Independent Study - Campbell

We have started presentations now in 7/8T.  It is always a hard time but after the end of it everyone will be proud of there year.  So far everything has run smoothly.  Seven presentations have been successfully completed with not major problems.  As the sixth year eight I was envying the Year 7s but realise that it is easier than last year and to present now as a year 7 would have been difficult.

However now with both my speech and presentation completed I am free to work solely on my booklet.  This is great and I am happy with it.

I personally think the smart board system works well even though I personally cannot touch the screen to change slides.  I think it would have been hard to do this on the projector.

I think that rather than starting our presentations later we could finish the four prep stages earlier.  This would give us more time overall at the start and the end of the year.

Despite that I think we have to make a call sometimes about when to start and finis so I am very pleased with the way things have turned out.

I think this classroom is great and so is the way it operates.

So Far So Good? Jesse

I think the presentation system works well and I don't really have any ideas of how it could improve in future years. It is nice to be an audience several times before I actually present, but now that I have seen lots of presentations, I would be willing to go 1st next year. I think our class isn't exactly a 'good' audience but we've been improving since the first presentation.

The smartboard, in my opinion, is a vital part of presentations and I'm not sure what I would do without it. The assessment system is also a well oiled machine, and I think constructive criticism is very important. Personally, I enjoy historical presentations such as Luke's 'Rise of the Roman Empire', but that does not necessarily mean that I think they are better. If I could change anything about presentations.... well... I guess it would be cool to be able to put videos into PowerPoint, but that's not anything against  Mr. T's system.

I value these presentations quite highly, as I may not be interested in the topic to start with, but I certainly enjoy the presentation.

Ind. Study- So far so good

I am enjoying the Independent Study presentations, and I like how smoothly, the 'system' works, especially how the Year 8s go first, so the Year 7s can learn from them how the system rolls.
One negative comment, however, would be that there is way to much criticism for each person.

I don't really have a favourite presentation, but I really enjoyed topics such as 'Hergè' and 'Drugs in Sport'.
They were really interesting topics for an awesome year-long study.

IS so far so good Nicholas

I think that us year 7s are "pulling our heads in now" realising how much we have to do in a short period of time. The smartboard is good for the presentations, however the projector has weak colour if you know what I mean e.g. Hugh's speech with Sefton :). I think next year will be better work wise because I will spread out the work throughout the year. I'm looking forward to Callum H's IS on Le tour De France.  I think EVERY IS has been set to a high standard and the bench mark is very high. If I could change something it would me my position I'd change from 6th to 10th. Just a tip, I think diagrams really help with the presentation as it gives something to talk about and you get the picture.

Nicholas

P.S. Noah your speech was brave! :)

So far so Good? - William

So far so good for me? I'm sorry to say that so far not so good (Independent Study wise). I have put a lot of effort into travelling to various places for Dambusters related reasons and I haven't seem to be making alot of progress up until when I went to an exhibition in Christchurch which drastically raised the bar of progress for me.

Earlier this year I visited Les Munro to interview him as he is a member of 617 Squadron (The Dambusters). Very recently, I flew down to christchurch to visit a Dambusters exhibition at the Wigram Air Force Museum which was amazing. I have photos of every paragraph of information there was at the exhibition on my phone.

The exhibition was very small, just a room, smaller than a half of 7/8T and there was not truck-loads of information in it but it was the way they put it into words and sentences that stood out for me. It was easy to understand for even toddlers, there were many small children reading the information and playing with the interactive activites. This exhibition really helped me "get the ball rolling" for my Independent Study.

I have been blown away by the standard of the Presentations, and I hope I will keep the standard up aswell. . .

So far so Good Hugh

Yeah definitly, it is so far so good. I think it runs well and I think it is really good how the year 8's go first and show us how its done!! Yeah I am, but sometimes I drift off and get bored. I think the smart board doenst add much, I think it would be just as good with a projecter. I think the feedback it good, but I think its bad when people go overboard with the criticism! And so far I have really enjoyed The Story Of Money.

good, so far it is- George

So far I have really enjoyed the presentations. They have taught me many things about many things. My favorite has been Captain Cook because I never really knew anything about him and I have learned a lot of facts about him. The smartboard is really helpful and I can't believe that the ones a few years ago didn't have one! The presentations are really helpful for learning. The comments and criticism is really good for telling us what to work on.
So far so good? I think so!

