Calendar

Homework Supper Club

Homework Supper Club is designed for students in Years 7-12 who would find value in a structured, supported opportunity to become more effective and independent learners.

Homework Supper Club runs from 4:30pm - 7:30pm in The Hywood Room (Staff Room) overlooking the Indian Ocean.

Goals

Homework Supper Club has three goals for students:

Provide a safe, supportive environment for students to complete their upcoming work.
Develop an understanding of good study habits and practices and provide opportunities to experience these.
Connect students with Alumni as role models, both personal and academic.

Structure

Students work independently through two sessions with a 30-minute dinner break.
At the start of the session, students will be asked to complete the Goal Setting online form where they will outline their plan for the two session and also have the opportunity to ask for a specific type of support from mentors and staff. This may be a question, ideas about how to study for an assessment or to complete a task, or a refresher on a particular subject point. Mentors will use this Form to use their expertise best to support particular students.
A 'Brain Break' corner will be available for students to reset and refresh at any time during the sessions.
Occasional 'Campfire' sessions will be offered to support students preparing for the same assessment/task/test and targeted study skills top-ups will be offered each week. Students will be encouraged to look ahead to identify their needs and advise the mentors and staff in advance so that sessions the 'Campfires' have maximum effectiveness for students.
EN8 will be allocated as 'The Cave' - a silent study space for students in Years 10-12 who want a space for uninterrupted work.
Sessions will follow this structure:
- Session 1: 4:30pm - 6:30pm
- Supper (provided): 6:00pm - 6:30pm
- Session 2: 6:30pm - 7:30pm

Guidelines

Bookings

Bookings are made for a whole term in advance. The booking system (via Humanitix) is opened in the last week of the preceding term. Places are initially allocated on a 'first in, first served' basis.

Student Readiness

The Homework Supper Club offers an optimal working environment for students with well-developed independent work habits or students who have an appetite for learning and are seeking an environment in which to develop their study skillset. Ideally, students attending the Homework Supper Club will demonstrate the ability to:

work with limited supervision for extended periods of time.
plan and set goals for study sessions, including bringing all necessary equipment.
self-regulate to manage the pace and quality of their work across the sessions.
access support by asking questions to clarify, consolidate, refresh and recall and acting upon this advice.

Attendance

As the Homework Supper Club is an out-of-hours activity, both staff and parents/caregivers share a particular duty of care:

If your child is going to be absent from the Homework Supper Club, please use the Absences Tab on SEQTA Engage to notify the College, ensuring that you enter the time correctly (4:30pm - 7:30pm) and writing a comment stating that your child will be absent from Homework Supper Club. This includes students arriving late or leaving early.
Staff will take attendance each session and notify parents/caregivers of unexpected absences.
To contact staff during a Homework Supper Club session, please call (08) 9246 8207.

Arrival

Students remaining after school can use the Library until 4:00pm, after which they can choose to attend EN8 for quiet activities, such as reading or other mindfulness. Students will be admitted to The Hywood Room from 4:25pm, where they can find a space to work and make a start.

Departure

Students should be collected from the northern entrance to The Hywood Room promptly from 7:30pm. Parking is available in front of the RNDM Theatre and parents/caregivers can access The Hywood room from the English classroom balcony.

Attire

Students can wear their formal or sports uniform (or change into their sports uniform).

Technology

Students are welcome to use devices and ear pods to support their work practices.

Mentors

It is important to be aware that mentors are not tutors, but are past students who have made themselves available to support our current students in a number of ways, as outlined below.

Academic Support

Homework assistance: Help students understand and complete their homework or assignments.
Subject questions: Provide subject-specific advice (where applicable) to re-explain classroom learning.
Study Skills: Identify study skill gaps and offer tips and advice out of their own experience, such as effective study techniques, time management or organisational skills.

Personal and Social Support

Listening: Actively listen to students' concerns and help them to problem solve.
Encouragement: Encourage students to develop their self-esteem and grow their self-efficacy.
Behaviour redirection: Encourage students to reframe, refresh and work independently within the environment.

Mentorship

Goal setting: Discuss goal setting with students at the start of a session and help them to be realistic in time-framing their goals.
Develop competencies: Use questioning to encourage students to find their own answers - to problem-solve, think critically and make decisions.

Mentoring is a brain to pick, an ear to listen and a push in the right direction.

John Crosby

Former American Politician

Expectations

As the Homework Supper Club is an opt-in activity, the expectation is that students come ready to work productively. It is not intended to be a social activity and, while collaboration between students is encouraged, this should not disturb the ability of other students to work.

Students should be guided by the expectations outlined below and be aware of the way in which they will be expected to work. These expectations and the structure of the sessions will be clearly outlined for students.

Staff will work with students still in the process of becoming independent learners and support them in managing their focus and task completion, using positive behaviour strategies to support, encourage, remind, redirect and clarify.