Welcome back to all the year 10 students and parents at Ferny Grove.

Over the past year I have got to know many of the students in this cohort and am proud to see them developing into responsible and respectful individuals.

Year 10 is a transitional year being the step between Junior and Senior and the time when many students will make choices that influence future careers. Subject selection is a major focus this year as it provides students with the foundations for their senior subjects.

Now more than ever students will be more likely to stay on and complete their senior schooling as the pathways options and opportunities to gain employment have lessened.

 

It is also a time when many will assume leadership positions, with many individuals already members of the Interact Club, a Rotary sponsored initiative that will see the students fundraising and organising events. We also have Ryan Ihle who is on the Youth Advisory Council for Brisbane City Council and has represented the school at one of the forums.

We have such a diverse range of talent and leadership and it is particularly positive to see students transferring their capabilities across a range of cultural, academic and citizenship roles.

Year 10 Access in 2009 has been organised quite differently from previous years in an effort to make it more valuable and get all the students mixing with other students in a less formal setting through physical activity. This term, Access has been divided into two 5 week blocks with half the cohort participating in a sport of their selection and the remaining students completing a booklet in class with their Access teachers and mid term they swap over. The focus of the in class Access program is based around organisation and being prepared for learning and achieving the best of their potential.

Term 2 will have a Careers focus and Ms Sathurayar is working with students around planning for senior school and beyond and has students thinking about their future. Mr Zornig the Deputy Principal will also discuss Ops and the QCE with the students and what it means to them. Term 3 will see Heads of Departments chatting to students about their options for Senior Subjects and students will participate in a school based Careers Market where professionals from different employment areas will come to provide information and answer questions from the students.

Finally, Term 4 will focus on personal health and safety and will be conducted in conjunction with the school nurse and chaplain. This program is very important and parents are encouraged to have conversations with their children around these topics.

 

Often in Year 10 students may feel the need to talk to someone about various issues and I would encourage them to chat to their form teachers or myself but also access the school community. People such as Ms Sathurayar the school guidance counsellor, Donna Manley, Vocational Education Officer, the Chaplain Damon who has just arrived to our school and the school nurse Liz Bowman.

 

Students need to remember our focus is on learning and engaging with others respectfully and safely at all times. Although this is a very busy year for the students it is also a very social year and students need to find a balance between study and other interests. We have a couple of events planned for the year that rewards those who demonstrate responsible and commendable behaviour.

 

I know this year is already making students prioritise their goals and work out what is important and I hope and encourage students to take up as many different opportunities that are offered at this great school.

Dr Neilson, the form teachers and I are committed to help the students be the best they can be and look back on 2009 feeling a great sense of achievement.