Tomaree High’s HSC students had good reason to remain cool under the pressure of exams and high temperatures when they sat for their final papers this year.
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In a first for the school, Tomaree students were provided the luxury of undertaking their most important examinations in the comfort of the air-conditioned rooms of the Wests Diggers Club.
Principal Sue Xenos said that the school decided to take the initiative to provide all its Year 12 students with a comfortable, quiet, air-conditioned venue to hold all HSC exams.
“Prior to this year, exams were held in the school hall and various classrooms. These arrangements meant that students could still hear the school bells and movement of other students around the grounds,” Ms Xenos said.
“With no air-conditioning, it was also at times very uncomfortable. In coming on board the Diggers club has been outstanding in its support of the students, catering to the very specific requirements of hosting such a major event.
“Reports from students and exam supervisors is that the move was very well received and we aim to repeat this each year.”
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The new venue was certainly a winner with HSC students Anna Mather, Carl Stewart, Dan Vu and Thomas Boehm, all aged 18.
For Anna Mather, the end of the HSC could not come quick enough.
“I am extremely relieved that it is all over and I am looking forward to experiencing boredom again,” she said.
“My longterm plans are to study forensic science or veterinary, but I will be deferring for a year so I can focus on a management position at Nelson Bay Woollies.”
Writing enthusiast Carl Stewart said he found his history papers – both in modern and ancient – more difficult than expected but was confident of doing well.
“I do enjoy writing and felt that I performed well in English. I hope to study film and production at university next year,” he said.
“Earlier this year I completed a four-day NIDA course in film production comprising writing, editing and directing and found it to be extremely fascinating.”
Data science is Dan Vu’s choice of career who plans to travel through Asia for six weeks prior to commencing studies at Sydney University in 2019.
“I found the exams overall quite challenging but not overwhelming,” said Vu, who combined her studies with a job tutoring Year 8 and 9 students in Maths.
A confident Thomas Boehm said that he would be looking forward to a four-month break before enrolling in Newcastle University’s first-time offered renewable energy/engineering course.
“I feel I have done enough in the exams to pursue a career working with renewable energy,” he said.
