Teaching & Learning

Welcome back to school for another term. We have an exciting term of learning ahead of us.

NAPLAN Results

Families should have received their child’s NAPLAN results this week. We are incredibly proud of the efforts and achievements of our Year 3 and Year 5 students in completing these national assessments. 

It is important to remember that these assessments only assess a small set of skills and can never give a complete picture of all the qualities that make each student special, unique and talented. Yes, NAPLAN does assess essential skills needed along our learning journey, but there are many other attributes and skills that a test can never measure - empathy, kindness, determination, courage, artistic ability, problem-solving skills when unexpected things happen, creativity, thoughtfulness and resilience - to name a few. 

While students' NAPLAN results reflect their achievement on a particular test, in a specific day, they are just one piece of the puzzle. Teachers use various tests, work samples, observations, evidence, and data when making conclusions about student progress. We never rely solely on the results of one test. 

Don't hesitate to contact Declan or me if you have any questions about your child's NAPLAN results or need assistance understanding how to interpret them.

Inquiry

This term, our students will embark on an exciting journey to explore our world, with each class focusing on the fascinating learning area of geography. 

P/1 students will focus on a unit titled 'Let's Explore Our World.' They will learn about the diversity of the world's seven continents, discover how maps help us understand our world, and develop simple mapping skills such as locating features or landmarks on a map. 

The 2/3 unit, 'World Rivers,'  will support students in developing mapping skills as they learn about the critical role rivers have in our world. They are an essential water supply and food source, provide irrigation for agriculture and farming, and even create a natural boundary between countries, states, and cities.  

Through the unit 'Using Maps and World Mountains,' 4/5/6 students will develop more sophisticated mapping and geography skills, such as scales, grids, and compass points, as well as more abstract devices, such as parallels of latitude and meridians of longitude, time zones, and the international dateline. They will also learn about the influence of world mountains and mountain ranges on the weather and the lives and activities of animals and humans.

Have a fabulous week,

Danielle