Middle Senior School Communications, 11 May 2023
Term 2 Week 4
OUTLINE OF NEXT WEEK
Monday: Year 11 Subject Selection Evening - 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Tuesday:
Wednesday: Metro Finals - Day 3 / Rivers Championship Netball / Volleyball Friendlies at Calamvale
Thursday:
Friday: CSSAQ Basketball #2
Saturday:
KEY EVENTS THIS TERM
15 May- Year 11 Subject Selection Evening
6 June - MSS Athletics Carnival
9/10 June - Jnr Musical Performance
15/16 June - Y8 CEO Sleepout
17/24 June - Y12 Snow Tour
Dear Parents and Carers
How much homework (home learning) should my child be doing?
The answer to the above question can often be complex as it depends on every child and their context. Ultimately, the answer lies in the principle of the ‘golden mean’ outlined by the Greek philosopher Aristotle, which essentially referred to a good middle ground between two extremes – i.e. not too much and not too little.
Homework itself can be problematic. There is little value in doing homework for the sake of homework, and memorisation approaches to studying for examinations aren’t particularly useful (for an examination you should write practice questions and then work on them).
I took the following grid from a local state high school a few years ago:
Homework is a value add. If you want to get better results than average (or if you are behind), then homework becomes home learning and is valuable. A child in the Middle School years should be trying to do some reading and mathematics work each day outside of school hours and as they move across the high school they may need to start spending more time on assignment/examination preparation.
Arguably, one of the key reasons students don’t achieve high results is a lack of planning and preparation that can be addressed via home learning. Cramming for a mathematics examination the night before isn’t good practice, rather doing a small amount of study a few times a week across the term is much better. This isn’t rocket science, but getting students to commit to this is difficult. It takes a lot of discipline and we all have busy lives.
If your child doesn’t have good study skills and you would like them to be better, try and help them with this by starting small habits. Set aside a few times a week to sit at the kitchen table together, you do some of your work while they do theirs. If it’s reading, try and have 15 minutes per night which is family reading time (this would be better than a child looking at screens before bedtime). For a resistant child who does no homework, start small. Start with 10 minutes of study/work/homework a night until that is a habit, then slowly add to it.
No child should be losing their whole afternoon/night to homework – if this is happening at your house, chat with your child’s teachers.
Yours sincerely
Josh Wilson
Head of Middle and Senior School and Innovative Learning Design
Urgent Notice
The absentee lines have been updated as per the details below. The old phone lines will be disconnected.
Calvary Hype Reel - Now in the Cinemas!
We are really proud of our school and want to show the world who Calvary is. So, over the last few months, we have been busy creating a showcase reel to share with the wider community, both on social platforms and at every movie screening at the Hyperdome Cinemas from May-July 2023.
We want to say a MASSIVE thank you for everyone's involvement. Videos like this don't get created without many hands being involved. From the Principal and Heads of School, through to teachers, students and marketing crew. For context, there were over 200 students involved in the intro aerial sequence who did the same action over and over for 2hrs straight!
And, a special thank to our teachers who make an appearance, and especially our speaking video cast, Sienna Long, Luke Thomson, Kaela Cerezo, Olivia Tillman, Spencer Mattila-Gonda, Giuliana Arraiol, Seeley Florey, and Lara Morton. You guys were amazing (and patient).
Subject Selection 2024 - Years 7,9 & 11
We are really excited to launch our new subject selections for Year 7, 9 & Year 11 in 2024.
Please click through the links below to each brochure. Our Year 7 Overview brochure has also been recently updated and attached for your information.
Year 7 Brochure Year 9 Pathways Year 11 Pathways
Step Up To Middle School
The best way to make decisions for the future is to be well informed. A session will be held at the Carbrook campus on Thursday 18 May. This is for students and parents to come and learn about Middle School life, ask questions, meet key staff members, and check out the Year 7 space.
Step Up Booking Link
Middle School Fundraising
As part of our mission to teach our students the art and practice of giving to those less fortunate the Middle School are fundraising for Fishers of Men and Drought Angels to provide hygeine care packs for the communities that they support. The list below provides details of the products that these organisations would appreciate our Calvary community collecting for them:
• roll on deodorant
• soap
• wet wipes
• tissues
• toothbrush
• toothpaste
• hairbrush or comb
• nail clippers
• lip balm
• disposable shaver
• shampoo or body wash
• body lotion
Our Middle school students will be collecting these items from Prep to Year 12 classes for the rest of this term and into next term. Any support from our wonderful community to support those less fortunate would be greatly appreciated.
Calvary Blog
In this week's blog we look back to the start of the year when the Today show came to Calvary.
Mango CAFE Specials for Week 5
Events
Want to know what's going on at Calvary?
Information can be found on our section flyers or at our website
Calvary Events on Website Download Term 2 Flyer
CAPA Update
Dr Gary Holley, Head of Calvary Academy of Performing Arts
Battle of the Bands
Sign Up for Battle of the Bands
Arts Week
Arts Week is happening in Week 9 of this Term. An outline of the week's activities will be sent out shortly. We are looking for students who are keen to Busk on the Monday at Second Break. This could be a Musical item or duo, Dance or Comedy. Please use the below link to sign up:
Junior School Musical
Our Junior School students are currently working hard towards the end of Term 2 performances of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, the Musical.
Everyone is welcome to come along. Tickets can be purchased via the link below.
All Middle and Senior School students who attend a performance will earn additional points, for their House, towards the end of Term Eisteddfod competition.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Tickets
Date Savers
Music Recital
The end of Semester Musical Recital for private Instrumental Students is Sunday 4 June. Please add this to your diaries and further information will be sent during the Term.
Showcase 2023
This year's Showcase will be held in Term 3, Saturday 9 September.
All correspondence regarding CAPA, including questions, please send to Emma at: