Hostel Fortnightly E News - Term 4: Edition 1
Hostel Highlights
Christmas Dinner
Another outstanding hostel occasion that showcases all of what is great about the hostel – spirit, dedication, food, musical talent, success, enjoyment and family. Christmas dinner is a time of to celebrate, enjoy each others company, to recognise contribution and farewell the leavers.
There were a number of people to farewell and thank – the prefects, Justine Darney (chairperson of the Hostel Committee), Jeanette Rowlands (parent representative on the Hostel Committee), Jamie Sutherland (chairman of the BOT), Helen & Jean (kitchen staff with a combined 30 years of service in the hostel), Phil Whittaker & Ngaire Ellicott and the ‘Leavers’ (mostly Year 13 but some from other year levels).
The Hostel awards were presented at the dinner. The winners for 2009 were:
- Sportsman of the Year – Warwick Millar
Carroll Cup – Moyes House
Grimwood Cup – Jarrod Bell
Jean Anderson Trophy – Brendon Fischer
Aaron Mancewicz Memorial Cup – Rhys Poingdestre
Ranald & Robyn Gordon Cup – Rhys Marshall
James Hugh Dunning Memorial Trophy – Heiden Bedwell-Curtis
Ballantyne Cup – Rhys Bishop
The senior prefects were also named on the night. Head Boarder 2010 – Rhys Marshall, Head of Carrington House 2010 – Johnny Thomson and Head of Moyes House 2010 – Greg White.
Inter house Competition
Victory for the second year running. Since the last eNews Hatherly has achieved the following results:
1st – rugby, hockey & touch
2nd – debating & basketball
3rd – golf & tennis
Carroll Cup
Final results: Moyes – 16 ½ and Carrington – 13 ½. So victory for Moyes House. This is a great competition that highlights what is so great about the hostel.
NPDC Young Achievers awards
Greg White was recently recognised at this Awards ceremony for his contribution to Youth Development. This achievement is great recognition for Greg and great motivation for others.
Reminders:
- Important dates:
Wednesday 11 November: Senior Prize Giving @ 7pm
Thursday 12 November: Year 13 Leavers’ Dinner / Senior exam leave starts
Monday 16 November: NCEA starts
Thursday 19 November: Year 9 & 10 exams start
Wednesday 2 December: NCEA ends
Monday 7 December: Year 9 & 10 Alternative Education Programme starts (this is a compulsory requirement)
Friday 11 December: Junior Prize Giving @ / End of 2009 academic year
- Senior exam leave:
From the start of senior exam study leave and through to the final NCEA exam (Thursday 12 November – Wednesday 2 December) the boys are on exam study leave. The boarders are able to stay in the hostel and follow a supervised study programme – Periods 1-4 and standard evening prep times. Normal hostel rules & expectations apply while the boys are in.
The advantage of staying in the hostel during exams is that revision is supervised, teachers are close at hand and revision resources are readily available.
- Seniors leaving procedure:
General rule
Morning exam: leave before the end of that day.
Afternoon exam: leave by the following morning.
Any problems a prior arrangement must be made with HA.
- ALL bedding needs to be returned to the laundry.
- ALL lockers and drawers need to be completely emptied
- Check the laundry and drying rooms for gear.
- Spaces are to be checked by master or matron. Any damage to your space will be charged back to your account so a ‘signing out’ check needs to be completed to avoid the possibility of being charged.
- Communication
If you have any concerns, comments or suggestions please do not hesitate to contact us.
And a final thought………….
For many people, exam time is the most stressful part of the school year. With so much riding on the outcome, there can be a high degree of pressure to perform well. Here are some exam preparation tips to help you excel in school.
Getting Started
The earlier you start, the more time you will have to prepare for the exam. You don't have to wait until exam time approaches; try to set the stage from the beginning of the course by reviewing the material after each class. By starting early and studying on a regular basis, you will have a better opportunity to absorb the information and life will be a lot easier when it's time to put it all together for the exam.
