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Sydney principals' messages for the class of 2021 on the first day of HSC exams

By 9Honey Parenting|

The Year 12 class of 2021 has shown extraordinary resilience as their two senior years of schooling have been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, as students arrive for their first day of Higher School Certificate exams, two Sydney school principals have a message for them.

James Kozlowski, Principal, Endeavour Sports High School, Caringbah

The HSC begins for you today at the end of what has been a tumultuous year full of uncertainty.

The HSC is regarded throughout the world as a rigorous credential that rewards both academic aptitude and dedication to study. A good HSC result will open many doors.

As a high school principal, I am acutely aware of what you have endured to reach this point. The HSC presents you with one of the most significant hurdles of your young lives, and it does so at a time when you are grappling with all the challenges the teenage years present.

READ MORE: COVID-safe HSC exams kick off with students to wear masks

(Supplied)

This year, COVID-19 has added another layer of complexity to this academic and social milestone. By getting here today you have demonstrated resilience, a quality not specifically tested in the HSC but which is essential for future success.

There is no doubt that the HSC is important, but we must keep it in perspective. There is life beyond the HSC and it should not define you, nor dictate your future. Your HSC is just one more thing you accumulate along life's journey.

It's nice if you do well, but if you fall short of your goal don't despair. In the decades I have been in education I have seen thousands of students go on to have highly successful lives who have not quite reached their HSC potential or expectation.

If it's all getting too much, reach out for support

For those who have applied themselves over the entire course, the HSC is designed to reward you. You should view it as an opportunity to show what you know and how to apply it and be calm with the knowledge that each exam goes through an extensive process to ensure it is fair.

Inevitably, you will find some exams a little easier and others more challenging than what you had hoped. Remember, 50 percent of your HSC has already been completed via the internal assessment system. Read the questions carefully, keep to the advised time for each section of the exam and, if you have time, go over your answers.

READ MORE: All the latest education news

Masks will be mandatory when exams kick off today. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

You need to maintain healthy practices throughout the entire exam period: eat well, get enough sleep, exercise, and maintain contact with your teachers for reassurance and support. Most importantly, if you feel it is all getting a bit too much then reach out for help. The great thing about the HSC is that you have lots of people around you who appreciate just how stressful this time can be.

In a few weeks your exams will be finished and you'll be ready to celebrate. After all that study and hard work, you're probably looking forward to weeks or even months of not doing very much.

You won't believe me now, but it won't be long until you get a bit bored. That's the signal to you that it is time to move on from the HSC and embrace that next challenge, to realise that while these exams were important, they were just another of life's many obstacles to overcome.

Dr Peter Webster, Principal, St John XXIII Catholic College, Stanhope Gardens

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There has been a lot of talk about certainty in these uncertain times. If there's one thing I am certain of, it's that the extraordinary experience of the Class of 2021 has been an education! These young people had both their Year 11 and 12 studies disrupted by COVID-19, and humbled us all with the grace and guts that got them through.

Living and learning in a hard lockdown Local Government Area, students in our part of the world faced some big challenges this year, from equity concerns to social isolation and, in some cases, health difficulties. These were testing times, and I don't mean when it comes to exams!

At this time of year, I often reflect on the next steps our Year 12 students will take on their life's journey. As a school principal serving a close-knit community in Stanhope Gardens in Sydney's thriving North West, I am always asking myself, "Have we prepared our students to constantly adapt, evolve and create in an everchanging world?" This year, our young people had the chance to show us what they are made of, and it's tough stuff indeed.

As far as I'm concerned you've already passed the test

I want to take this opportunity to share my heartfelt thanks with everyone who supported our students this year and to celebrate the way the students themselves helped each other along. Mums and dads, mates, brothers and sisters and of course, school staff: a special shoutout here. For anyone reading this who is not feeling ok right now, we're here to help too. Reach out to your school: our professional counsellors are here to help.

Our whole community had a real sense of loss this year, and I feel for Year 12 missing out on some special moments together. Amid the many losses of COVID-19 was the lost opportunity for the State Government to move beyond the HSC. I'm incredibly proud of the way that our dedicated students have kept up their studies but disappointed that there wasn't the political will to find another way to measure student achievement in this crisis.

Already, many students make the most of other pathways to a tertiary education. At our College, 95 per cent of our HSC candidates who plan to progress to university have already received an "early entry" offer prior to sitting down for their first exam. I think it's great that our universities have moved on from the old-fashioned HSC system and want to look at better ways to choose how young people can access further education.

Another important change in the way that schools prepare students for their future is that many young people gain real-world qualifications as part of their secondary education. As a result of partnerships with tertiary education providers, many will graduate having completed units of study towards a university degree, traineeship or apprenticeship or VET certificates alongside their HSC.

So though the long-feared HSC English Exam begins today, I want to congratulate every member of the Class of 2021 now. As far as I'm concerned, they've already passed the test.

Any student who is struggling (or concerned family and friends) can seek help at a school level, including through school counsellors. Other useful contacts include Lifeline on 13 11 14 and Kids' Helpline on 1800 551 800.

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