Burnout is something we all have experienced, whether that be with a sport we enjoy, but where we usually see it (and where student’s are usually confronted with) is within our studies. This burnout often stems from constant pressure to perform, heavy workloads, and the feeling that no matter how much effort is put in, it is never enough. For students, this manifests itself amongst the most diligent, pushing hard to get an assignment over the line, or get that mark in an exam.

One of the first steps to preventing burnout is recognising early warning signs, such as fatigue, irritability, or loss of interest in activities once enjoyed. For me, this was resigning from my friends, and spending continuous time doom scrolling. Ignoring these symptoms often leads to a deeper cycle of stress and disengagement. It’s important to teach our students to set clear boundaries between study and rest. This can be hard for all of us to do, especially with looming deadlines, but in taking a break, we often become more motivated and perform to a higher standard.

Equally important is prioritising self-care. Getting enough sleep, maintaining a healthy diet, and exercising regularly can significantly improve energy levels and concentration. Even short walks, mindfulness exercises, or simply spending time outdoors can reset the mind and reduce tension, it doesn’t matter how small the activity is.

Social connection plays a powerful role in tackling burnout. Talking to peers, family, or teachers about challenges can provide emotional support and practical advice. Many students struggle silently, but sharing struggles often reveals that others feel the same, fostering a sense of community and understanding.

Finally, students should focus on progress rather than perfection. Reflecting on personal goals, celebrating small wins, and accepting that mistakes are part of learning helps maintain perspective and motivation, realising that marks aren’t the be all and end all, especially at their young age.

By maintaining balance, nurturing wellbeing, and seeking support early, students can not only overcome burnout but also build healthier habits that sustain them far beyond the classroom.

Samin Sadaf Hossain

Now that the HSC has finally ended, students all across schools are moving from year 11 into year 12 and finally beginning the final year of schooling. This is an exciting and daunting step for everyone, having to face new content and taking on the responsibility of being the oldest in the school. It is a year that can be stressful, but it is also important to make the most of it! These are some tips to help you achieve success in your studies but also make the time to enjoy yourself:

1- Start making your notes early
It can be easy to get behind on making your notes each week, especially in content heavy subjects like history or biology as it may not seem like a main priority when compared to homework set by your teacher. However, this is a crucial step in preparation when it comes to exams as it allows you to have all the information you need to study in words that you understand in one place. Try and set out a time each week for every subject that is dedicated to catching up with the notes and content for that week. This prevents you from falling behind and is a good revision tool to refresh what you have done over the past week.

2- Plan out your weeks
It is a good idea to try organise your week in a calendar or diary, including any extracurricular activities, study time and reminders throughout the week, such as assignments that are due. This sets up a routine where you can create good study habits by blocking out periods of time throughout the week that you can dedicate to specific study. Additionally, it helps you make time for yourself and the things that you like. This could be doing your favourite sport each week or putting in a period of time that is for watching a movie! By doing this, it helps to avoid burnout and keeps you motivated throughout year 12.

Maddie Manins

Starting tutoring for the first time can feel both exciting and a little nerve-wracking, whether you’re a student hoping to boost your grades or a parent wanting to see your child gain confidence. The first month of tutoring is all about building foundations, not just academically, but also in communication, trust, and learning habits.

Week 1: Getting to Know Each Other

The first session usually focuses on introductions, goal setting, and assessing where the student currently stands. The tutor will take time to understand the student’s strengths, challenges, and preferred learning style. This helps shape a tailored plan moving forward.

Weeks 2–3: Building Routines and Confidence

As lessons continue, a routine starts to form. The student becomes more comfortable asking questions, and the tutor begins to identify key focus areas. Expect lessons to include targeted practice, mini-assessments, and discussion about progress. Confidence often begins to grow here as students realise that difficult topics can be broken down and mastered step by step.

Week 4: Seeing the First Signs of Progress

By the end of the first month, you’ll likely notice changes, not always dramatic test score jumps yet, but subtle improvements: more focus, less frustration, and stronger understanding. Students often feel more organised and motivated.

Tutoring is a process, and the first month lays the groundwork for lasting results. The key is consistency, attending sessions regularly, completing any assigned practice, and keeping communication open with the tutor. With time, effort, and teamwork, those early foundations become real academic growth and confidence.

Isabella Mackay

Today, I had the privilege of observing Katherine tutor Year 10 Maths.

Katherine began her lesson by checking in with her student to see how they went with their recent Maths exam. Katherine immediately decided to focus on the topics that presented a challenge to her students and began by looking at questions that focused on the difference of two squares. Clear step-by-step processes were undertaken by Katherine to enhance the student’s understanding of the topic, and she was also very encouraging and patient with her student. I admire the way Katherine addresses the students’ mistakes, where she makes the students feel comfortable to share their thoughts and validates their thought process before addressing the mistakes in a light-hearted manner. Katherine also focused on probability and took care to explain the concepts thoroughly before setting her student independent worksheets to complete. Despite her student saying they had an understanding of some of the concepts, Katherine took the time to make sure he had practised them to receive further confirmation and validation that they could progress to challenging and more intense questions.

Overall, it was great to see the student be so comfortable with Katherine and enjoy the lesson. Well done!

Marina Nouris

Beginning year 12 is an exciting achievement, it’s the foundation to properly begin thinking about your future and careers, improve on your preliminary marks, set goals and make lasting school memories with your cohort and friends. But it’s also the year where you sit your HSC exams, a concept that you would have heard about since starting school! Which can be a nerve-wracking thought/experience to many students. That’s why it’s very important to begin preparing for this journey from day one! By setting yourself up from now it will reduce most of the stress that will come later in the year, and it will also build strong habits that can be carried into Uni and future careers!

Some tips to help you achieve your success will be going in with a clear and fresh mindset setting realistic goals. Year 12 is a marathon not a sprint, so its highly important to pace yourself and set achievable goals to work towards throughout the year. you can do this by asking yourself early in the year what you want to achieve? are you aiming for a certain atar? or improve your marks in a certain subject? by setting realistic goals it will allow you to focus and set clear expectations that you want to achieve.

Another tip is organisation, in year 12 organisation is key! create a study routine that fits into your life and commitments, but make sure you keep it as realistic as possible. Write down assigmment due dates, or exam blocks and set some time for weekly revision. Also keep your notes tidy ( in line with the syllabus) and up to date from week one it will save you so much time and be a huge stress relief before your Half yearly, trials and HSC.

Also dont forget to balance and wellbeing matter just as much as academics. Priotise your sleep, exercise, hobbies, and seeing friends and family. A healthy routine throughout the year keeps your mind sharp and prevents burnout.

Daniella

With so much technology consistently available to us, it is difficult to avoid the need to pick up our phone, check messages, scroll Instagram or TikTok. This is especially when we are faced with more difficult tasks like our homework or study. Scrolling seems so much easier. But the reality is, it isn’t. It is delaying your work and making it harder for you further down the track. So here are some tips I’ve found to help me stop procrastinating that I think you will find useful too.

The first one is to just start. Which sounds obvious, but sometimes it isn’t. If you are feeling really unmotivated just start, set a timer for 5-10 minutes and tell yourself you will only work up until the timer goes off. Chances are you will continue to want to work as you have now already started. Secondly, break your work into bite-sized and manageable pieces. Write a to-do list with all the small tasks you are required to complete for a bigger project. This makes the project or task feel mentally more manageable and it is a lot more motivating to do a small task rather than a whole assignment. Thirdly, remove the distractions. There are many apps available such as forest app, which allow you to lock yourself out of your apps. If you leave the app, you lose something, such as a virtual tree that grows, or in some apps a money incentive. Finally, reward yourself. After you complete a larger task, assignment, or study session, give yourself a small reward such as a coffee or treat. This is called positive reinforcement and increases the likelihood you will continue to study as you have an incentive.

Procrastinating doesn’t mean you are lazy. Sometimes when you are exhausted it feels so much easier. But remember it will make it harder for you down the track. So next time you feel like picking up your phone, try some of these tips.

Isabella Mackay

If a person were to list their expectations of being a tutor, saying ‘increasing a child’s confidence’ would not be one. I think this is an aspect of tutoring which is not discussed enough. Whilst our jobs are primarily to educate, education cannot come without confidence, and a belief that a child is even smart enough to learn.

There’s something truly special about being part of a child’s learning journey. While I can understand that there is a curriculum which needs to be followed and tests which need to be studied for, the most valuable tool a tutor can give to a child is the belief that they can learn. They can study for a test, or complete an assignment, or answer difficult questions.

Education isn’t just about academics. It’s about shaping character, building confidence, and sparking curiosity. When we encourage kids to ask questions, think creatively, and explore their ideas, we’re giving them tools they’ll use for life. And honestly, there’s nothing more rewarding than seeing a shy child grow into someone who believes in themselves.

Of course, it’s not always easy. There are days when patience runs thin and progress feels slow. Sometimes you can see the potential so clearly in a student, but they are unable to see it themselves – which can often be the most frustrating part. But over time, it is almost inevitable that progress will happen.

At the end of the day, teaching is about planting seeds in a garden you might never see grow. But even if you don’t see the growth, the journey was meaningful all the same.

Maya Weizman

I was able to observe Hugo’s year 8 maths session today ! What really stood out to me was his way of explaining the question in a way his student could understand. From the very beginning, when his student showed confusion, he was able to rephrase the question or break it up into smaller steps she was able to do. Rather than simply providing the answer, he guided the student through the reasoning process, asking questions that encouraged critical thinking and independent problem-solving. I also appreciated the way he was able to do this without sounding strict or intimidating. He was able to explain the steps to her in a friendly way, still maintaining banter while doing so. It was obvious to me how much she seemed to enjoy the sessions with him ! His patient and friendly demeanour helped maintain a supportive learning environment and encouraged the student to stay engaged and ask questions without hesitation or without feeling embarrassed.

Another strength I noticed was Hugo’s ability to identify where the student’s misunderstanding stemmed from. Instead of moving on quickly, he paused to address these gaps directly, reinforcing the foundational skills needed for the topic. His flexibility was evident as he was quick to adjust his methods depending on how the student responded or what resonated with her.

Overall, Hugo’s teaching style was interactive, student-focused, and built understanding rather than memorisation. It was clear that the student walked away happy and much more confident with the topic !

Annaliese Lakis

Today I observed Dimitra tutoring a Year 6 student. The session focused on revising Geography, particularly mapping skills such as interpreting map symbols, understanding scale, and using grid references. Throughout the lesson, Dimitra maintained a calm, patient, and engaging teaching style that fostered a positive learning environment. She began the session by encouraging the student to recall prior knowledge from previous lessons, using questioning techniques to activate background understanding and make connections to new content.

Dimitra guided the student through a series of Geography worksheets, carefully explaining each concept and providing clear, step-by-step demonstrations where necessary. She incorporated visual examples, such as maps and diagrams, to make abstract ideas more concrete and relatable. Her explanations were well-paced and tailored to the student’s level of understanding, allowing the student time to process information and ask questions.

To reinforce learning, Dimitra provided targeted practice questions and offered constructive feedback, prompting the student to reflect on their reasoning and correct any misconceptions. She checked for comprehension regularly by asking the student to explain their thought process, which encouraged active participation and deeper understanding.

The student appeared engaged, confident, and motivated throughout the session, responding positively to Dimitra’s supportive and encouraging approach. By the end of the lesson, the student demonstrated improved accuracy and confidence in applying mapping skills independently. Overall, Dimitra’s effective use of scaffolding, visual aids, and positive reinforcement contributed to a productive and enjoyable learning experience.

Nicole Stamatelatos

Economics is one of the most dynamic and constantly evolving subjects in the world. Unlike static disciplines that rely on fixed laws, economics changes with every shift in society, technology, and politics. What makes it so fascinating is that it reflects human behaviour and yet humans are never predictable.

From global financial crises to the rise of digital currencies, each new event reshapes the way we understand supply, demand, and decision-making. Economists are continually developing new models to explain how people respond to incentives, how markets adapt, and how policies can create growth or inequality. This constant movement keeps economics both challenging and engaging to study.

Students of economics aren’t just learning formulas or theories, they’re learning how to think critically about real-world problems. Every chart, statistic, and policy has a story behind it, revealing how individuals and nations make choices that affect millions.

Because the economy never stands still, neither does economics. It is a living, breathing discipline that evolves with the world around it and that’s what makes it endlessly interesting to explore, question, and understand.

Nabil Harrar