HSC Begins

THERE are 158 students in the Upper Hunter who begin their Higher School Certificate exams today.

St Joseph’s High School in Aberdeen has a total of 79 students sitting the exams this year and principal John Tobin said the students are prepared and excited.

“They are all eager and excited to be commencing the HSC,” said Mr Tobin.

“The teachers have prepared the students well and we wish them all the best,” he said.

At Scone High School there are 49 students doing the HSC and principal Lindy Hunt said preparation was the key to coping with nerves.

“Teachers and kids have been working hard with extra classes over the holidays to make sure the kids feel confident going into the exams,” said Ms Hunt.

“We wish them the very best of luck,” she said.

There are 30 students at Scone Grammar school who are sitting the HSC and principal Paul Smart said the first exam is typically the most stressful.

“The bulk of the students are fairly relaxed and comfortable this morning, but there are a few that are a bit anxious and stressed,” Mr Smart said.

“This first exam is often the most stressful, even though they have done the trials leading up to it, but they soon settle into the routine of the exams,” he said.

“Being prepared is very important but the other thing as I told them this morning is these exams don’t define who they are and so they really need to have a picture of themselves as a person and understand who they are and then have the exams as part of keeping your options open moving forward,” Paul Smart said.

The last exams are on November 4.