Category: EXAMS

UPDATED EXAMINATION REGULATIONS

February 10, 2020

The rules of conduct for the School Curriculum and Standards Authority (SCSA) Year 12 ATAR course examinations will be published in the Year 12 Information Handbook Part II: Examinations 2020, which will be uploaded to the SCSA website in July 2020.

Given the challenge of identifying and determining the use of mobile technologies in the examination room, please note that we have just been notified that a new rule will be implemented from 2020 for the Year 12 ATAR course examinations: no candidate will be permitted to wear or take any watch or wireless-enabled technology device e.g. Fitbit, into the examination room. These items will be considered unauthorised items.

Unauthorised items include:

mobile phone
analogue or smart watch or Fitbit or similar device
mobile device that has wifi and/or bluetooth capabilities
mobile storage device
non-approved calculator
calculator cover
non-transparent pencil case
non-approved notes or any other print material relevant or irrelevant to this examination, (for example, writing on the back of your hand or arm, or blank paper)
headphones, earplugs, earbuds or other unauthorised listening device
wallet, purse or bag
food, lollies or chewing gum
or any other unauthorised item.

The school Year 10-12 Examination Regulations will be updated to include this change, and it will be mentioned to Year 11 and 12 students in Education Plus.

Liz Criddle

Deputy Head of Secondary (Teaching & Learning)

PREPARING FOR THE YEAR AHEAD

December 2, 2019

Rest, relaxation, and time with family and friends is the main goal for students over the end of year holidays. However there are some things that students might like to consider doing, perhaps towards the end of the holidays, that will make their school year ahead much easier, particularly senior students.

  • Organise and rearrange your room and study space to make it a more effective learning area.
  • Sort out all of your materials for school, decide what to keep and how to organise your work and if you can improve your filing systems.
  • Set up term planners for the year so you can map put your due dates when the year starts.
  • Set up a study timetable for the year so you have clear times allocated to complete your schoolwork during the week.
  • Think about building your skills in any areas of weakness or any areas you’d like to develop new skills in like touch typing.
  • If you can find out any of the novels you will studying in the coming year, read them over the holidays.
  • For senior students consider downloading the syllabus documents for the subjects you will be studying.

Of course we also want students to refresh their mind and body, catch up on their sleep and take the time to focus on enjoying a healthy lifestyle.

You can learn more about how to be a more effective student at www.studyskillshandbook.com.au by logging in with these details:

Username: ststephens

Password: 100success

Sarah Cooke

Careers Adviser

Year 12, 2017 – External WACE Examinations

October 5, 2017

Please remember if you are unwell and unable to attend your WACE exam, you must see a relevant medical specialist on the day of the exam and obtain a detailed medical certificate. This applies to each separate exam. You are responsible for sending your whole application to SCSA. A request for Sickness/ Misadventure is made by you to SCSA, and not through the school. You obtain the form from: http://www.scsa.wa.edu.au. It is always strongly recommended and preferable that you attend all exams, even if you are slightly unwell.

 

If you do not sit the examination for an ATAR course, then that course will be deemed by SCSA to be incomplete and will not be counted for ANY element of the WACE, nor will the pair of units for the Year 12 course appear on your WASSA (Statement of Attainment). This is also the case related to attendance and participation in courses with practical examinations (you need to sit both components). This has been previously explained to you in Education Plus. If you are unwell on the day of an exam, it is best to sit the exam and do your best, plus go to the doctor for a medical certificate and apply for Sickness and Misadventure.

 

Best wishes for your exams! Study Seminars are being held during the first week of this term so that your Mock Examinations can be returned to you and you can overview your course. Please email your class teacher or HOLA if you need to catch up during the study break to organise a meeting time.

 

Dr Liz Criddle.

Writing on surfaces

September 12, 2017

Writing on surfaces is one of those effective learning practices that is spreading with a viral rapidity. Schools do it because it works, and it works well. 

Student’s love to write on desks, walls, doors, windows, etc. – not because it is naughty, but for the collaborative nature, the exchanges between writers, the rich colour, the personalisation, and more.

Working in full view immediately has a basis for conversation and discussion, offers an awareness of each other’s work, and has impact.

