Understanding the Timetable

Students are given a timetable - similar to a train or bus timetable. It will generally tell students when each subject is on, in which classroom, and who the teacher will be.

The term 'line' is used to indicate all classes which are held at the one time. For example in 'line 3', some students may go to their history class, while others go to PDHPE and others to geography. Another example may be in line 6, some students may have Visual Art, while others may have Music or Dance.

By following the timetable, students know which class they are required to attend at any particular time. Some timetables are also broken down into weeks, for example lesson times may be different in Week 1 compared to Week 2. In this case the fortnightly cycle would run throughout the school term.

When students start high school, their Student Adviser or Class Patron will explain how the timetable works. It is often easier for students to understand the timetable if they make their own copy.

It's a good idea for students to check their timetable for the next day, the evening before, so they can be sure to pack their bags with everything they will need - such as books, materials, PE uniforms and sporting equipment. Being prepared for the next school day cuts down on stress for students, especially when they're settling in.

Students:

• don't be afraid to ask for help if you have difficulty understanding your timetable
• Ask your parents to go through it with you each night
• Keep your timetable in a safe place, such as pasted into your diary or your homework book

You should:

• Try to spend some time each night in the first few weeks of school going through the timetable with your child
• Encourage them to pack their school bag straight away and help them to work out what to say to teachers if they do not have all equipment as yet
• If you are having financial difficulties with providing equipment, talk it over confidentially with the principal
• Helping your child to get required equipment as soon as possible will help them to fit in and get off to a good start with their schoolwork