Getting ready for a whole new level of Awesomeness and Attractiveness in 2014!

As we transition into vertical form classes, or 'mentor groups', I'm really looking forward to the challenges and opportunities ahead.

There is so much that I want to cover with my mentor group. Here's a small sample:

• Setting Goals: short-term (having a successful year), long-term (graduating college and gaining entrance to the next step), life (world travel, buying a home, marriage)... without them, it's a bit pointless
• Financial literacy: this could save you MILLION$... literally!
• Meta-cognition: Learning HOW we learn - meta-cognition unlocks the doors to lifelong learning 
• Critical thinking: Questioning whether what you are reading/viewing/learning is valid or not, if the evidence supports the message, and how it all fits into your current understanding
• Study skills: how to prepare for, and pass, exams
• Self-management: keeping yourself organised and prepared to face the challenges of the day/week/term/year
• The 3Rs: Respect (consideration for the feelings, wishes and rights of others); Resourcefulness (being able to act in a challenging situation by drawing on a wide range of resources); and Resilience (developing the capacity to recover quickly from setbacks and difficulties)

I don't know how we're going to fit that all into the 20 hours per year we have available (plus whatever our Glorious House Leader (Mrs. Wish) has in mind for the programme), but we're going to give it a darn good try!

Allocated hours for MBR Mentor Programme per year group over your time at college:

• Year 9 - 100 hours
• Year 10 - 80 hours
• Year 11 - 60 hours
• Year 12 - 40 hours
• Year 13 - 20 hours

Watch this space, but I believe the following structure may work:

• All year levels: Setting Goals, Self-management, Critical Thinking, Meta-cognition, and The 3Rs
• Years 10 - 13: Study Skills
• Years 11 - 13: Financial literacy