CONNECTJSRACS

Issue 10 | August 2019

IN THIS ISSUE:Principal's Notes: Developing Resilience Upcoming EventsPrimary NewsMiddle School Valedictory Information

PRINCIPAL’S NOTES

In the last edition of the Connect, I wrote about JSRACS being a school that encourages the development of a growth mindset in all its students. While it is important to foster a growth mindset in children for a range of purposes, one important reason to note is that it helps to develop resilience.

There are many definitions for the term resilience and I will refer to it here as the ability to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change.

If your child struggles when things do not go their way or when they encounter change or something unfamiliar, developing resilience skills may help them to cope more easily. In our modern society though, parents have a tendency to be overprotective of our children and as a by-product of this overprotection, children have not developed resilience, as previous generations before them have.

As parents, it is perfectly natural for us to want to protect our children and keep them safe, but at times we take this need to protect too far! We’ve learnt to live in a fear-driven society and the pressure on parents and unrealistic expectations on children to behave like ‘young adults’ contributes to this need to overprotect. As a result, we limit our children’s ability to explore and navigate their world without close supervision because they might physically or emotionally injure themselves or make the wrong decision.

Let’s backtrack for a second!

When we think back to when our children were about 12 months old and learning to walk, we let them fall knowing they would get upset by this experience; but we also knew that they would get back up and that is how they would eventually learn how to walk. The same is true for other aspects of a child’s life.

As mentioned earlier, resilience is our ability to successfully bounce back from adversity and return to pre-crisis status asap! It is a necessary skill for coping with the inevitable that life throws our way and a great ingredient for our future successes. It requires us to express how we feel emotionally and control our actions so we are able to move forward with a plan of action. Resilience is extremely important as it helps us understand the factors that help children develop into mentally healthy adults.

So, you may be wondering what tips and tricks can be used to help develop resilience in our children.Essentially, we need to allow our children to experience negative emotions (such as disappointment) and help them to lose well. By allowing our children to understand what it feels like to lose or not get their way gives them the opportunity to become emotionally competent. It is crucial that we validate those negative emotions and encourage ways to soothe them into an appropriate action plan.

Below are some ways that we, as parents and teachers, can promote the development of resilience in children, as taken from the following website: https://occupationaltherapy.com.au/top-tips-for-developing-resilience-in-your-child/

1. Teach social-emotional skillsEncourage children to talk about how they are feeling. Listen with empathy so theyfeel understood. Help them see that feelings are normal and that it is important tounderstand them.

2. Encourage problem-solving skillsAsk questions that help children think of alternative solutions to support their thinkingand problem-solving skills. When problems arise, you can explore them together byasking questions, such as: “What could you do about that?” or “What do you thinkmight happen if you try that?”

3. Promote independence at home and give children choicesThis assists in their development of responsibility as children need practice in making choices that are appropriate fortheir age and experience level. Involving children in family decision-making helps them develop skills for responsibledecision-making and encourages cooperative family relationships.

4. Encourage an optimistic and positive mindsetShow children how to confidently and respectfully communicate their thoughts, feelings and needs to others in anassertive way; for example: “I really do not want to play that game. It is too dangerous. Let us play a different gameinstead.”

5. Useful questions to askWhen our children are confronted with an unexpected situation, it is beneficial for us to teach them to ask themselvesthe following questions (which may require your help at first):

• What can be done to get back on track?• As I cannot control everything, what is in my control right now?• Am I able to change something I am doing to make things better?• What can I learn from this situation?• Who can help me?• How can I move forward from this?•

By asking ourselves these questions and experiencing challenges in life, we are able to develop resilience and acknowledge the inner strength our children may not know they have.Every Blessing

Every BlessingJason Bartell

WHOLE SCHOOL NEWS

Uniform Shop Opening Times Term 3:Monday and Wednesday 8.00am - 11.00amThursday 1.00pm - 4.00pm

UNIFORMJust a reminder that during Term 4 students are required to wear their summer uniforms. Now is the time to make sure the summer uniform still fits so that you can purchase new items in time for the change over.

CODE CAMPCode Camp is coming back to John Septimus Roe Anglican Community School these school holidays, ready to help your child get ahead of the digital curve!

As one of the highest-rated school holiday activities in Australia, Code Camp is a great way for to kids to spend time over the holidays having fun with their friends whilst learning how to think logically, problem-solve creatively and code their own app. This Spring, join over 85,000 kids in Australia who have already built their own games and websites with us!

