Start well
While it is still relatively early in the academic year, the key question for our boys is to determine if they have established a routine in their life. If a disciplined routine has not yet been established, it will become increasingly difficult to meet the demands of assignments and assessment tasks. Experience informs us many boys, when faced with an overwhelming work load, will ‘kick away’ their commitment to a subject in preference to working methodically through each task.
I have no doubt that family life has altered considerably as the rhythm of the academic year and the intensity of teaching and learning is apparent at every turn. Many of our boys are heavily involved in the co-curricular life at the College and in addition have commitments with other community groups and part-time work. It is important that parents assist their son to ensure an outside of school activity does not place detrimental demands on their son’s academic responsibilities. While having a good routine may not seem important in the early years, the patterns established when students are younger will hold them in good stead in the years ahead.