Assistant Principal - Learning & Teaching
This week in our College assembly, we celebrated our 2024 HSC results and welcomed back our Dux of 2024, Abhishek Amada, to present him with his Trophy for Dux of 2024. Our Runner up to Dux, Charlotte Shee prepared a video that was played at assembly, outlining her experiences during her HSC journey. Both Abhishek and Charlotte provided sage advice and reflections as they spoke of their experiences in Years 11 and 12 and offered advice around HSC preparation but also school approaches, in general.
The following advice was provided by both Abhishek and Charlotte :
- Use your time wisely- use every opportunity during class and study periods to complete course and assessment work. This enabled me to maximise my time outside of school for my other interests rather than just having to complete schoolwork.
- Balance is critical. There were times when I prioritised my assessment work and other times I could spend more time socialising with my friends. I always kept a balance of schoolwork, part-time work, sport and friends and family.
- Get involved at school. When I applied for scholarships the activities I had been involved in at school made a big difference to my applications, they helped them stand out from all the other applications.
- Stay on top of your study notes. Complete your notes then look for other sources to add any detail missing. I constantly refined my notes and would do various revision methods to ensure they progressively moved into my long term memory.
- Keep practising actual questions and past papers. It was only when I did questions and past papers that I could see the gaps in my knowledge. It is when you go to write and answer or complete a problem that I realised if I did or didn’t understand that syllabus component.
- Finally, probably the best advice for our Year 11s. Use this year to work out what works best for you, and you can only do that by making mistakes and trying new techniques. No matter how many mistakes you make or how slow the progress is, you are still way ahead of those who aren’t even trying.
We are incredibly grateful for these past students giving up their precious time to provide their experiences and advice to our current senior cohort and those in Years 7-10 as they progress through their junior years at school.
We were also treated to a slideshow presentation of many of our Year 12 cohort from last year and their varied post-school pathways. We have some budding occupational therapists, physiotherapists, nurses, archaeologists, criminologists and programmers in our midst! St Joseph’s Regional College has nurtured, supported and offered rich learning experiences to these students, and we remain invested in their success.
Congratulations Year 12, 2024.
Dux Year 12 2024 - Abhishek Amada
Please take a moment to read Aghishek's inspiring address to our College community.
Good morning, St Joseph's staff, teachers, and students.
It is a privilege to stand before you as the DUX of 2024 after the most difficult, challenging, but most of all, rewarding year of my life. To be recognised in this way and to speak on behalf of the cohort is truly an honour. Firstly, I’d like to express my deepest gratitude for the opportunities and support that the college has shown me, thanks to the dedicated and hardworking class teachers, principals, year and careers advisors, school counsellors, and of course, PC teachers, without whom our success would not be possible.
While my experience of the HSC was rather stressful and demanding at times, it was ultimately fulfilling, as I had come to understand that it had taught me resilience, discipline – and what I believe is most important, how to push beyond one’s limits. Presenting this speech, I’d like to recognise that success is not purely about good grades or marks but also about individual passion and the willingness to embrace challenges to achieve your goals.
To start, let me give you a glimpse into my own Year 12 journey. I took on a fairly demanding workload, with Physics as my best-performing subject, alongside Biology, Maths Extension 1 and 2, English Advanced, and Studies of Religion one unit. I chose these subjects primarily because they aligned with my strengths and interests while also allowing me to maintain a balanced and manageable lifestyle — for the most part. My first piece of advice, one of the most crucial and one you’ve probably heard before, is selecting subjects not based on their scaling, how difficult it is, or if your friends are doing them, but rather if they genuinely suit your abilities and long-term goals. Choosing the right subjects can set you on the best path for your future. For me, excelling in the subjects I chose paved the way to studying a Bachelor of Mechatronics Engineering (Honours) at the University of Sydney.
This next piece of advice is directed especially at Year 12, and I cannot overstate its importance. Throughout senior studies, you’ve likely been reminded time and again by your teachers and Mr Lutton that working together is essential, and as such, you should actively participate in after-school activities such as Food for Thought. Many of my friends were sceptical of this idea. We saw success as an individual pursuit where personal effort alone determined our own outcome—which is true to an extent. However, the reality is that in the HSC, your performance is measured against students from across the state, not just those in your own classroom. Rather than focusing on competition at school, it is far more valuable to create an environment of support and shared growth. While academic achievement and individual ranking are undoubtedly the most crucial components pre-HSC, equally as important is your willingness to support and uplift those around you.
Rather than focusing entirely on personal success and fostering a culture of tense competition and rivalry, collaboration is the key to achieving greater collective growth. Success is not a zero-sum game. Simply, by lifting your classmates’ skills, and as such marks, you lift yourself up as well.
Finally, I’d like to say just as success takes different forms, I’m sure every one of us has our own ways of studying and retaining information. Every long night spent, every moment of frustration, has been part of my journey and many others, and ultimately reinforced the value of hard work and perseverance. However, one of the most important lessons I have learned is that success is not just about working hard, it’s about managing expectations and maintaining balance. I understood that the dedication I invested would be reflected in my results. To achieve this, I made deliberate sacrifices—staying off social media until the end of Year 12, limiting the time I spent on sports, especially cricket, and committing to at least two hours of focused study each day pre-HSC.
Ultimately, our results are not the final measure of success, and they don't limit your future. What truly matters is the dedication you put in, the lessons you take away, and the ability to move forward with purpose.
As we all have our own journeys — whether it be completing the HSC, going straight into apprenticeships, taking a gap year or going to university to explore new passions — I urge each of you to embrace the challenges ahead with confidence. Success is not defined by where we start, but by how we navigate the road ahead, and as a college, we are fortunate to have a supportive community that provides us with the opportunities and guidance needed to reach our targets. So, remember, set ambitious goals, remain true to your values and your friends, get off social media, and never underestimate your own potential.
Thank you, Abhishek
What are you learning and why?
This week, we've been discussing "pedagogy" with students, which simply means the way we teach and learn. Our teachers are dedicated to your child's success, providing clear pathways for them to achieve their individual goals. We've emphasised that success looks different for everyone, and it's a journey of growth.
We have high expectations for all of our students, and we encourage them to become the best learners they can be. This includes fostering a positive attitude, encouraging collaboration, teaching them to seek help when needed, promoting a growth mindset, ensuring they understand the Learning Intention of the lesson, normalising mistakes as learning opportunities, and stressing the importance of consistent homework.
This week at assembly, students were presented with the 5 Critical Questions for Learning, which are displayed in every classroom. These questions focus on the "What, Why, and How" of their learning, prompting self-reflection and action. We expect students to consider these questions to maximize their classroom time, enabling them to leave each lesson feeling successful. Throughout the school day, during scheduled learning walks, staff will engage in conversation with students about their learning. Students are supported by their classroom teachers to apply these questions in each specific subject to develop into confident and successful learners.
Ian Lutton
Assistant Principal - Learning and Teaching
Claire Goldie
Leader of Pedagogy