Teaching and Learning

Year 7 Maths Bootcamp – Improving Maths outcomes for all students!

The start of year 7 Maths looks a little different this year. Welcome to MATHS BOOTCAMP – an intensive four-week program focussed on strengthening numeracy skills – where all students engage in activities to prepare them for the jump to secondary school Maths curriculum. At ECSC, we believe every student can demonstrate growth in Maths, and this program has been designed to set every student up to succeed, by providing the fundamental skills they need to find enjoyment and success in their Mathematics journey.

Over the course of four weeks, students have been strengthening their skills in the areas of:

times tables
addition and subtraction
mental tricks to improve speed and accuracy in arithmetic
decimals
factors and multiples.

Improving these particular skills gives our students a solid foundation to build on throughout their secondary school years. We especially encourage all students to ensure that they have a very strong knowledge of their multiplication (times tables) facts. Our teachers have also identified that some students already have a strong foundation in these areas and are using this time to develop their problem-solving and mathematical reasoning skills. At the end of each week, all students are testing themselves on their skills using a “Numeracy Ninjas” worksheet and reflecting on their growth.

Please continue to encourage numeracy practice at home, whether through times tables games, taking opportunities for mental arithmetic in daily life, reading clocks and calculating the difference between time zones etc. The more fluent these fundamental skills are, the more mental space students will have for the new concepts they will learn throughout their high school Mathematics journey.

Erin Simpson

Learning Specialist - Numeracy

PAT Testing Scores - Compass Learning Tasks

If your child is in year 7, their Literacy and Numeracy Progressive Achievement Test (PAT) results will soon be published to you on Compass via the Learning Task tab. We have analysed your child’s PAT data and put them into the categories shown below based on their percentile score.

If your child scored below the 40th percentile in their PAT testing, they fall under the Needs Additional Support category and will be offered support via a range of different interventions, depending on their needs.
If your child scored between the 40th to 60th percentile in their PAT testing, they are in the Working Towards category and teachers will be working with your child to support them in the class by modifying work and/or instructions to support them to complete work at their level.
If your child scored in the 61st to 85th percentile in their PAT testing, they are considered to be At Level. Their teachers will continue to support them to challenge their learning.
If your child scored above the 85th percentile in their PAT testing, they are placed in the Exceeding category. Their teachers will work with your child to offer them opportunities for extension work.

We hope that providing you with this data will help to give you more insight into your child’s Literacy and Numeracy skills and abilities. You will have the opportunity to discuss this in more detail with your child’s teachers at our Student Led Conferences, and if you have any further questions or concerns, please feel free to contact the school.

Tanele Spiteri

Leading Teacher - DI, Curriculum and Coaching

and Erin Simpson

Learning Specialist - Numeracy

Year 7 SEAL and Year 8 High Ability Program

The start of the school year has been an exciting and positive time for our Year 7 SEAL and Year 8 High Ability Program (HAP) students. Over the past five weeks, students have been settling into their new classes, building friendships, and embracing the challenges and opportunities that come with being part of these programs.

It has been wonderful to see students demonstrating curiosity, enthusiasm, and a willingness to extend themselves in their learning. They have approached new routines, teachers, and subjects with maturity and resilience, and are already showing the strong thinking skills and positive learning habits that are central to the SEAL and High Ability Programs.

A key focus this term has been ensuring students feel supported as they transition into the school community. Students have been developing their confidence, learning to manage the increased independence of secondary school, and beginning to explore their potential both inside and outside the classroom.

Starting secondary school is an exciting milestone, and our Year 7 SEAL students have made a wonderful start. I recently had the opportunity to speak with Gabriel, who shared his thoughts on his first few weeks, his favourite subjects, and what he is enjoying most about being part of the SEAL program so far.

Here is what Gabriel had to say:

Student Spotlight: Meet Gabriel (Year 7 SEAL)

Favourite subject: Maths

Favourite food: Chicken

Favourite book/ book series: Manga

Favourite hobby: Sports - Basketball

Dream job: Professional Basketball Player or Architect

One word to describe SEAL so far: Challenging

How have your first few weeks of high school been?

My first few weeks of secondary school have been going great! I am learning new things, being challenged and being pushed to grow in my learning and thinking.

