Frequently Asked Questions

1. When students are just starting and getting to know their way around the school, is it ok if they are a bit late to class? Will they get in trouble?
   When you first start Year 7, generally you will start back a day before the other students to give you a day to get to know the school grounds and find your way around. Your Year Coordinators and Teachers generally will meet you in a designated area after each lesson to help you to find your way to your next class. All teachers and Year Coordinators are there to help you and will be understanding of your need for time to adjust to your new school routine and environment. It is however, your responsibility to make sure you listen to instructions given by teachers and use break time to get a drink and use the bathrooms to ensure you are ready to move to class on time when the end of break time bells ring.
   

2. Do we move between classes or stay in the one classroom?
   In high school you have up to 8 teachers plus Year Coordinators who deliver your learning. At some schools you will move between classrooms for each subject, other schools you may stay in the one spot for most subjects, you will learn more about this when you visited your designated school. Sometimes you will have what's called a 'double period' of a subject, which means you stay in that same classroom for two sessions before moving on. Some schools allow Year 7 students to remain in the same class for all subjects and the teachers rotate only. You will find out more about this from your school during orientation.
   

3. How long does each lesson run for?
   Each session or 'period' runs for 50 mins with a total of 6 sessions per day. Generally there is 2 sessions in the morning, followed by a break, then another 2 sessions then lunch break followed by 2 final sessions in the afternoon.
   

4. How many subjects do we start off with? Do we get to pick our own subjects?
   In Year 7 & 8 you start off with subjects such as Maths, English, Geography, History, PDHPE, Science, Music and Art. When you get into Year 9 & 10 you get to choose 'electives' such as Design & Technology, Drama, Music, Child Care, Aboriginal Studies, Art, Photography and more.
   

5. Is the work a lot harder than Year 6?

High school work can seem quite different and daunting at the start, due to the changes around moving between classes, having different teachers with different teaching styles and your own personal changes as you move into adolescence.

A great way to support yourself through this transition is to be prepared:
* Make sure you get to know your school timetable.
* Check your timetable the night before and make sure you have packed the right books and any equipment you might need.
* Set up a timetable for you to follow each afternoon which includes some revision time as well as time for any homework or assessment tasks. The earlier you learn to revise your days work the easier it will be to complete your homework and assessment tasks. You can identify anything you are still struggling with and seek support from your teacher the next time you have that class.
* Eat a healthy balanced diet each day and be sure to get plenty of good quality sleep to ensure your brain is prepped and ready to go each day.

6. What can I do to prevent from falling behind?
   Apart from revising your work on a regular basis, you can also use a diary to make note of any homework or assessments and when they are due. You can reach out to your teachers at any time for additional support. There is also often tutoring made available through your school to help you catch up on missed work or have more one on one time with a teacher to clarify your understanding of the work. If tutoring is not available through your school, there are private tutoring businesses that you can access, many of which accept the Creative Kids vouchers through Service NSW to help cover some of the cost.
   

7. Is it hard to make new friends?

Starting Year 7 can be very daunting and you will meet lots of new people from different primary schools. Some of your old friends may go to a different high school to you so you may find you are having to start again. Look out for people with similar interests to you. Listen attentively to others in class to learn more about them - this will help you find 'your people'. Consider the spaces available at the school, if you like to read or play computer games, you could look in quieter spaces in school like the library or shady grassy areas for people who like similar things to you. If you like to play sport, go check out the quads and ovals you are bound to find other sporty people there. Be yourself, put yourself out there and you will find friends in no time. If you're having trouble, speak to your teachers or Year Coordinator and they might be able to help introduce you to other students who they know have similar interests. For more tips on making new friends, check out the Tips for Growing Up page.