Independent Study-So Far So Good-Harry W

I think that the system is pretty good and I think that it runs quite smoothly. Being an audience member is good because you get to learn a lot like how to present your presentation and your learn quite a bit about the topic. Being a good audience is hard as you have to sit in a chair for about an hour and listen to someone speaking which can get a bit monotonous at times unless you are interested in the topic. I think that without the smart board the presentations wouldn't be as good because you can read of it and look at pictures and YouTube videos. I think that as a year seven getting constructive and positive feedback is really good to take on board for next year. I thought that the presentation on antibiotics was probably the best so far for me as I found it really interesting. I am looking forward to The Hunting presentation as it is a topic I can sort of relate to and I also think it will be really interesting.

Independent Study- So far so good?- Theo

I think we are doing very well in the time we have for presentations and they have all been very informative, enjoyable and well set out. I think the system runs well, because the year 8's go first because have already gone through year 7 so they know what to do. Whereas we year 7's are only just learning so we need a little more time to get our presentations done.

I think a good audience is an audience that listens and doesn't talk except whispering to someone about the presentation. I think we are pretty good except we interrupt the speaker sometimes.

The constructive criticism is really important. For the year 8's it will help them in the future if they do something similar and for the year 7's it will help us for next year.

I'm not looking forward to anyone in particular's presentation. I just want to see all of them.

Anyway I think we are going so far so good.

So far so good? - Ben

I like the cue system for the presentations because it gives the year 7's a bit more time to sort themselves out as they haven't had a year of experience unlike the year 8's. I always enjoy being an audience to a presentation because I don't have to concentrate on anything. This means I can let all the information go through my brain very easily.

I think the Smartboard is great for presentations because it paints a good picture in the audiences heads of what your saying. Constructive criticism is a great way of giving people advice and it is important for not only year 7's but year 8's as they have college ahead of them. If I had to change something about the presentation progress I would change the set up of the presentation. Doing something like I.S before you go to college is a good idea because you learn tonnes about your topic but your general knowledge is widened just by listening to what other people have learned. I think that this is extremely important for college.

Independent Study - So far so good? - Marcus

My Independent Study is going very well this year. I have completed my presentation to a standard I am happy with and am at 21 pages in my booklet without so far, 5 more than last year with pictures. Now that there is almost nothing on my mind except my independent study booklet I can race through at a very good speed. I am hoping to get at least highly commended with my independent study this year because I have been working very hard at it and I am much more passionate about my topic this year than my topic last year. Some of the other independent study topics seem very interesting as well. Herge is hard in itself and the Big So What Question it has doesn't make the writer's life any easier. If I was to make a change to the presentation it would be to the software, not the system. I think that powerpoint should let you insert videos into the presentation. It's quite difficult to exit the powerpoint and then open the video. Overall, I am very confident I will finish my independent study on a good note.

Independent Study-So Far So Good?-JD

I am not looking forward to my presentation. I'm presenting on Monday, and only have 20 slides, or around 5 minutes at the most. Presentations are a good way for people to learn others topic, because I probably won't read the booklets, and if I do it will be a skim read. Presentations are really hard to do well, so all of them have been good, especially those ones who have gone now and been ready. Time is probably all I need, but as for so far so good- yeah right!

Independent study so far so good robd

So far so good hmmmm yes I think so. All the presentations so far have been top notch. I think the presentation system is running very smoothly. I love how everyone is having a lot of fun listening to these presentations they're really good. I think I would never get bored listening to presentations just because of the fact that you learn so much from them. I have learnt a lot from these presentation and I can't wait for another one. I think the smartboard acts as a giant cue card for the presenter and gives the audience a general idea about what he is going to talk about next. The pictures that you can show on the smartboard help as well. I think Mr fait assesses us well and fairly I bet we can all agree on that. I don't think it is to much I think it is just right. I think everything is crystal clear and so I don't think anyone is going to have trouble understanding. The constructive criticism is a great way for the presenter to understand everything. Campbell and Marcus's really made me understand what a real presentation is like. I am looking forward to Hugh's one on the GPS. I would not change anything ever.

I.S - So far so good - Jin

This year was such a great feeling being up infront of the class presenting. Well, at least the after the first five minutes. I also love being an audience because you can learn so much. Relating to the smartboard question, I could not imagine a presentation without them. Personally I like the assessment and am now used to it after being in this classroom for two years. So far I have really enjoyed all of them and  I look forward to the titanic and photography the most. Also I think that JDs trucks will be, umm, entertaining...