JSRACS will be hosting 2D Game Makers on the 2nd-4th October. Enrol now and get $20 off with the JSRACS Discount (JSR20) here: www.codecamp.com.au/JSRACSDiscount is valid until Friday 6th September 11:59pm.

PRIMARY SCHOOL NEWSThe primary students have had a busy start to term 3 with many and varied activities taking place across the school.

The Term commenced with Parent/Teacher Interviews over the two afternoons and evenings of the PD Days. This allowed parents and teachers discuss each child’s report and for the first time provided an opportunity for parents to also engage with Specialist Teaching staff through the interview process. Feedback has been mostly positive relative to this new initiate, with some feedback providing suggestions that we may be able to incorporate when reviewing this process for future years.

The start of the term saw students and staff engage with NAIDOC Week at both primary campuses. Students engaged with classroom activities, assembly items, guest performers and special events. The students really enjoyed and were enthusiastic in their engagement with the visiting Madjitil Moorna Choir. The Choir performed for the students and then the students had the opportunity to showcase their own singing, having learnt a selection of songs during House Activity singing throughout term 2. The performances concluded with a collaborative singing of ‘The Sorry Song’. This was a very touching and moving performance all round.

Further exciting events that occurred during the start of the current term included Music of the Animals held in week 1 at the Regal Theatre, as well rehearsals continued for the Primary Musical, Madagascar; with a Matinee performance held for our Year 3 students, as well as local aged care members being invited along to enjoy this event. The culmination of all the hard work was held over 3 nights of performances, where the students and staff again amazed with their talent, skills and dedication to putting on very professional and polished performances. Congratulations and a big thank you to all the students and staff who were involved in this extravaganza! Excursions, Science Fairs, Indonesian Workshops, St. John Ambulance Incursions, visits to Lightning Park Bushland, 800 metre Pre-Carnival events, participation by select students in the Australian Mathematics Competition, as well as the Champion School’s Cross-Country event, all rounded out the first half of a very busy term. Viewing Week opportunities took place during week 4 and week 5 bought our annual Bookweek celebrations. Students and staff rejoiced in recognising the ‘Inner Super-hero’ in all of us, and some previously hidden talents of not just students, but staff, were exposed! The dress-up Assemblies, including staff performances were again a highlight, as were the Author visits, Reading Rocks sessions, buddy reading and the Bookweek Quizzes. A huge effort and thank you to our Library staff who always make this week an exciting event on our primary school calendar.

UPCOMING EVENTSMonday 2 and Tuesday 3 SeptemberWednesday 4 SeptemberThursday 5 September Friday 6 September Monday 9 & Thursday 12 SeptemberThursday 12 September Friday 13 September Thursday 19 SeptemberFriday 20 September Wednesday 18 September Thursday 19 September Monday 23 September Tuesday 24 & Wednesday 25 September Thursday 26 September Friday 27 September Wednesday 2 to Friday 4 October

BB Tennis Clinics K-6BB/MB the Great Book SwapBB/MB Me No Hair DayYears 3-6 Athletics Carnival, MB CampusBB St. John Ambulance Incursions MB PJ Dress Day in support of AnglicareBB PJ Dress Day in support of AnglicareMB Year 4 Brownes Dairy ExcursionP&F Discos 4.30-5.30 JP and 6- 7.30pm Upper PrimaryYr. 2, 3 & 4 Strings Concerts – 2.30pmYr. 2, 3 & 4 Strings Concerts – 2.30pmYr. 5 & 6 Band Concerts, 5.30 – 8.15pm MB PACNIPSSA Athletics Carnival Days – select studentsLast Day of Term 3 for studentsProfessional Development day for staffCode Camp at Beechboro Campus

ASSEMBLIES FOR TERM 3Beechboro:Week 7: Tuesday 3 September Assembly:1JH Week 8: Tuesday 10 September Chapel:4MZWeek 9: Tuesday 17 September Assembly:PPCDWeek 10:Tuesday 24 September Chapel:PPAH/RD

Mirrabooka:Week 7: Wednesday 4 September Assembly:PPDWWeek 8: Wednesday 11 September Chapel: 6RMWeek 9: Wednesday 18 September Assembly:2DMWeek 10:Wednesday 25 September Chapel: 1DT

MIDDLE SCHOOL NEWSYEAR 7 CAMP All Year 7 students spend three days at Ern Halliday in Sorrento during the first week of school. Everyone was involved in team building activities, where students challenged themselves by participating in flying fox, abseiling, and various beach games. There was lots of positive feedback from students and parents about how new friendships were formed and students feeling less anxious about starting school.

