Maximising learning growth to ensure all students can thrive.

STUDENT FREE DAY

On Monday July 15, our school held a Student Free Day, dedicating this time to professional learning for our staff. This day was crucial for advancing our school's Strategic Plan and enhancing the skills and knowledge of our staff. The day was structured around several key areas of professional learning:

Strategic Plan: We shared the progress we have been making on our Strategic Plan, aligning our efforts with our long-term goals and vision for the future.

Solo Taxonomy: Staff delved into Solo Taxonomy, extending their understanding of how this framework can be applied to Developmental Assessment and Learning Pathways to scaffold learning for students in student friendly language whilst extending the complexity of learning.

Developmental Assessment: Teaching staff spent time working on their Curriculum Maps and Learning Pathways, using Solo Taxonomy to better assess and support the individual progress of each student.

Independent Reading: Staff explored best practices for promoting and implementing our Independent Reading Program, fostering enjoyment for reading and improving literacy skills across Year 7-10.

Berry Street Education Model: Staff engaged in a refresher session on the Berry Street Education Model providing insights into trauma-informed teaching practices, focusing on improving student engagement and wellbeing.

The professional learning undertaken on this day was integral to our continuous improvement and commitment to delivering high-quality education. By investing in our teachers' professional growth, we ensure that our students receive the best possible support and guidance in their learning.

AIP MID-YEAR MONITORING

We have recently completed our Mid-Year Monitoring of our Annual Implementation Plan (AIP). In going through this process, it is clear that we are making significant progress towards the goals that we have set out in our AIP and Strategic Plan. Over the previous six months, we have developed and implemented a range of strategies to maximise the learning growth of students and to support their wellbeing. The attached graphic highlights some of these strategies. Whilst we do not anticipate seeing the results of this plan immediately, we are confident that our success indicators and measures will continue to improve over the coming years.

NAPLAN

School Results

The 2024 NAPLAN results have recently been released and I am pleased to say that Lilydale Heights College continues to record positive results. Before I go into the details of our results, it is important to point out that the measures for reporting student achievement on NAPLAN are based on proficiency levels – exceeding, strong, developing, needs additional support. When making comparisons to ‘Similar Schools’ (Similar Schools are a group of schools who have similar characteristics to our school) and to ‘Network Schools’ (Network Schools are the other secondary schools in Lilydale) the data that is used for comparison is the percentage of students that achieved in the ‘exceeding’ and ‘strong’ proficiency levels. I am pleased to share that:

Year 7 Students

Reading - Achieved higher results than both our Similar schools and our Network schools
Writing - Achieved higher results than both our Similar schools and our Network schools
Spelling – Achieved higher results than similar schools and the same as Network schools
Numeracy - Achieved higher results than similar schools and just below our Network schools
Grammar & Punctuation - Achieved higher results than similar schools and the same as Network schools

It is important to note that the results for our Year 7 students come from the efforts of their Primary Schools. NAPLAN is completed very early in the year and it assesses the learning that has taken place in Primary School. Congratulations to our Year 7 students and their Primary Schools for these great results.

Year 9 Students

Whilst the Year 7 results are based on the students Primary School learning, our Year 9 student results are a direct measure of the teaching and learning that has taken place at Lilydale Heights College. I am pleased to say, that we are making remarkable progress!! In some areas, we are 11% higher than other schools which is amazing.

Reading - Achieved higher results than both our Similar schools and our Network schools
Writing - Achieved higher results than Network schools and the same as similar schools
Spelling – Achieved higher results than both our Similar schools and our Network schools
Numeracy - Achieved higher results than both our Similar schools and our Network schools
Grammar & Punctuation - Achieved higher results than both our Similar schools and our Network schools

Whilst NAPLAN is a point in time assessment and does not measure all the amazing skills, knowledge and talents that our students have, these results are an incredible achievement and something that our whole community should be proud of.

YEAR 10 CENTRAL AUSTRALIA

At the end of Term 2, 43 of our Year 10 students, accompanied by five dedicated staff members, embarked on an unforgettable 12-day expedition through Central Australia. The journey was packed with enriching experiences, cultural insights, and breathtaking landscapes. Make sure that you take a moment to read the article on the Central Australia Tour in this newsletter to learn all about the amazing experiences this group of students had. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the staff members who accompanied the students, ensuring they had a great time and enhancing their learning experience. A special thank you to Dani Gentile and Anne Wilkins for organising and leading this experience for our Year 10 students. This expedition was truly a testament to the Values of our school community—Excellence, Respect, and Responsibility. I am sure that our students have made lifelong memories on this trip.

COURSE INFORMATION EVENING

As we reach the midpoint of 2024, our focus is already shifting towards planning for 2025. Recently, we hosted our Middle & Senior School Course Information Night to inform students and families about the course selection process. The evening featured a ‘Subject Expo,’ offering a detailed exploration of the subjects and pathways available. We were thrilled by the impressive turnout, with many families attending to support their children in making informed decisions. In the coming weeks, students will begin selecting their subject preferences for 2025 and participating in course counselling sessions to guide their pathway choices. Our Curriculum Handbooks provide comprehensive information on subjects for each year level. Copies of the online handbook can be found via the below links:

Year 9 Curriculum Handbook 2025

Year 10 Curriculum Handbook 2025

Senior School Curriculum Handbook 2025

Should students or their families have any questions regarding the subject selection process, pathways, or course counselling, we encourage you to reach out to the below staff members at the College.

Emma Steeper – Learning Leader Senior School (Y11 & Y12)

Daniella Gentile - Learning Leader Year 10

Ashlea Gell – Learning Leader Year 9

Justin Turner – Leader of Teaching and Learning

I extend my gratitude to all the staff who contributed to the Middle & Senior School Course Information Evening. Their expertise and dedication were invaluable in helping students and families navigate their options for 2025.

MATILDA JR.

Our College Production of Matilda Jr is fast approaching. Our talented students have been working tirelessly to bring this beloved story to life with outstanding performances, great sets, and some catchy musical numbers. I have been privileged to get a sneak peak at this production and you certainly don’t want to miss this. We invite all families to join us for an unforgettable evening of entertainment and support for our young performers. Tickets are now on sale, and we encourage you to secure your seats early, as this is sure to be a popular event. Don't miss out on the magic and excitement of Matilda Jr.—we look forward to seeing you there!

Tickets: https://www.trybooking.com/CTFBT

Shane Kruger - Principal.

Music

Michael Martin