Dear Parents and Guardians,
As we begin our mid-term exam season, I want to reflect on the academic, pedagogical, and emotional benefits of the exam process, and the opportunities for student growth this process fosters.
Exam review enhances knowledge retention and memory. The process of reviewing and actively retrieving information strengthens neural pathways which make it easier to retrieve that information in the future. It also allows the information to transfer from long-term to short-term memory. exam review also encourages students to organize and synthesize information more coherently and see links between different topics and themes.
As we all know, life is not always smooth sailing. Living the exam process allows our students to build emotional and academic resilience necessary for confronting future challenges with greater confidence. The increased pressure of multiple exams builds mental and physical stamina and teaches our students how to navigate more intense periods of stress. Success on exams requires students to maintain consistent effort toward long-term academic goals. Students build grit and learn the benefits of sustained effort. They build their stamina. Further, the increased stress of this period teaches students to navigate challenging situations and come out stronger at the end of the exam period. The exam period gives students the opportunity to develop enhanced self-regulation, and executive functioning skills. Additionally, successful completion of the exam period will build students’ confidence and ability to navigate future challenges that she will undoubtedly face throughout college and beyond.
You can support your daughter in many ways. Help her establish a study routine in a quiet, well-lit place that is free of distractions. If possible, reduce household chores temporarily. Insist she prioritizes sleep and discourages cramming. Sleep is critical for memory consolidation and cognitive function. Be sure she is eating healthy meals and staying hydrated.
At Holy Names, we recognize exam review week and exam week are stressful, but the exam process provides critical opportunities for growth and development in addition to assessing students’ mastery of the skills and knowledge they accrue over the course of the semester.
– Principal Margaret Taranto