Independent Study - So far so good? - Matthew

So far so good? Yes. I think the presentation system runs well. I am really enjoying being an audience. I think the smartboard is a useful tool to convey information in an entertaining way. I think the assessment sheet is good. I am not sure whether it is too much or too little. Sometimes I do think it can be unclear. I think that critique is an important part of the system because we can all learn how to improve and to get an idea of what another kid might say from a similar age is interesting and beneficial to improve areas of weakness or strength.

Independant Study - So far so good? - Callumh

I think that the presentation system is a very good and smooth one. I don't think I have any favourites so far but if I had to choose one it would have to be the Roman Empire or the Vikings. I also really like being an audienc member because all of the topics are always sooooooo interesting.

The presentation I'm looking forward to the most would have to be either the titanic or the spitfire.

PS. Don't take it harshly everyone else I'm looking forward to all of them :)
PPS. Don't take it harshly people who have already presentated they've been really good as well. :)

Independent Study - So Far So Good? - Henry C

The seven Independent Study presentations that have been so far have been extremely good and all the seven presenters have been very much at ease and seemed to know there topic very well and that showed in the way they talked and the way their slide show was set up. The audience was mostly good and it really livened up when the presenters showed a video or some funny pictures. The good presentations have been the ones where the presenter was talking with ease and  were very patient when the audience didn't really get what they were saying and took the time to explain that.

Independent Study - So far so good? - Noah

I think Independent study presentations have gone really well. We've had some good, funny, interactive studies. Its been fun watching all of them, and I cant wait till I do mine. Watching the other presintations has given me some inspiration for what to do in  my presintation, and I'm looking forward to see the other great presintations. The smartboard is a great help for this perpouse, and it would be hard to think what it would be without that thing. ALL the topics are very interesting and can't wait to see the Titanic and The ancient Celts. 

Independent Study So Far So Good?-Luke E

The presentations have gone pretty well. I liked presenting and I'm glad that I've done that. The presentations are definitely of value, as it allows for an interaction between the presenter and the class about their topic. I liked Jin's presentation on Antibiotics and Rob's on the Vikings as my favourite. I think that maybe, if the presentations were more like long speeches(with props) it would show us the speaker's passion for their topic and be of more value. Though I'm not sure if that's practical. Do you think so? The presentations and the speeches turn out to be remarkably similar. Both use cue cards. Both rely a lot on the speaker's knowledge and memory. Also, people need to work to improve their voices while they're speaking, and not have a mumbling, boring or quiet voice.I think that if you are confident like I was and passionate, you can have a great, fun and valuable presentation.

Independent Study - So far so good? - Mr T

Good afternoon boys.  So far we have been treated to seven I.S. presentations.  So far so good?  How do you think the presentation 'system' runs?  Are you enjoying sitting back as an audience?  What does it take to be a 'good' audience?  How does the Smartboard help us get our messages across?  What are your thoughts on how you are assessed?  Is it too much?  Not enough?  Clear enough?  What is the best thing about the constructive criticism and feedback we give to each presentor?  Which presentation has really made you 'sit up'?  Which ones are you most looking forward to?  If you could change anything about Independent Study presentations (apart from allowing more time - the perennial request...) what would it be? How would you tweak it?  And, lastly, what value do these presentations have for you as a learner, as a person?

T4 Vision-henry b

Term 4 like last year will probably be the most stressful part of the year for me. But I still have confidence that I can finish my independent study earlier thans l ast year. If I was the teacher I would tell my self pick up the pace and get as much done as you can as fast as you can.

I'm not going to bad with my presentation I have got about 25 slides and I've prety much finished my speech which is by the way on the god particle.

this term I have a choice to sink or swim and if I get going I will swim. 

T4 Vision-Jesse

Term Four is definitely going to involve lots of work for me. I hope to get my Independent Study and my speech work done without leaving it to the last minute. Next year I can improve by getting work done on my Independent Study earlier on, so its easier in Terms Three and Four. By the end of the year I hope to have a decent length presentation and a booklet 20+ pages long. If I were my own teacher I'd tell myself that I need to do a lot more homework because I still have a lot to do in my presentation. I am really excited for the West Coast trip! I can't wait until it starts. I just hope I can get the last $200 I need before it begins.

