.... from the Principal

It is amazing how time flies, this week I’ve found myself beginning to reflect on my time at Cheltenham, especially as my time as Acting Principal draws to a close.

I continue to be impressed with the college, the community and our message that every student is important. We believe in providing genuine opportunities for our students to develop essential knowledge, skills, attitudes and values that enable them to be informed members of our communities, able to make the right decisions about their future endeavours. This involves the need to work collaboratively, to reinforce community expectations, while recognising the importance of individuality.

As educators, our simple goal (or wish) is to support the growth of the whole person, helping them to explore the rich opportunities for their future, to encourage and support their personal desires for life beyond Cheltenham and to ensure they have the right mind-set and skills to tackle life’s challenges.

We recognise that all students have the right to an environment which contributes to students’ feeling connected to the school and their schooling. An environment conducive to enhancing their learning, and the importance of providing an array of opportunities to challenge the individual.

At Cheltenham our vision encompasses a sense of belonging for the whole community.

A vision, which recognises the similarities between students, while embracing the diversity of the individual. A vision that reflects the values and expectations of the community while continuing to explore opportunity for improvement in educational outcomes and standards. 

As a community member I’m proud of the college, as a Principal I’m proud of the community that we belong to.

2018 NAPLAN TESTS

Next week our Years 7 & 9 students will complete The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) tests. Testing will be held on Tuesday 15th, Wednesday 16th and Thursday 17th May.  The NAPLAN tests assess student knowledge and skills in Writing, Reading, Language Conventions (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and Numeracy.

The results of the tests provide diagnostic information for students, parents, teachers and principals which can be used to improve student achievement.

Later in the year, you will receive your child's personal report. This report will describe your child's particular skills in reading, writing, language conventions and numeracy.  The report will also show how your child has performed in relation to national benchmark standards for students. These benchmarks describe the minimum acceptable standards for students across Australia.

We are confident that the information you will receive as a result of your child's participation in the NAPLAN tests will be valuable in helping you to assess their progress in Literacy and Numeracy.

For more information about the tests, please visit the VCAA website at: www.vcaa.vic.edu.au or the NAPLAN website at www.nap.edu.au .

Kind regards

Karl Russell

Acting Principal