Assistant Principal Update

Attendance – Every Day Counts

Research indicates that while there is no entirely safe level of absenteeism, maintaining an attendance rate of 95% or higher is beneficial for students. This equates to missing no more than 10 days per year. At Cheltenham Primary School, we are pleased to report that the majority of our students are on track to meet this target.

We understand that illness or necessary appointments may occasionally prevent attendance. In such cases, it's important for parents or caregivers to account for these absences. You can do so through:

1. A link provided in an SMS message sent to you.
2. A phone call from your child's classroom teacher (for absences lasting two consecutive days).
3. A letter mailed to you, which should be returned to the school.

If you require assistance with any of these methods, including access to Compass, please contact the School Office.

Reports and Parent-Teacher Interviews

This week, along with Bronwyn and Judy, I have been reviewing student reports. We hope these reports serve as a comprehensive summary of the semester and facilitate discussions about past and future learning. As the term concludes, it's a time for our entire school community to reflect on the 20 weeks of learning and celebrate the remarkable growth highlighted in the reports. This progress is a result of the dedication of our teachers, the motivation of our students, and the support of our parents.

As mentioned last week, Parent-Teacher Interviews opened for bookings last Wednesday. Please schedule your appointment via Compass or contact your child's teacher if the available times are unsuitable. If you've already had a meeting in Term 2, there's no need to book another.

Changes to Mathematics Reporting for 2025 

• New format: Students will now receive one overall Mathematics score, based on a holistic teacher judgment across the entire level, rather than separate scores for specific content descriptors.
• Implication: It will not be possible to show progress visually on the report (represented as a dotted line) as the assessment in 2024 was spread across 3 content strands, causing a break in the time series.
• Why the change? The VCAA has adopted this model to reflect that student learning often doesn't align neatly with individual content strands and to encourage more integrated teaching across topics

ICAS Testing – Term 3

ICAS testing is scheduled for select Year 4, 5, and 6 students in Term 3. These online assessments will be conducted at school. Specific dates in August will be communicated in due course. ICAS tests are rigorous academic assessments designed to recognize student performance in a manner akin to sports or the arts. Crafted by psychometricians, education measurement experts, and experienced teachers, the questions aim to evaluate students' higher-order thinking skills. Classroom teachers have nominated students to participate, and registration invitations were sent to parents earlier this term.

If you have any questions or need further information on any of these items, please don't hesitate to reach out.

Dan