Make sure all of your course material is well organized so you can find and fill any gaps. If you miss any classes, get the notes from your friends right away instead of scrambling at the last minute. Proper organization will help you to get a better picture of the material that has to be covered and improve the flow of the study process.
Creating a Study Plan
As the exam nears, you will need to create a plan to help you study effectively and minimize stress. The first step is to figure out how much time and effort you must dedicate to studying for the exam by asking the following questions:
- How much material do you need to cover?
- How difficult is the material?
- How much time is available?
- Do you have any other priorities during the study period?
- What is the format of the exam?
- How important is the exam?
- What is your performance target for the exam?
To prepare the study plan, map out all of the material that has to be covered and make a schedule showing what, when and how much you will study each day. If you have kept up with the course work, studying will involve revision of the material that you have already covered. If you are behind in the course, you will have to finish the readings and other uncompleted work before starting the revision (if there isn't enough time to go over everything, you must decide what is most important for the exam).
Here are some tips to follow in creating your study plan:
- budget your time realistically;
- allocate the study time into several manageable study sessions;
- divide the course material into small segments and assign them to the study sessions;
- set clear and specific goals for the study sessions;
- prioritize to ensure that material weighted more heavily in the exam gets sufficient study time;
- take into account your familiarity with the material and the difficulty level;
- don't make the study sessions too long;
- study sessions should have enough variety in terms of topics and activities to prevent boredom and loss of effectiveness;
- avoid cramming before the exam; and
- don't forget to include regular breaks.
Studying for the Exam
You are now armed with a plan and ready to start studying for the exam. Try to study in a location where you can concentrate and won't be interrupted. You can work with others or join a study group if you find it helpful, but be careful to keep it from turning into an inefficient use of your time. Some proven study tools and techniques are listed below - people respond to different learning styles, so use what works for you.
Revising with Summary Notes
Make a condensed version of your readings and class notes by creating summary notes. Pinpoint the key terms and concepts and make sure that you understand them. You can identify key terms and concepts by paying attention to what has been emphasized in your classes, textbooks and course syllabus. For example, if a particular topic has taken up a lot of time in the classroom, it is more likely to be on the exam and you should have a good understanding of it.
The process of making summary notes can help you to retain more information. By writing the information thoughtfully instead of just seeing it, you can develop a greater perception of the material. To take this further, activate your other senses: you can recite the summary notes aloud, and even record and listen to them.
Memorizing with Flashcards
Flashcards (or "index cards") are a good memorization tool. Reduce your summary notes into bullet points, keywords, lists, formulas and diagrams and place them onto a card for each topic. (Some people like to use flashcards to prepare their summary notes in the first place, while others find that it leads to information overload.)
The items on the flashcards act as memory triggers. By memorizing the flashcards you can enhance your ability to recall larger bits of information referenced by the triggers. You can carry the cards with you and review them even when you have only short bursts of time available.
Practicing under Exam Conditions
Knowing the course material is necessary but not sufficient to guarantee success on the exam - you also need to be able to communicate the answers effectively under exam conditions. Practice using sample questions in the same format as the exam and answer them in a simulated test environment. The sample questions can be sourced from old exams and assignments, which are often similar from year to year with small changes. Even though you are only practicing, it is better to write full answers to the questions so you can work through the entire thought process.
The practice session should serve as a feedback loop. Check the answers to the practice questions to diagnose your strengths and weaknesses. If you are weak in an area, go back and study it further to address any gaps.
Taking Care of Yourself
Don't forget to take care of yourself during the exam preparation. It is very important to be in good mental and physical condition for the exam. A small amount of stress can get you psyched, but too much mental or physical strain can be detrimental to your performance. The last thing you want to do is to sabotage your efforts by ignoring your well-being.
After you finish studying, take some time to relax. Don't stay up too late if you can help it and try to get a good night's sleep. Eat before the exam to build your energy, but avoid heavy foods that can make you drowsy.
Keep a positive attitude about the exam. Think of it as a way to demonstrate your knowledge and not as some imposing challenge. Go to the exam focused and relaxed - you have done the work, now it's time to reap the rewards.
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