But I am trying to think of more activities to do for my I.S, as I would prefer it my booklet were over 30 pages long and I feel as if I haven't delved deep enough into my topic. If you have anything you'd like to know about wind power, please comment below and I'll put it into my booklet.

T4 Vision-Harry W

My vision for this term is to complete everything on time and up to standard or even above standard. The area I think I will struggle with most would have to be putting together my booklet and my speech and they will be quite hard to make. I intend to meet my commitments by managing my time well and efficiently to meet deadlines. If I were a teacher I would tell me to sort my priorities out and try to get my work in early to leave more time for other activities. The West Coast will definitely be one of my highlights of Wellesley. I am really looking forward to it but I still need about $200 but I am doing a sausage sizzle so I will hopefully get that.

T4 Vision - Louis

This last term is going to be difficult, exactly like last year. The only difference is that I must perform my presentation earlier in the year, and that this is the true last term of Wellesley for me. During this term there will be a massive rush for getting all the work done, and soon enough, everything will be done. But between that time where everything is done and everything needs to be done, is the hardest part of the Independent Study. Presenting the booklet and powerpoint.

I intend to finish all my work earlier on in this term - so I don't have to stress at the end of the year. Chances are though, this will not be the case. As usual, I'll end up leaving everything until the last minute and then my work would be of bad quality. I will, of course, try to prevent this happening, as there is nothing worse than having the Independent Study only halfway through at the last week, so working on it early is essential.

Since I have been trying to do this, I have got most of my work done, and it doesn't mean I'llhave to be spending every minute I have on Independent Study, allowing me to handle other commitments without loosing any progress time. I hope for my Independent Study to be of a decent standard, so that it is perhaps seen as one of the better ones people have
 done, unlike the one I did last year.

T4 vision - written by Wizard Callum

When i look into my magic 'looking ball' and foresee what will happen in that hectic, frantic time my puny classmates call term 4, I foresee many great things. Firstly, I see the excitement of the Mighty West Coast trip, and the proudness (is that a word?) of getting my Ind Study printed. I sense that I will have to be organised for the term ahead, and that I will have to work pretty damn hard to get everything done.

But also when I look into my magic crystal ball I see pride, because I survived my first year in 7/8t.

T4 Vision- Nicholas

Wow the year has gone fast! I can't believe we are already in term 4. I really need to get cracking on my independent study and work on my speech. I see this term as a frantic 6 weeks and then it cooling down from there on. With all the stuff I've got on I have to make time for my IS. I am going to get my SOLO activities done by the end of this week and also have my presentation well on track. I will just work my way round the time I have. If I was my own teacher I would make some long term deadlines e.g. All SOLO activities done by term 3 week 7. (I have not done this stuff.)

I am really looking forward to the West Coast Trip and I have only $3 to go until I have reached $700.

Nicholas

Term 4 Vision-Luke E

Term 4 is the term that is devoted to Independent Study. Presentations are coming soon, but I personally am confident that I will make it through. As for my booklet, I have one activity and some edits to do but I'm mostly good. However, I have noticed some people are a bit behind on their I.S. If these people know theory topic, they can make it through. I myself have wasted some time, so I will try to curb that wastage. Also, we have speeches.My speech is on a day in the life of a schoolkid 100 years ago. I had a break in the holidays from schoolwork(though I worked on an I.S. activity) and now, I have re-entered Wellesley life and hope to have a great last term. It is strange, to realise that I only have 9 weeks left of my life at Wellesley. I am going to Scots College, personally. I expect a lot of people will be going to Col. There, we can move to a new stage of our lives and enter a new environment. It will be sad leaving this wonderful school, but we have a great future ahead of us, wherever that may be.

Term 4 Vision - William

I am really looking forward to the rest of Term 4. The fact that there are no Weekly Tasks this term and just Independent Study (and speech) all the way through to the end of the year really intrigues me. I am starting to think about possibly just doing the Independent Study and forgetting about my SOLO Activity List so I can just get on with it, the way I want to do it, rather than doing it the way my SOLO wants me to do it. Apart from thinking about that, this term is really going to get me going with my Independent Study and it's going to be great!

My speech is coming along very very well. I wanted to be ahead on the speech so I have a lot more time for Independent Study. All I have to do is make a few more inputs and then PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!

T4 Vision (cool movie title?)

