School life

Starting high school is an exciting time for students and their parents. Our school is likely to be much bigger than primary schools, and your child may feel a little insecure at first. Instead of being a senior in a small school, they are now a beginner in a big school. However, it is also an exciting time with many opportunities and a broader curriculum.

New experiences

From the start, there will be many changes to get used to, including having a number of different teachers and different classrooms, often spread across a larger campus. Class periods on particular subjects may also be of a longer duration than in primary school. Students carry around notes and books, sometimes heavy, from class to class.

New teachers

In high school, students usually have eight or more teachers and Year Advisors to coordinate their activities. There are also Head Teachers for different key learning areas, and classmates can vary from class to class.

New subjects

Students will be introduced to subjects they haven't experienced before. They will also be expected to be more independent, self-reliant, and self-motivated than in primary school. Lessons will often be more student-centred and teachers will become resources and guides, rather than instructors.

Timetables

Students are given timetables with subjects, times and room locations listed. They need to check their timetables each night to make sure they have the correct books, equipment, and homework completed for the next day's classes. Reading and understanding timetables can take some time to get used to, and moving from room to room might unsettle and tire them.

New friends

Making new friends can be a daunting task for students. Students often come from a variety of primary schools, and they may find themselves in classes filled with students they don't know. Fitting in is often important to Year 7 students. Finding people they like and who share their interests helps motivate them and increase their self-esteem. Discuss their new school experiences each day, the people they've met or observations they've made. That way there is an awareness of difficulties when they arise rather than when it's too late.

Peer pressure

Making new friends and a desire to fit in sometimes means students do things they might not normally do, just so they can be liked or be one of the crowd. Letting children know they don't have to do everything their peers do is an important way of ensuring the friendships they make are genuine and positive, not based on pressure or conformity. Telling them that a real friend is someone who likes them for who they are is a valuable message.

Homework

Homework is often a revision of what is covered in class. On top of regular weekly homework, your child may have assessments such as assignments or projects with due dates.

Tips for all students

• Ask your child about their homework, know what they are learning about, and when assignments are due.

• Record when assessments and exams are scheduled so you can help your child prepare in advance. Make to-do lists to spread out the workload.

• Get into a routine of doing homework at a set time, ideally a little each day.

• Have a set place where your child can do their homework, with the equipment they’ll need.

• Turn mobile phones to aeroplane mode or off so there are no disruptions.

• If there’s no set homework, encourage your child to do some reading.

• Don’t jump in and give answers. Homework is about helping kids become independent learners.

• Encourage your child to start assignments as soon as they receive them. This will reduce any night-before stress.

• Your child needs to do their own projects and assignments. There’s no point in submitting work done by anyone other than the student. Teachers need to know what students can do independently.

• If your child is having difficulty with their homework, contact their class teacher for help.