As we reach the midpoint of the school year, Term 2 has been a time of reflection, growth, and renewed focus on the values that make Whites Hill State College a place where every student can thrive. Guided by our school motto — Imagine, Believe, Achieve — we continue to foster a learning community where every individual is supported to reach their full potential.

This term, we have placed a strong emphasis on Respect — for ourselves, for each other, and for our learning environment. Respect is one of the core values of our CARES framework, and it underpins the way we interact, learn, and grow together as a college community.  Respecting ourselves means taking pride in who we are and the goals we set for our learning and behaviour. It’s about making positive choices, maintaining high standards, and striving to be the best version of ourselves, every day. Respecting others is just as important. At Whites Hill, we celebrate diversity and promote inclusion, kindness, and cooperation. Whether it's in the classroom, on the sports field, or in the playground, showing respect through our words and actions helps to build a safe and supportive environment for all. At our recent Small Steps for Hannah day all of our students engaged with the HALT Program.  Respect is at the core of the HALT Program.   This program provides a research-based, age-appropriate approach, to respectful relationships education for students in years 7 to 12. Through the facilitation of interactive conversations, the program supports young people to explore what safety and respect means for their community, so they can collectively build the path toward it. The robust conversation sand presentation acknowledges the hurdles young people may encounter, while providing practical skills to overcome them. Together, through cooperation, achievement, respect, enthusiasm, and safety, we are building a school culture where students not only imagine and believe in their future — but actively achieve it. Thank you to all students, staff, and families for your ongoing commitment to these values.

Our students are about to enter a very busy time of the term.  Week 6 to 9 is assessment time.  Assessment is an essential component of the learning cycle, and its purpose is to communicate a student’s level of understanding and skill. Assessment is also a powerful feedback tool.  Assessment communicates what learners have done well and how they can improve.  Feedback provides the constructive dialogue required to help learners have agency over their own learning and therefore their success.  During times of increased workload and stress some students may find it challenging to manage competing priorities and complete the volume of work required to achieve the results or goals that they were working towards.   In these times of increased demand, it is essential for our learners to understand the ingredients of success, so that they can push through the uncomfortableness of challenge and develop resilience and self-belief.  On the surface it is easy to label learners or people as successful, smart, and talented.  However, for each successful outcome, there will be less obvious contributions to success that aren’t readily identified.  With each success that is achieved, there is a story that goes with it; it is often the story of sacrifice, failure, hard work, discipline, disappointment, dedication, persistence and sometimes failure.  What matters is not how many successes we chalk up, but how we handle the invisible elements of success.  Managing the invisible obstacles to success is proof that learners have a growth mindset.  They understand that worthwhile learning is not comfortable, and it is this uncomfortableness that makes learning dynamic and a rich experience that ultimately contributes to their development as a whole person, not just a student of a particular subject. 

During peak times of assessment, it is essential that students are looking after their physical and mental health.  The list of tips below may help students keep everything in perspective and work towards their personal best while keeping stress levels low and productivity high. 

1. Plan a study timetable, and stick to it

• Create a routine and have it visible somewhere in your study space
• Give attention across a variety of your subjects when revising.
• Work on your most difficult pieces, at times of greatest alertness
• Plan ahead for the next day

2. Being organised operationally, will help you be organised mentally

• Organise your home work space – clean, clear and quiet
• Have appropriate stationery on hand
• Ensure you have good light to avoid eye strain
• Keep a snack and water bottle on hand
• If it doesn’t help you study, it shouldn’t be on your desk

3. Be healthy: eat well, sleep well and maintain physical movement

• Keep your mood and energy levels up, and your stress levels down by taking the time to eat healthy meals, maintain appropriate sleep times (7-9 hours) and patterns, avoid caffeine and screen time right before bed
• Exercise or continue activity patterns through this period

4. Minimise distractions

• Avoid procrastination by just thinking about starting tasks, not necessarily completing whole tasks in one sitting
• Break your work up into manageable chunks that are appropriate for the timeframes you have available
• Seek feedback to keep you on track, and motivate your progression

5. Take breaks and reward your invested efforts

• Set goals for yourself and reward your efforts when you reach them
• Consistent and/or well-timed breaks will help you be more productive in the long run
• Creating a balance in your approach to lesson revision, exam preparation study or assessment completion, will help you establish great habits in all your future learning

If students require extra support at any time of the year, they can connect with our School Based Youth Health Nurse.  At Whites Hill we are blessed to have Esther McCall on site each Monday.  Students in years 7 to 12 are able to book an appointment to see Esther using the QR code.  The graphic below outlines the support that a school-based youth health nurse can offer.

Enjoy the second half of term 2.

Samantha Hawkins
Head of School - Secondary