Assistant Principal - Pastoral Care

Welcome back to Term 3 and the second half of the year. I trust your family had the opportunity to relax and recharge the batteries.

A past colleague of mine once likened Term 3 to the third quarter of an AFL match, or any other sport with four terms. The third quarter is often referred to as "The Premiership Quarter", and Term 3 of a school year is much like this too.

Term 3 is the time to action the feedback each student has received from their teachers in their Semester One report. Term 3 is the time to make improvement in one's approaches to learning so as to maximise their learning growth for the remainder of the year. And Term 3 is the term to see that, while the year is half over, there is much that lies ahead - and in this expanse of time there are so many learning opportunities for all our students that lay ahead.

The following suggestions may help to begin this term with a positive approach.

• The first thing you need to do to increase your enthusiasm for learning is to determine a schedule and study duration. 
• Everyone has their own learning style. Some study style while doodling in books or some while listening to music. Applying the preferred learning style will make the subject matter easier to understand and increase the enthusiasm for learning. Sometimes you can also combine several learning styles so you don’t get bored easily.
• Mind and body need to rest regularly. So, on the sidelines of studying, there’s nothing wrong with taking a break to just take a break.
• No matter how busy you are while studying, try to always exercise regularly.
• It is undeniable that sometimes the gadgets that are on the study table or the TV that is on can interfere with concentration for studying. Therefore, while studying, try to eliminate all possible distractions.
• Although it looks simple, creating a learning atmosphere is also very useful for increasing enthusiasm for learning. How to create a comfortable atmosphere for learning for each person can be different. However, generally a comfortable working atmosphere can be created by cleaning the study table from all items that do not support the learning process.
• At times there’s nothing wrong with studying with friends. Because sometimes when learning the subject matter being studied can be more easily mastered.

Remember all at the College are here to support you. All you have to do is ……ask.

At SJPC August is Kawalazi month. It is a time of the year we do all we can to support our sister school in Malawi. This has been a long running development project of over 20 years. There are 3 attachments included with this article:

• An outline of the Kawalazi Development Project from Mr Joseph Nolan (ex staff member at SJC and one of the founding members of the project)

2023 Kawalazi Development outline from Mr Nolan

• A copy of the Google Slides that each of the Homerooms will explore in coming days. 

2023 Kawalazi Development Project 

• A sponsorship form that can be returned to the College with payment to sponsor a student.

2023-2024 Kawalazi Sponsorship From

• The Kawalazi Assembly that will feature a guest speaker who will reflect on their experience at Kawalazi High School - Week 5, Wednesday 16 August.
  

Please do all you can to support this tremendous initiative.

Until next week: