Teaching and Learning

NAPLAN Online

Week 3 was exceptionally busy with Year 7 and 9 students completing NAPLAN online. I was very impressed with the way students applied themselves and their preparedness and organisation was fantastic. Very simply, we asked the students to do their best work.

Exams

Some Half-Yearly Examinations are scheduled in the College Hall during Week 6; others will be conducted in class. Students will be given a timetable during Mentor Group this week. We continue to encourage students to give their best effort in all assessments. Again, making sure students are demonstrating their real ability on the day is very important. Teachers spend time analysing results and making adjustments, so it is important that we are looking at the true ‘snapshot’ of a student at that moment in time.

Please make sure your child attends all examinations with the correct equipment and that they follow the instructions on their published timetable. These will be distributed via Mentor Groups this week. Copies will also be available on the College website. It is very important that all students who have genuinely unavoidable absence follow the procedures outlined below and include the required documentation.

Exam procedures for students include:

· Please be prepared with appropriate equipment needed for each exam: paper, pens, pencils, eraser, ruler, tissues and any other specific items as notified by your teacher.

· Mobile phones devices and smart watches are not to be brought into the Hall – leave them in your bag which will be locked in the foyer.

· If you wear a watch into the Hall, it must be removed from your wrist and placed on the desk in full view.

· If you bring in a pencil case or clear water bottle, it must be placed on the floor.

· Go to the toilet before an exam.

Appropriate behaviour is expected:

· Follow teacher instructions.

· Do not speak to other students.

· Sit quietly when you have finished the exam, you are not allowed to leave early.

· Respect other students’ right to complete their exam without disturbance.

If students are unwell, a phone call to the College or email to rmaxworthy@arm.catholic.edu.au from their parent is required before the start of the examination and a medical certificate MUST be presented on their return. The medical certificate must be attached to a blue ‘Application for Extension of or Special Consideration for an Assessment Task'. These are available from the office. Please forward this completed application to Mrs Maxworthy by handing it into the office staff.

Year 10 Minimum Standards

Some Year 10 students will be sitting the Minimum Standards later this term. Students will be emailed with their days and times. Further information about these online tests can be found in this link:

http://educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/wps/portal/nesa/11-12/hsc/hsc-minimum-standard/online-tests

Mrs Raelene Maxworthy - Teaching and Learning Coordinator

2018 Australian Geography Competition

Senior Geography students took part in the 24th annual Australian Geography Competition this week. Over 70,000 students from around Australia entered the competition, which is a joint initiative of the Australian Geography Teachers' Association and the Royal Geographical Society of Queensland. The competition gives teachers an opportunity to highlight Geography in their schools and challenge their students.

Mrs Sharon Stuart - Geography Teacher

'STOLEN' Performance Reminder

Subjects: Drama (Years 9-12), English (Year 10), ATSI students (Years 9-12)

Please ensure your child/children have returned their signed permission form for this important event. Payment can be made through Qkr!, credit card (details on the permission note) or by cash.

Stolen (referring to the Stolen Generation) is ultimately a play about love and loss, resilience and hope. The play is a thoughtful and moving reminder of our past and our present; its themes resonate in various subject syllabuses.

Ms Felicity Sawtell

Mrs Raelene Maxworthy

Teaching and Learning Coordinator