When I use the power of foresight it is sometimes accurate, remember what I said about the Americas cup "but I foresee there may be a cloud over our horizons." But now my vision is clouded by the Aztec gods who want me to be nervous and afraid (they think I will portray them badly). I know a lot about my topic but Just haven't got it all together for my presentation yet. The Aztecs had some funny ideas for the future and their sense of impending doom is arising in me...

Anyway, if I was a teacher I'd say to me, "be organised boy!" and I'm looking forwards to west coast trip. :>)

Term 4 vision - Campbell

I am really excited coming into this term.  Last year term 4 was really hard because I was  a year 7 and had not done many things like an independent study.  In fact I had done nothing like a Independent Study.

This year I am not so worried.  I am a year 8 and have already got a booklet and presentation under my belt and have done a lot of work on my presentation in the holidays.

Even though I have not done the same amount of work on my booklet I know I will be able to finish it on time when I have presented.

I am also really looking forward to the traditional Junior/Senior book.   I can remember doing it as a year 1/2/3 in Mr Bs classroom and can't wait to work with my own buddy Jackson.

It is really weird being in the final part of Wellesley.  Being here for eight years has gotten me really used to the way everything works.  College next year will be hard and probably fun.

I have really enjoyed all of my terms here and I am sure this one will be great as well.

T4 Vision Hugh

My vision is to have a good and productive term, but with with a little fun along the way and  a lot of fun in the last week!! I reckon I might struggle with the presentation in my slides and the amount of text on one page. I will try and meet my obligations by getting as much work done at home. I want to leave this year with the feeling that I have accomplished a lot but still had fun. Man I can't wait to the west coast trip!! Although I'm not looking forward to the driving!!  

T4 Vision - Marcus

Term 4 is the most frantic term of the year. It's a time when Independent Study takes over and we give our all. It is also a time when most of the year 7s realise that they need to stop gaming and start working on their Independent Study or their speech or whatever they need to do. My Independent Study is sort of on track. I'm confident about my presentation being on time and up to scratch and I am semi-confident that my booklet will be good and in when it is due. I'm not so confident about my speech. All I have done is written a quick introduction and bulleted the outline of my speech. I don't really know how I am going to do my speech in week 3. I have a couple of ideas on how to keep people listening in my presentation. One of them is to scatter quiz questions here and there to make sure people are listening. I will hand out chocolate coins to those who can answer a question correctly (this works well because my topic is 'The Story of Money'). I have also taken out most of the boring things such as mortgages and GST and reduced them to bullets. I intend to make the presentation as interesting and hooking as possible. Independent Study is a great way to build up your work ethic to the point where you can do a very good job, or just to give things a shot. I am enjoying my topic and I hope that college won't be to difficult.

T4 Vision - Henry C

From right now I don't think my independent study booklet and presentation are not going to be amazing but hopefully I will be able to pull it off and create a decent booklet and presentation. If I could give myself one piece of advice I would say that you probably should have worked a bit harder and get it in the format of the booklet earlier so I have more time to look at it a see were I can improve. I'm really excited for the West Coast trip and I hope that it as cool as the year eights say it is but I know that I won't be disappointed.

T4 Vison Robd

My vision for T4 is to keep my head down and to work. I am hoping to get everything done easily this term so that I will have nothing that keeps on niggling at me and leaving me stressed.

I think I have done well this year with all my work. I intend to approach T4 with some determination towards everything that comes at me. I think I might struggle a bit to get my work done as everyone is very loud and it is quite hard to focus on your presentation or speech as you are writing the whole time.

I think if I just spend my time well I will have no problems with any work ahead of me and I think I have learnt that throughout the past few years. I hope to leave a good impression in this classroom as I am leaving wellesley. If I wanted to leave a big impression in this classroom  for something I would hope it would be just getting everything done and making everything work.

Practice makes perfect is always a good thing to run by, or do it your self. I am pretty excited about moving to college as it will be a very big change and it will be hard to go through that big change. But once I make the change I think things will be different.

T4 Vision Thomas

The year is nearly over and now is where the hard work starts. Presentations and Booklets need to be completed soon and I am confident I will do better than last year. On top of Ind Study there is speech and other small activities. I am really motivated and have recently found a whole lot of information that I am about to add into my booklet.

If I was my own teacher I would be telling myself to get my head down and do the hard work to get my booklet done. This year I want to be proud of the work I have done and put all I can into it.