In the Middle School at John Septimius Roe Anglican Community School, we see it as vital to partner with the parents of our students, so each child can achieve their personal excellence. This relationship works best when there is strong personalised, cooperation and communication.

The following are some examples of what parents can do to continue to support their child’s educational journey. Believe in your child’s potential – setting high expectations and showing your child that you are their biggest supporter, makes it so much easier to have any of those challenging discussions later on if they are needed.

Talking openly with your child – I know some Middle Schooler’s don’t really like talking but breaking through that first initial pained teenage response will pay dividends down the track.

Create an environment at home which is conducive to study – There are so many distractions in our homes, technology and television being two major ones. You can assist your child by limiting the distractions for them and producing and environment which helps support good study habits.

Show them you are also learning new things – I know I still learn something new every single day, it is important children recognise this so they can understand learning is a lifelong journey.

Be involved in the school community – Time is always a pressure, however, if you can spare some time to assist with the fundraising or attend a sporting fixture or an art performance it is time well spent and your child will really appreciate it.

Communicate often with teachers – If you have concerns, don’t know what is happening in class or even just to check everything is still going well, communicate with your teachers they will be happy to hear from you. We spend hours with your child each week so I’m sure we will have lots to discuss.

We realised throughout each child’s educational journey in the Middle School there will be challenges, we ask that when these challenges arrive, you partner with us to work through any tricky situations. Together we can continue to provide the best educational outcomes for each child.

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate and acknowledge some groups of Middle School students who have been involved in a range of events this term. These groups include those involved in the Choreography night, basketball tournaments, Jazz bands, integrated sports carnival, Music of the animal kingdom performance, hosting international students from China and Japan and of course all who continued to the Anglicare St. Bart’s food appeal. There are so many great opportunities for our students and I continue to encourage all of our students to be involved and contribute so positively to our community. When you couple these experiences with the quality of teaching and learning occurring in the classrooms on a day to day basis the Middle School is a thriving hive of activity. May it continue for the remainder of the year.

Jordan SmithAssociate Principal

SENIOR SCHOOL NEWSSENIOR SCHOOL PERFORMING ARTS STUDENTSWell done to our Dance, Drama and Music students who completed their solo performances at the recent Year 12 Original Solo Performance evening. This is excellent practice for the Mock and WACE practical examinations, not to mention the lovely evening this provided for parents and friends in the audience. No doubt, a great deal of preparation and practice was required in the lead up to this assessment event. Once again, we are reminded just how talented our Performing Arts students from JSRACS are, and thank you to the teachers and parents who support these students.

Not too long after this event, Choreography Night was another impressive programme of performances and entertainment. Congratulations to our Year 12 students who choreographed the dances and worked with the younger students, and to all Dance students who worked together to produce a wonderful evening. Once again, a huge thank you to the teachers and parents who support students with getting to and from rehearsals, preparing costumes and everything else that goes on behind the scenes.

Year 12Maysam Al AsedyBalsam Al AsedyAndrew DudleyKate SisleyAlice BrittenNoah JenkinsKayla NorwellNepaa Al SoeadyLouise KayesLeah DaymondVasel CervojRung Bawi HringHolly D’VauzAmber-Rose BarnardEmily OldfieldKaleb HaschBrook Chapman

Year 11Jack MicallefPrasanna AsokanTiahna BebicAlyssa DaveyKoray SolakRachel BrittainEmmi JohnsonCarla VoDylan WalkerLayla DanaherRachael HuttJessica KeohaneJacinta StreetsCaitlin AustinMatthew LincolnBella MoranJosephine BellDan NgoChris RutlandSamuel Arvidson

Year 10Pandellis ToufexisEleanor PowerSigourney WardPhoebe MillsJamie GaleottiAbby GriggsGeorgia GerichSophia DoMax RowcliffeAsha CameronNatalie HewittHaima JayasankarJames MilentisJulia TruongKeshini RamsamyJordan NguyenAmber FlanaganAykari TunPia Connell

Additional students were awarded Certificates of Merit for very high academic achievement across their courses. The awards were calculated from Semester One grades. Congratulations to all students who achieved a certificate, and congratulations to all students who are striving for personal excellence. We recognise that even though a student may not be awarded with a certificate, there are many students working just as hard, making impressive improvements and significant progress in their learning. We encourage all students to work hard to achieve at their personal best and make the most of their education.

CERTIFICATES OF ACADEMIC DISTINCTIONCongratulations for the following students who were awarded Certificates of Distinction for excellent Semester One academic achievement across all of their courses.