What were you most excited about when starting high school?

I was most excited for new opportunities. I really enjoy playing sports, being a student leader and learning new subjects, so I can’t wait to do these things at high school too. I am looking forward to trying new things and continuing to make new friends.

What has surprised you the most about high school?

The thing that has surprised me most about high school is the structure of the day and having five different subjects each day. There are lots of different topics which are interesting and engaging so we are always learning something new in each class.

What has been your favourite moment so far, and why?

My favourite moment so far has been playing sports, especially basketball, with all of my friends outside at recess and lunch. Students from all different classes play together and it is really great making connections with people both inside and outside of my homegroup.

What made you interested in joining the SEAL Program?

I was interested in joining the SEAL Program because I wanted to deepen my knowledge and challenge myself so I could grow as much as possible in my learning.

What has been your favourite subject so far, and why?

My favourite subject so far has been Maths because we are learning deeper Year 8 measurement topics like area, perimeter, and circumference, and there is a lot of problem solving and critical thinking. In primary school, we did more skill-based questions, but now we work together more to solve problems and explain our thinking, not just the answer.

The teachers we have in all subjects are really supportive, and anytime I have a question, they are there to help. I trust their knowledge, and they are very good at explaining the content.

What do you like about being in the SEAL class?

In the SEAL class I enjoy learning in more depth and being challenged in my thinking. I also feel confident sharing my ideas in class discussions and working together with others. Being in the SEAL class has helped me make new friends and build new connections.

What do you enjoy most about learning new things?

I enjoy gaining new knowledge and learning things I didn’t know before, as it keeps me interested and curious. I also like explaining and sharing what I’ve learned with other people.

If you could learn anything in the world, what would it be?

I would like to learn more about the history of the world and the artefacts that still exist today. Humanities is a subject I’m really excited about.

What advice would you give to future Year 7 students starting next year in the SEAL Program?

Try not to worry too much. I was nervous about making new friends and having too much homework, but I’ve learned that I can handle it and that there are lots of people who will help me if I need it. Being organised is really important – keeping on top of your homework and having your books and materials ready for each class makes a big difference.

I am really enjoying being in the SEAL Program. It has been a great experience because I am challenged to achieve my best and learn new things.

NAPLAN

In March, all Year 7 and Year 9 students will sit four NAPLAN tests online: Writing, Reading, Language Conventions and Numeracy. The first test is Writing which is scheduled for Wednesday March 11th. Please see the attached document for the rest of the testing dates and sessions.

Students will soon begin receiving information regarding NAPLAN; including how to download the browser on their device, the materials they need and what to expect. Teachers will also be taking students through some sample prompts and questions to help them feel prepared and comfortable. Please note that at ECSC we do not teach the NAPLAN tests; all students participate in the regular curriculum program in the lead up, and during the testing period. The practice questions and tasks are really to help students feel calm and capable so they can achieve their potential.

To help support your child during NAPLAN week we ask that you:

Remind them to fully charge their device every night as the NAPLAN browser does drain battery quite quickly.
Ensure they are arriving at school and class on time - rushing late into a testing session is never a nice feeling for students!
Take an interest in how they feel they are going, without pressure. NAPLAN is only one measure of your child’s ability - we also look at a range of data over time, and work with them in class, to achieve learning growth.

Students who are absent will have an opportunity to catch up on the test they have missed during the two-week testing period. If you know your child will be absent for one or more tests, please contact the College ahead of time and let us know. We do understand that the NAPLAN dates coincide with many of our students who will be observing Ramadan and are here to support students and families as best we can.

We encourage all students to participate in NAPLAN testing with their cohort and find that it is a largely positive experience here at ECSC. However, if you would like to discuss NAPLAN or have any questions, please contact your child’s Year level leader.

If you are curious about the types of questions your child might encounter, see below and try them for yourself!

Homework Club

Homework Club has kicked off for the year, offering additional support to students as they revise, catch up on missed learning tasks or seek further help to understand key concepts. It has been fantastic to see an increase in students attending our Homework Club each Monday after school, and we encourage all students across years 7 - 12 to take advantage of this opportunity.

Please see the details in the flyer below.