Our focus at St Andrews College is to develop each student using the SPIRE Framework.
Fidem in Christo
Stephen Kennaugh
Principal
Never use the term “I can’t do it”, use the term “I can’t do it yet” change the way we think, be positive and solution focused.
Mr Nick Thrum
Assistant Principal Students
Students in each year have been given access to the appropriate year level assessment folder on the Google Classroom. It is imperative that students read the assessment booklet and the assessment schedules carefully.
Students should make a homework and assessment plan in their planners. In particular students should plan their assessment tasks as far before the due date as possible.
Assessment notifications will be handed out to students a minimum of two weeks before a task is due.
When a student receives the notification, it is imperative to get started.
Read the task carefully and the marking criteria carefully
Underline key tasks in the assessment
Plan how you will complete all parts of the task before the due date, whilst managing other homework tasks and assessments
It is imperative students do not leave assessments to the last minute
Ensure you get feedback from your teacher as you do the task
A student is considered to have satisfactorily completed a course if, in the principal’s view, there is sufficient evidence that the student has:
Please be aware whilst all three components above are essential, it is imperative that students take note of point two above. Point two reiterates that all aspects of a student’s application and course expectations must be completed by every student to the best of their ability. Therefore student's must apply themselves with sustained effort and due diligence to classwork, homework and assessments. All course work is important every day.
Having consistent concentration and focus is difficult for each of us, sometimes. Therefore students need to understand how to concentrate and focus when they need to apply themselves to assessment and learning.
Students need to ensure they take frequent short breaks if they lack concentration
Find the right time of the day for you to work. Some students prefer working in the morning and some in the afternoon. Aim to use your best time to your advantage
Remove any distractions
Get physical - take the dog for a walk
Try to vary the types of strategies to approach your work such as: visual, auditory and physical activities
Try working with a partner or small group or bounce ideas off your family
(St Andrews College Marayong Year 8 twins (L-R) Joel and Jonathan Longy, Alex and Anthony Futialo, Eidrian and Ethan Tibig; Joshua and Melody Attard, and Elyssa and Katie Bassili)
If you think you are seeing double when you visit St Andrews College Marayong, you would not be wrong. In fact, the school’s Year 8 group features six sets of twins!
St Andrews College Principal Stephen Kennaugh said they have always had twins at the College, but not to the extent of six sets of twins in one Year Group. Five sets of of twins include: Joshua and Melody Attard, Elyssa and Katie Bassili, Alex and Anthony Futialo, Joel and Jonathan Longy plus Eldrian and Ethan Tibig.
The students’ Year 7 Leader of Learning Wellbeing Martin Gillogly said usually staff attempt not to have siblings in the same class, although, they can be placed in the same Learning Group and House Group. “I have mistaken Joel and Jonathan but usually teachers are pretty good recognising the twins,’’ Mr Gillogly said.
Some strategies Mr Gillogly said he has put in place, so as not to get confused with all the twins is: ‘’I get to know each twin individually and pick up little idiosyncrasies they may show. If I had both twins in different classes I would usually associate them with the person they sit next to,’’ Mr Gillogly said.
(Twin brothers Anthony and Alex Futialo both admitted to saying they were the other brother just to confuse their teachers)
For twin brothers Anthony and Alex Futialo being a twin just feels natural, as they have six children in their family including another set of twins. However, Anthony said a positive for him is that “it feels like someone always has your back.’’
They are not shy about admitting they have pranked their teachers, with both admitting to saying they were the other brother from time to time. The brothers have even made a Twins Club with Joel and Jonathan Longy.
For twin sisters Elyssa and Katie Bassili being a twin can have its good and bad points. For Elyssa the good thing about being a twin is you are always going to have someone the same age as you and with the same life experience. “One bad thing would be that one is older, like my sister, who woke me up at 5am to tell me she was 13 and I wasn’t because she is two minutes older than me!”
All the twins can relate to being dressed the same or very similar when they were younger and Joel and Jonathan Longy even had the same haircut. They also all share the same friends and tend to have similar interests when it comes to sport and hobbies. The chance to share their secondary schooling with their siblings and such a large group of twins really is double the fun!
(For twin sisters Elyssa and Katie Bassili the good thing about being a twin is you are always going to have someone the same age as you and with the same life experience)
Story and photos provided by Vanessa Bradbury, Media and Communications Officer - Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta
