BOYS HELPING BOYS TO LEARN
Jan Skidmore, Director of Teaching and Learning
Yesterday evening at 6.30pm Dr McEwan and I took a stroll around the Senior School library and classroom blocks. In the English block the ATARextra classes were taking place with Scotch boys and PLC girls working with the teachers in preparation for their coming examinations. When quizzed the boys in both English and Human Biology classes were finding the assistance very helpful. Across the way in the library Mr Tyrrell had finished providing food and drink to the boys and they had settled back to their studies, making good use of the facility. Mr Tyrell was rather amazed at the quantity of Milo consumed but the energy levels were up and clearly it was a highly productive time.
University student and OSC Nelson Smith was on hand to assist where needed in a range of subjects within his expertise. Next week Mrs Jan Coffey will report back to the OSC committee on how the OSC sponsorship of the Targeted Tuition programme has been received. It is wonderful to see the generations of men supporting our boys in their learning and it is hoped that this new initiative will be ongoing.
Feedback from one parent was that her son is loving the working environment in the library and the ability to get help when needed. He was also really enjoying his other two nights in ATARextra courses. By the time he returned home each night he felt he had completed a considerable block of revision. Previously he had felt an inability to get himself into a routine and he certainly intends to access the OSC Targeted Tuition weekend workshops organised by Mrs Jan Coffey later in the term.
More details of the next phase of the Targeted Tuition programme can be found in this edition of the Thistle.
 | Dr McEwan and Mr Tyrrell In a lighter moment with Will Stewart (Year 11, Stuart) and Jonathon Priest (Year 12, St Andrews) |
OSC (2012) Nelson Smith assisting Yannick Livinstone (Year 12, Anderson) and Ben Ramsay (Year 12 Ross), as part of the Targeted Tuition programme. |  |
 | Collaborative study - Year 11s and 12s make good use of their study time in the library. Samuel Jacklyn (Year 12, St Andrews), Alasdair Skinner (Year 12, Ross) among many others |
ATARextra teacher Mrs Gemma Slater working with Scotch boys Jack Peden (Year 12, St Andrews) and Andrew Fung (Year 12, Keys) and PLC girls on their English examination programme. Boys in all the courses have provided feedback that they are finding them useful. |  |
The OSC Targeted Tuition Programme
This exciting programme will take place over the weekends of September 14/15 and September 21/22. Old Scotch Collegians, who have excelled in their own WACE examinations in recent years, conduct these revision sessions. The programme, which has been highly successful in previous years, is sponsored by the Old Scotch Collegians and is free of charge. We are grateful for the generosity of the Old Scotch Collegians for providing the funding for both this weekend programme and for the tutoring programme in the library under the supervision of Mr Tyrrell and his library staff.
No registration is required - boys can just arrive on the day.
You can access the flyer here for the WACE courses and here for the IB Diploma courses
The Harponic Simulated ATAR Examinations
This is a new initiative of providing simulated examinations - an extension of a private tutoring business established by Old Scotch Collegian Fletcher Ehlers and some of his peers. Please see the website for costs www.harponic.com.au .
These will also take place on the weekends of September 14/15 and September 21/22. They provide an opportunity for students to sit an examination under formal examination conditions and will provide valuable practice and pertinent feedback, as the marked paper will be returned to the students along with a summary of the topics which require further revision. Scotch College is supportive of the initiative but takes no responsibility for it beyond providing the rooms for the convenience of our boys.
Registration is essential through the website.
You can access the flyer here.