There is a strong cognitive reason. We’ve known for a long time that memory is aided by the cues and clues of social context.

Pedagogically, it works too.

Pictured below are Year 11 student’s doing revision for their exams.

Message from the Head of Secondary

September 7, 2017

 

The Year 12s have just started their mock exams and at the end of this term will have Grad’s Day and their Graduation Dinner. The end of this part of their education journey is close at hand. Suddenly the weight of external exams weighs heavily on the students who have chosen that pathway and the reality of the world beyond school is more focused than before. Some students are planning what they will do for leavers (“Stay safe and responsible” is our hope!); some are planning for their Service Tour to India and others are planning time with parents and friends on short fishing trips! Within weeks, the Year 12s will be back here for the final Awards night.

At a time like this, it is easy to make decisions informed more by impulse and excitement than good sense. All of our students are fine young people. As parents reflect back to the end of their schooling, you may have shared stories of the antics of your Year 12 group with your children. You may have deliberately not shared stories in case your child mistakes that sharing for permission!

In the run up to graduation, I expect every Year 12 student to treat the School and the School community with respect. In the decade that I have headed the Secondary School at Duncraig I have had the privilege of  being able to proud of the conduct of our Year 12s. Years ago I was placed with the unfortunate position of having to report vandalism to the police, barring some students from Grads Day and having others write their exams at another venue. I expect our Year 12s to look after each other and to have the strength of character to re-direct any foolish and impulsive decisions that might be made by a friend. This is true at School over the next months and this is equally important at Leavers. You have come this far and no tragedy should change your future. Be safe, be careful and make good judgements as you celebrate. Our students come from fine families who have chosen St Stephen’s because of their shared values. Our students understand that they are the holders of the reputations of their families and of the School. Each of our Year 12s deserves more than to be let down now.

As our ATAR bound students prepare for exams, I would encourage each student to maintain their energy. The people around us are powerful in shaping our mood and our enthusiasm. This is the time to work hard, to work cleverly and, when appropriate, to work with other people. Study with a friend, work through old papers, answer a question and then swap and get another opinion on whether what you have written is good enough. To use a metaphor, you are on the final straight: your legs will ache as you keep pushing forward and keep your speed up. The time to sit back will be after you cross that finish line marked by that last exam. Eat well, sleep well. Apply the advice so many people have given you. The best you can do now is to give all you possibly can.

To the class of 2017 – you are entering an adult world and you now carry adult expectations. You have youth and energy to forge forward in a world that needs each of you. I hope that the exams treat you well and that you have the opportunity to show all that you have learned with confidence and joy. On behalf of all those who have taught you, I wish you every joy and success.

 

Mr Titlestad

 

Year 12 students – Collection of Mock Examinations

September 1, 2017

St Stephen’s School

Year 12 students – Collection of Mock Examinations

We wish our Year 12 cohort the very best for their written Mock WACE Examinations, which commence on Wednesday next week. While our ATAR students are sitting their Semester Two examinations, our General and VET students may also be attending school in order to finish work up until Grad’s Day.

Please click the link below to the program for the return of Mock Examination results to students. Each ATAR subject has been given a time slot in the first week of next term, from the 10-13 October. Students should attend school in their sport uniform, and bring appropriate stationery to take notes.

Note that the 2018 academic year commences on Tuesday 10 October for students entering Year 8, 9 and 10 in 2018. The 2018 academic year commences on Monday 16 October for students entering Year 11 and 12, 2018. This is the final year of the academic rollover.

My best wishes to all our students for a rewarding final few weeks of term.

Dr Liz Criddle

Deputy Head of Secondary

Year 12 (2017) Return Mock WACE Workshops

Year 12 ClassPad Presentation

September 1, 2017

About 75 mathematics students from Year 12 attended a ‘masterclass’ on the Computer Algebra System (CAS) calculator Thursday. This was presented by national Casio ClassPad 330 expert Charlie Watson.

Charlie’s sessions included trigonometry, functions, probability, sequences and graphing. He looked at basic skills and past exam paper questions and how to simplify them by using the classpad.

The students found it extremely useful and were impressed at Charlie’s presentation skills.

This presentation was organised by Jennifer Prosser, Acting HOLA Mathematics.