VALEDICTORY EVENTS FOR YEAR 12 Mr Burcham has been busy organising the Valedictory events for our Year 12 Leavers’ Class of 2019. Students have started countdowns on the whiteboards of their PCG rooms, which they excitedly (or maybe terrifyingly) update each morning. The time is getting very close to when we farewell our Class of 2019. Please be reminded that important dates such as term dates, examination dates, Year 12 Valedictory events can be found in the document on the website in News and Events | School Calendar | 2019 Senior School – Term and Dates.

Friday 13 September - Year 12 students should note that Friday 13 September is their House Farewell Assemblies, celebration day, parade and barbeque, accompanied by rehearsals for the Valedictory Assembly and Dinner. Mr Burcham has published a schedule for that day to students.

Monday 16 September, 9:00am – Valedictory Assembly and Morning Tea The Valedictory Assembly provides an opportunity for the whole Secondary School Community to farewell our Year 12 students. Parents and guests are most welcome to join us for this occasion, which will be held in the Gymnasium commencing at 9.00am. Parking will be available on the Terry Hann Oval. Following the Assembly a morning tea will be provided for Year 12 students and their guests. Any queries please direct these to Mr Rohan Burcham, Director of Pastoral Care - Senior School.

Monday 16 September, 6:30pm – Valedictory Dinner at the Hyatt Ticket sales for the 2019 Valedictory Dinner to be held at the Hyatt Regency Perth have taken place. Tables are being organised and we look forward to a memorable evening during which students will be presented with their Valedictory Certificates from the school as we formally acknowledge the completion of their school years and farewell them.

JSRACS STUDENTS ROUGHING IT AT THE ANGLICARE WA SCHOOL SLEEP OUTThe Anglicare Sleepout was on the freezing cold night of Friday 16th August. While most of us were warm at home, 29 Year 10 to Year 12 students from John Septimus Roe Anglican Community School participated in the Anglicare WA School Sleep Out at Optus Stadium. They roughed it on a scrap of cardboard in support of Anglicare WA's youth homelessness service, Street Connect.

With the money raised at school from the “Comfy PJ Tracksuit Day”, and the sponsorship that individual students collected, the fundraising total was an impressive $12 364, placing JSRACS as the top team fundraiser. Congratulations to all students who participated and thank you to all students and parents who donated. Well done to all students for the work associated with collecting sponsors, and a huge thank you for sleeping out in the freezing cold for this very worthy cause. Congratulations or Tiahna Bebic who was the top individual fundraiser, raising a total of $2, 530.

A huge thank you to Rev Liz Flanagan for coordinating this, and special thank you to the staff Mr David Adeline, Ms Christine Pattison and Mr Kane McLachlan who gave up their warm home to participate in this event to support our students.

UNIVERSITY AND TAFE APPLICATIONSTAFE Applications for 2020Students interested in applying and enrolling into North Metro TAFE can find the due dates and instructions for enrolling at the following link. northmetrotafe.wa.edu.au/futurestudents/apply-and-enrol

Please note that 2020 Semester One applications for full time courses open on Monday 2 September. Applications for Round One close on Friday 6 December.

Offers for non-competitive courses are issued from 2 September 2019 through to 13 January 2020, so some students may be accepted into their 2020 TAFE course before they finish Year 12.

Year 12 – University Applications for 2020TISC opened applications for entry to university in Semester One 2019 for ECU, Curtin, Murdoch and UWA on Monday 5 August. Copies of the TISC Guide, and personalised letters for Year 12 students were distributed to students, so hopefully students have made it a priority to go online and complete their application. Parents and students should note that the application fee for current Year 12 students is $50 until 30 September. After this date, a late fee of $165 applies. Students aiming to go to university are strongly encouraged to apply to TISC before their Mock exams commence, so that it is out of the way and not forgotten. Students can log back in later, even after WACE examination results have been released and change their preferences, without having to pay any additional fees, as long as they have initially applied by 30 September.

See the TISC website for further information. https://www.tisc.edu.au/

Please note: If a student is planning on applying for a WA Academy of Performing Arts course, other ECU courses that require an audition and/or interview or UWA’s Music Studies, Music General Studies or Specialist Music Majors then you need to apply through TISC AND submit a separate application for audition/interview direct to the institution concerned. More details are in the course information on TISC’s website.

Please note: TISC preferences are only for the four public universities, being ECU, Curtin, Murdoch and UWA. Applications for The University of Notre Dame are to be made directly through that university.

Study SkillsDuring Term 3, Elevate Education present Study Skills information to our ATAR Year 11 and 12 students to provide them with tips and techniques to prepare for the upcoming examinations.

