The Senior School extends a warm welcome to students and staff new to Peter Moyes ACS. In particular, we welcome two new staff members - both of whom are in the English Department. Ms Liz Bozich replaces Ms Fryer–Smith whilst she is on Long Service Leave for this term. Ms Bozich is in Durack House. Mr Hayden Payne replaces Ms Schultz for the remainder of the year. Mr Payne is in Florey House.


Term 3
Even though this term is a busy one academically, it is also is one which has a strong focus on House activities. 
The term is an exciting and challenging one for Year 11 students as during the next few weeks the Senior School shapes its Student Leadership team for 2019. Those students who have expressed their interest in contesting the position of Head Boy and Head Girl will be preparing their nomination speeches. Voting for these two important positions occurs in Week 4 and will be followed by the selection of the Chapel Prefect, House Captains and a small number of Prefects. Voting for House Captain will happen in House Assembly. 
The current focus for Year 10 students is on 2019 subject selection for Year 11. Many students have met with their Head of House. Those students who have been given an Academic Contract resulting from selecting a course against the Head of Department’s recommendations have the remainder of this semester to work through and resolve the weaknesses in their understandings for the Contract to be withdrawn. Year 10 students are reminded that after school study sessions are available for them to attend. One advantage of the Senior School Pastoral system is that in House time, students have the opportunity to seek out older students in the Tutorial Group who have course knowledge to assist.

OLNA Round 2
Early in September, some students will be sitting tests in Round 2 of OLNA. The status report for students who sat OLNA in March is available on the Parent Portal. It is an expectation that every student who is to sit one or more OLNA assessments has to attend their scheduled after school OLNA preparation study session. Preparation sessions are given for Numeracy, Writing and Reading and are targeted to assist the particular concerns of individual students. Parents are to refer to communications from Ms Gillian Dawn for further details.

Mid Year results
After my analysis of every student’s Grades and Examination results from Mid Year Reports, I am encouraged with many of the results. 


Year 10 students produced encouraging examination results. In particular, it was impressive to see the number of students who gained more than one ‘A’ Grade for their MESH examinations. In terms of top grades in electives, many students are to be congratulated for demonstrating a strong talent in more than one area. The hard work and commitment to excel is evident. All Year 10 students are encouraged to remain focused during Semester Two – you should aim to better the number of ‘A’ and ‘B’ Grades for the End of Year Report.

Year 12 and 11 students will have an informal meeting with me to discuss their results. Many students should feel a degree of satisfaction that is evident from their results; they are very encouraging. It is a privilege for our senior students to have timetabled Academic Tutorials which, if used wisely, enable the completion of much homework. This leaves the Year 12 ATAR Pathway students their evenings to focus on practising timed past papers and short and extended responses, to dedicate an extended time to study, revise and summarise course notes, as well as to fill the identified weaknesses in course work. 
The majority of General Pathway students are achieving well, with many students recording satisfying grades. However, there is no reason for any student to have either a ‘D’ or’ E’ Grade in their report. There is no excuse, as these students have timetabled Academic Tutorials to cover classwork missed if they are out of school one day at TAFE or in the Workplace.  

It is essential that all Year 12 students utilise academic tutorials effectively. Students are reminded of the minimum number of ‘C’ Grades as well as a ‘C’ Grade pass in English that is mandated for WACE graduation.


Year 11 students are to be congratulated for their fine efforts with 54% of students gaining one, two or three ‘A’ Grades over their 6 WACE courses, with 43% achieving more than two ‘B’ Grades last semester. The step-up to Year 11 WACE course work is a challenge. The majority of Year 11 students are on the right track towards strong achievement, whether it is ATAR or General Pathway. In my conversations with Year 11 students in particular, I will be asking a small minority of students how they will improve on the ‘E’ Grade reflected in their Report.

It is indeed disappointing for a student to fall short of the next highest Grade by only a few percentage points. The answer is not to implore the class teacher to find those extra marks! This does not happen in the WACE; it should not happen in school. 

The answer lies with every student seeking to push harder, remain focused, ask questions, write more, practise more, work out where are the gaps in conceptual understanding and strive persistently to work to resolve them. Every student’s goal should always be to find those extra 3% for every assessment, every examination, and every semester.

Students are encouraged to find creative ways to attain these goals – working with a ‘study buddy’ in small informal study groups in the Library is one way. As always, asking teachers for assistance is important. Remember, that the role of teachers is to give students the tools for success – students still have to think, ask questions and seek to improve on understandings in order to better their results.

Written by Natalie Shaw, Associate Principal – Senior School