add to that, exam week is once again upon us. One of two weeks in the year in which we face the impending doom of spaced-out desks in the OG building (and attempt to get away with as many uniform violations as possible, only to be reminded that yes – it’s still like any other school week).

Last Tuesday, the Year 10 peer mentors visited Year 7 during Form time, to impart words of wisdom and answer questions about upcoming exams. For girls who have been doing this for years, study habits can feel like second nature (or a bit of an emotional rollercoaster, depending on the day), but it’s important to learn these skills at a young age. That’s why it’s a great time to think about how we study- not just what we study. It makes school life much more manageable and sets you up with the tools you need for life. So here are my tips for studying – consider this my list of Things I wish I knew in Year 7.

• Regular is better than longer – you don’t need to be studying for hours on end each night for it to be effective, breaking it down and doing a bit each night can help.
• Highlighting everything is not studying – while making a neon artwork may be a way to pass your study time, it’s better to do something like test yourself or summarise information
• Ask questions, even silly ones – chances are people are wondering the same thing. Your teachers are on your side, and they are there to help you.
• It’s a marathon, not a sprint – in your younger years of high school, it’s more important to learn what works for you and what doesn’t, rather than focusing on a set mark.
• Be mindful of what you eat – while it may seem tempting, downing an entire packet of sour worms before maths probably won’t help you pass…and try to eat a proper breakfast before your exams each day.

Best of luck – You got this!

Josie Grayden
Year 10 Peer Mentor