Year 11 students receive the “Ace Your Exams” seminar, which focuses on helping students prepare for and ace their exams. The presentation covered topics such as:

• Tasks that students should complete which will give the highest value in terms of time spent on exam preparation

• The importance or identifying areas or weakness, reviewing and fixing errors in previous course work to ensure improvement in the exam.

• Time allocation during the exam preparation and study sessions at home.• Techniques for managing stress and time pressure in exams.

Our Year 12 ATAR students were presented with the “Finishing Line” seminar. This seminar focused on:• Overcoming weaknesses in the lead up to exams.• The role of exam study groups.• Stress management techniques and wellbeing during the exam period.• Study routines that can be used in the holidays and in the swot vac period before the WACE examinations so

that students can stay on track and have the best possible preparation for their Mock exams and their final WACE examinations.

Parents and students are reminded that JSRACS students can log in into the Elevate Student Portal using the password that has been provided to students. This allows them premium access to this site. If your child does not know the password please ask them to see their PCG tutor.

Students can find useful templates for planners such as:• Study Timetable template - which can help with productivity and reduce procrastination. This can help ensure

that a student who wants to put in effort actually sets aside time to put in this effort. Otherwise, time can pass by and before you know it there is not enough time left to do the study that the student was hoping to do.

• The Bulletproof Booklet – this can help ensure students cover the syllabus and don’t have any gaps in their knowledge prior to exams. Students can feel confident if they use this technique and can walk into their exams knowing they are ready and prepared, which reduces anxiety.

• Short-term planner template – this can help with motivation, as it is a template to break down your goals. Rather than become demotivated by an enormous goal, this is used to set short-term goals so that students can focus on the task at hand and track their progress, rather than be overwhelmed by the larger ‘end point’ goal.

• Note-taking planner – this is a simple and effective tool to help keep students organised and ensure they cover the whole syllabus.

• Non-required task planner - this helps students find time to do their homework, but also importantly find time for the ‘extra’ non-required homework that is needed to do well in exams. This involves doing non-required work such as doing practice questions or revision questions, making notes during the term and doing extra reading beyond their text book.

Year 11 and 12 ExaminationsExam season is nearly upon us again. The weeks pass by so quickly, that we no sooner seem to finish one set of exams and it is time to start preparing for the next. ATAR students must have such a lot of fun in Senior School, because of the old saying ‘time flies when you’re having fun!’.

Year 11 Semester Two Examination Timetable has been prepared by Mr Clarke and is ready to release to students. By the time this Connect is published, the timetable should be available in SEQTA Documents in the orange Senior Secondary Academic section, and students will have received a hard copy. The examinations are scheduled from the start of Term 4, on Monday 14 October, and will be completed on Friday 25th October. (Please note that following the exams, in the third week of Term 4, all Year 11 students will go on the Year 11 into 12 camp from Wednesday 30th Oct to Friday 1st November. They will then return to school and commence Year 12 and complete Year 12 course work until the end of the school year.

Year 12 Semester Two (ie Mock) Examination Timetable – this was released earlier this term by Mr Clarke and is available in SEQTA Documents in the orange Senior Secondary Academic section, and students have received a hard copy. The written examinations commence on Friday 20th September and conclude on Friday 27th September. The practical examinations commence earlier, on Thursday 5th September. At the start of Term 4, students will review their examinations and participate in structured revision to help ensure they reduce any gaps in their knowledge and revise the course. From Wednesday 23rd October to Tuesday 29th October students will study at home on ‘swat vac’, and the first ATAR examination commences on Wednesday 30th October.

The Year 12 WACE ATAR Examination Timetable was released in May. A copy can be found on the SCSA website at https://senior-secondary.scsa.wa.edu.au/assessment/examinations/examination-timetables

Personalised Timetables - As per the information at this link, from Thursday, 12 September 2019, students will be able to download their Personalised written examinations timetable and Personalised practical examination timetable from the student portal at: https://studentportal.scsa.wa.edu.au.

The Personalised written examinations timetable will contain the date, time and examination centre for the student’s written examinations. The Personalised practical examination timetable will contain the date, time, venue and location of the student’s practical examination.

Examination Handbook - Please also be reminded that important information regarding the WACE ATAR Examinations, of which all students are expected to be aware, is found in the School Curriculum and Standard Authority’s 2019 Year 12 Information Handbook - Part II, Examinations which is available online via the “Publications” tab on the Authority’s website at https://www.scsa.wa.edu.au/publications/year-12-information