Deputy Principal's Report

Term 1

As the busy term comes to an end I would like to congratulate all our students for their wonderful participation in their learning. Lots of extensive and thought provoking assignments and tasks have been completed.

Year 7 have been busy and proactive becoming important members of the Henry Kendall High School community.

They have been working hard developing their writing skills using the fundamentals of the Seven Steps to Writing Success.They have been working on "Sizzling Starts" so that they can write with confidence, using lots of descriptive writing techniques. In Global Awareness they have been studying land forms and the environment and doing lots of experiments in Science learning how to use bunsen burners.

Some of our students have commented:

“I really love my new school”

“I have made lots of new friends and have been able to focus in class”

“Henry Kendall is a really good environment to be in”

NAPLAN

In May, Years 7 and 9 will be completing the NAPLAN tests:

The National Assessment Program –

Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is an annual assessment for students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9. It has been an everyday part of the school calendar since 2008.

NAPLAN tests the sorts of skills that are essential for every child to progress through school and life, such as reading, writing, spelling and numeracy. The assessments are undertaken nationwide, every year, in the second full week in May. At Henry Kendall High School we will be participating in the nationwide testing on the following days:

• Language conventions (spelling, grammar and punctuation)- Tuesday 15 May
• Writing- Tuesday 14 May
• Reading- Wednesday 15 May
• Numeracy- Thursday 16 May
• Catch-Up Test Day Friday 17 May

NAPLAN tests skills in literacy and numeracy that are developed over time through the school curriculum.

Information letters have been distributed to all students and all parents and caregivers can contact the school with any further enquires.

The NAPLAN results will provide important information to schools about what each student can do, and will be used to support teaching and learning programs. Parents will receive a report indicating their child’s level of achievement.

A wonderful group of Year 9 students have been working with the Literacy Team on the Student Voice Program. The program has been  focusing on effective teaching strategies to build confidence in writing. The group were filmed working through lessons using different teaching strategies and completed surveys and group discussions on their personal learning plans. Evidence from the day will be used to create a  Professional Learning Course to help inform our Teaching Practices at Henry Kendall High School.

A big thanks to our participating students.

Minimum Standard

Year 10 will be completing their first round of Minimum Standards testing in Week 2 of next term.

MINIMUM STANDARD

REFORM 1: Establish a minimum standard of literacy and numeracy for the award of the HSC .

• Students will be given a number of opportunities from Year 10 to Year 12 to demonstrate they have met the standard.
• Students who fall short of the standard by the end of Year 12 will receive the Record of School Achievement (RoSA) and have five years after leaving school to pass an online NESA literacy and numeracy test to receive an HSC.
• This reform will allow schools to work with parents to identify as early as possible students at risk of not meeting the minimum standard at the end of Year 10. It will identify students who require intervention and support to reach an appropriate standard to help them succeed in life after secondary school.

All Year 10 will participate in the online Minimum Standards Tests, Week 2 Term 2.  Students will be given an opportunity to experience the online platform during Maths and English lessons Weeks 9 and 10.

On the listed day of the individual tests, each student will have an assigned lesson to come to the library to complete their test.

Enjoy a happy and safe holiday!

Mrs Natalie Wearne

Deputy Principal - Years 7, 9 and 11