1. CROSSROADS CAMP 21 ST SEPTEMBER, 2011

2.  Year 11 is a Preliminary Year. Take five minutes to write down  What you have learned to do this year in terms of your learning  What have you learned NOT to do this year in terms of your learning  What aspects of your life have changed  What you want to change in order to cope with next year

3.  Lindy Billings will tell you about the rules and support the Board of Studies gives you. These include Special Provisions, which are due in April  You should look up the Board’s site – students online is a fantastic resource  As the HSC class of 2012, consider HOW you wish to leave school  As a group  As individuals

4.  There are many support structures that we have at our school to help you through this year  Expert, trained teachers  Mentor scheme  Extracurricular activity guidelines  Moratoriums  Examination time frame  How we manage your study path  BOS warnings and how we manage them

5.  In NSW Public schools, you CANNOT take an HSC class unless you are academically qualified and trained in this subject.  You have a range of expert teachers who will support you with advice on how to maximise your opportunities in the HSC

6.  Teachers at JFHS volunteer to support and mentor individuals who are interested, outside of their responsibilities.  Mrs Thurling is the coordinator. If you are interested, she will give you a form with teacher preferences to match you up with a mentor.  This mentor assists you with organisation, motivation, time management, and specifically helps you with your particular questions and concerns  IT IS A GREAT SCHEME!

7.  Your extracurricular activities at JFHS in the HSC year are trimmed down to TWO.  This is to allow you time to prepare for your learning  CHOOSE CAREFULLY as your choices are made for the year at the beginning of 2012.

8.  The first four weeks of Term 4, 2011, are free of assessment due dates  The last four weeks of Term 3, 2012, are free of general excursions and any distracting individual students are placed in isolation from their class  There is a ONE WEEK moratorium before your HSC Course Examinations  WHY? So that you can prepare for the events ahead – the HSC at the beginning, the exams on the other two occasions

9.  We value our timing of the examinations.  Our HSC Course examinations are held in Weeks 9 and 10 of Term 2, 2012.  This means that the whole course is not examined BUT:  It gives you time to look at strengths and weaknesses the whole of Term 3  It gives you a rest time in the holidays  It allows major works and performances to be held without the pressure of examinations in Term 3  BUT it is cold, so keep well and prepare for this busy time in June/July.

10.  Students who have extension courses and currently study over 12 units have permission to consult with Mrs Parrett to discontinue a subject.  However, if you are dropping from 12 to 10 units, you will not be given permission to consult with Mrs Parrett until Week 9 of Term 4, 2011.  This is because you need to know how the HSC pattern of study works for you, as opposed to Preliminary study.

11.  If you are considering dropping from 12 to 10, we are very cautious about this.  WHY? It is risky to have no back up subject within your HSC, which takes your 10 BEST units (there is always a stinky examination lurking in October 2012) Believe it or not, some students, who have all the best intentions in the world, do not use their time effectively once they have dropped a subject. It is a risk, therefore, and a waste. Most students want a good HSC, not an ATAR, and 10 units do not show this aspect as effectively as 12.

12.  If you are interested in discontinuing a subject, you need to see Mrs Parrett.  She gives you an application that needs to be signed by your parents/carers.  Then, she starts a consultative process with your teachers. She asks them to fill out a progress report on you, asking two questions Will this discontinuation advantage this student? Is this student capable of independent study? If you think your teachers will not answer these questions to your wishes, it is time for you to change your habits, or not bother applying for this discontinuation. On review of the comments made by teachers, a yes, no, or review period of a month will be given.

13.  If you have outstanding BOS letters from Year 11, you will need to finish these before you sit in your HSC class.  So, everyone who has submitted their work and does not have BOS letters, has a very well earned break – you cannot really do much as HSC courses are new study.  Those who have BOS letters, if you don’t wish to sit in isolation and be behind in the HSC, that YOU DO YOUR TASKS OVER THE HOLIDAYS.

14. THE OSTRICH TECHNIUE AND THE SNOWBALL EFFECT