T4 Vision - Jin

It is sad to think that I will only have one more term of school here at Wellesley. I have enjoyed my time not just in the class but out. This term I will try to finish on a high.

My vision for this term is good. I feel that this term is going to be good, fun, and hard work. But it will all be worth it. It is going to be the last and most memorable term of of my life so far because it is the last term of primary school. A massive step in my life. To have gone from year one and being the small newbie, to standing where I am today: A year eight at the top of the school, is a great feeling to have achieved and to be there but now I go to college. I am no longer the big boy, but the newbie again.

If I don't stay on task this term it may still go pear shaped for me. Something I do not want to happen. My presentation is a mere week away and with my booklet, speech and now a maths assignment, I worry that my plate is overflowing. In saying that, From week fiveish, I have a clear run in to the end of the year.

T4 vision - Matthew

I have a good vision. I feel that this term is going to be really fun. Possibly the most memorable term for me is this  one - the last term of my primary school life, all the way from being the smallest in the school and looking up to those year 8's playing sport, to being that Y8.  If I don't stay on task I think I could find doing certain activities for my Independent Study a difficulty, because they are quite demanding and require some unique thought skills like imagining what the future will be. I think that I will be fine meeting family obligations and fitting in the rest of my life if I just plan. I think it's important to fit in family time and help around the house. I hope to leave on a strong note and open the doorway to college feeling I have the best I can.

T4 Vision - HarryC

My vision for term four is to complete my independent study and the rest of my work and then spend my last few weeks of Wellesley College having fun wharf jumping and playing sport.

The area that I think I might struggle at is completing my independent study without being up late every night, which means I will have to work really hard in all the spare time I have. The piece of advice I would give myself would be don't wait around to do your work start doing it as soon you get it.

I am really excited about going to college but I am also slightly nervous about going off to college because it will be a big step up.

T4 Vision-JD

It feels wierd to know that I have only 45 days left of primary school. I really need to do my I.S, I hated my presentation and deleted all my slides. My vision for the next term here, not embarrass myself too much in my I.S presesntation, and have fun. If I was my teacher, I would tell myself to not muck around and get onto it! At the start of the year I thought I had heaps of time to do a booklet and presentation, a whole year! Now I have to squash it into two weeks! And do a speech! Year 9 I'm sorta looking forward to, I'll know a lot of people, but be back at the bottom of the school, and I'll miss Wellesley.

T4 Vision - Callum H

My Vision for Term 4 is trying to finish two activities that I'm half way through as soon as possible so I can get on with: putting it in a word doccument, PROOF READING, practicing my presentation and finishing my speech. I hope to leave a bulky booklet on the famous shelves of 7/8T and have everyone one in this classroom knowing heaps about the Tour de France after I've finished my presentation.

T4 Vision - Ben

My holiday wasn't as relaxing as it would normaly be. This because I was preparing for term 4. From what I hear, term 4 in year 7 is one of the hardest terms you will ever endure. As I have only just got back to school I can't see whether these rumours are correct.

If I were my own teacher I would tell me to get things done as soon as they pop up and not wait for the last minute. I am very excited about the West Coast trip but I am also very worried that it could waste valuable time for my Independent Study.

T4 Vision - Noah

I would like to end this term with some acheviment, but... It's slim and I don't really think ill have that much to show for my study. But next year I'll be more active and hopefully I'll be on the better end of the study marking thing. This year has been a new thing to me and I'd like to end the this year well. 

This term will be stressful but at th end it will be nice to relax and enjoy going to Vietnam without any worries about my commitments, and not finishing them on time. It would've been nice or end the term with Ender's game but sadly it comes out on Boxing Day. This time next year it'll be sad that in nine weeks I wont be tort here any more and I'll look ford to visiting.

T4 Vision - Mr T

Good morning boys.  You are on the home straight.  Nine weeks remain for this school year and I can almost guarantee that it will rush by very quickly.  You will know that there is one major piece of work which will be taking up most of your energy, time, and headspace.  What is your vision for your last term here? How do you intend to approach it?  Name an area where you know that, without conscious effort, you might struggle a little?  How do you intend to meet your obligations with family, sporting, musical (plus other) commitments?  What impression do you hope to leave after your 2013 school year?  If you were your own teacher, what would be one piece of advice that (however hard it might be to hear it) you would give yourself?  Year 7s: How excited are you about the mighty West Coast trip?  Year 8s: How excited are you about moving on towards a 'different planet' that is Year 9?