Learning & Teaching

Assessment and Testing

Over the coming weeks, students will participate in a range of assessment and testing tasks across the school. These assessments provide valuable information for teachers and help us celebrate student growth, identify next learning steps and plan for ongoing teaching and learning.

Teachers use a variety of assessment tools, classroom tasks and observations to build a clear understanding of each student’s progress and achievement throughout the semester.

Semester One Reports

As we approach the end of Semester One, teachers are currently finalising student reports. Reports provide families with a snapshot of your child’s learning, progress and achievements across the semester.

For our Prep families, this will be the first formal school report your child receives. Reports are designed to communicate how students are progressing against the Victorian Curriculum, as well as highlight individual strengths, achievements and future learning goals.

Teachers use a range of evidence when preparing reports, including classroom observations, student work samples, assessments and ongoing learning tasks completed throughout the semester.

Reports will be made available to families, via our nForma Portal, later this term. 

More information to follow.

We encourage parents and carers to take the time to celebrate your child’s growth and learning journey with them.

Years 3 - 6 ICAS 2026

It is not too late to sign up for ICAS this year. ICAS is an online academic competition that is designed to assess students’ higher order thinking and problem-solving skills.

Each assessment celebrates students’ accomplishments by providing opportunities for recognition and development. We encourage you to consider entering your child into ICAS this year. 

Holy Spirit has signed up for both the English and Mathematics ICAS Assessments in 2026. These tests will be completed at school, during school hours, and are not compulsory to complete. You may enter your child in one or both of the English and Mathematics ICAS Assessments. Students must be in Years 3 - 6 to have the opportunity to sit these assessments. 

Testing Date period  

• English: 10 - 14 August 
• Mathematics: 24 – 28 August 

Actual dates for each test will be finalised closer to the date and around our school calendar and events. 

Our school has signed up for the ICAS Assessments Parent Payment System (PPS) for (English & Mathematics). Through this system parents can pay for ICAS directly online while tests will still be held at our school. 

Please use the following details to register your child/children by no later than Monday 27th July. Each test will cost $21.95 (inc. GST) per child per test. Payment is required at the time of registration.

Please note that unfortunately late payments for assessments are not available. The school cannot extend this time or sign students up later as the enrolment process is completed through the ICAS Parent Payment System website. 

To sign up

Our parent page link is: https://shop.icasassessments.com/pages/parent-payment/ARU821 

Our school access code is:  ARU821

Click on ‘Enter’

Follow the steps to register your child/children in one or both of the English & Mathematics assessments. Finalise enrolment, payment and save. The information of enrolment will then be sent to the school. Please ensure that your child’s information is accurate and current as this is what you will see on the final certificate and report documentation. 

A permission slip will be sent home to all families that enrol their child/children into an English and/or Mathematics ICAS Assessment closer to the assessment date.

We are proud to offer the ICAS Assessments, and look forward to celebrating some fantastic results later in the year.

Victorian Parliament’s annual Parliament Prize

The Victorian Parliament’s annual Parliament Prize Competition is back for 2026!

Students are invited to create and submit a 90-second Member’s Statement video answering the question:

“What would you say to Parliament if you were an MP?”

This is a fantastic opportunity for students to engage with democracy, public speaking and civic participation in a creative and meaningful way.

The competition is open to:

• Grades 5 and 6
• Years 7 to 9
• Years 10 to 12

There are prizes available for both students and schools.

Entries close at 5:00pm on Friday 12 June 2026.

Further information, terms and conditions, and promotional material can be found via the Victorian Parliament website.

Key Dates for Learning & Teaching for May

• Long Walk at Aquinas - 1st June
• Year 3 incursion - 2nd June
• Prep incursion - 2nd June
• Prep incursion - 15th June

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Have a fabulous fortnight!

Kayla Flindt-Petersen

Learning & Teaching Leader