Doing your part as students

School years are a time of transition, growth, excitement, and new opportunities and challenges. During these years, you learn to balance academic demands with personal demands.

What does it take to be successful at school? There’s no secret formula, no magic potion that will do the trick. Actually, the formula for success is pretty straightforward and not all that difficult to follow. The students who do well are the ones who:

• write down homework assignments carefully — When your teachers give you an assignment, write it down immediately on your school diary. Don’t depend on your memory — or your friends — to supply the details later. If you don’t understand what is expected, ask your teachers immediately

• do your work and turn it in on time — Get your work finished at the earliest date possible. Then put it someplace safe and where you’ll be sure to find it! You must do the work, so why not get it done and turn it in on time so you get full credit for it? And don’t misunderstand — when your teachers tell you to “read” something or to “study” something, that’s considered work, too!

• plan ahead — Through experience you’ll learn that it doesn’t pay to let assignments get ahead of you. If you have a project to research and write about, do it in small steps. Trying to read a novel in one night and write a report about it the next night doesn’t produce a masterpiece!

• ask teachers for help — When you do well, we all do well. Teachers want you to succeed! If you’re having trouble understanding something, or getting along with peers, or getting organized, talk to your teachers. When you ask for help, you’re doing two things — letting them know: 1) that you’re having difficulty and 2) that you want and value their help and opinion

• ask parents for help — Your parents really do know a lot! They are good listeners and can help you find answers to problems. They can help you review for tests and develop a system to keep your homework where you can find it. Remember, your parents love you unconditionally and ferociously — they are eager to support your efforts

• listen carefully and do what is expected —. If you’re told to keep your voices down when you’re working on small group activities, do it — you’ll be surprised at how much more your group will get done!

• behave appropriately — At your age, you should know what appropriate behaviour is and should be able to behave accordingly

• show respect for others — Each person is worthy of respect. Treat each other kindly. Be a friend. Notice when someone is feeling hurt or left out and do something about it. It’s so easy to keep quiet when someone is saying something mean about someone else — but unless you speak up, you, too, are guilty of being hurtful! When you pick on or gossip about others, you’re really saying much more (negative) about yourself than about the other person!

• become involved — Don’t be passive. Join in classroom discussions. Try to attend all student activities

• come prepared for class — Of course you need your books, your notebooks, your homework, your diary, your paper, pens, and pencils! But at St. Augustine’s, “being prepared” means more than that — it means bringing your enthusiasm and interest into the classroom. You’d be amazed at how much more interesting your classes are if you just approach them with enthusiasm

• tell the truth — It’s not always easy to admit when you’ve done something wrong or forgotten to do homework. But don’t stoop to lying. Be a person of honour; show strength of character

• be positive — about yourself and your abilities, your peers, your teachers and other school personnel, your families, your opportunities. By looking for and expecting the best in ourselves and in others, we tend to find it

• do your best and take pride in your work — Each of us has different abilities and personalities. But we can always be proud when we can truthfully say to ourselves that we really tried to do our best! Study properly for tests — don’t just have the book open in front of you and “imagine” that you’re learning something. Work hard on each assignment — let the old saying “If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing well” be your guide. Spend an extra minute to do top quality work

• be proud of your school - Remember to always wear your uniform proudly and that you are representing not only yourself but your college