Curriculum

Years 7 and 9 NAPLAN:                                             Tuesday 11 May - Thursday 13 May 2021

I have written previously in the Especean, as has Dr Lavorato, about this year’s NAPLAN, and with two weeks to go, I remind parents and their sons to visit the NAPLAN website at https://www.nap.edu.au/ to access the sample test items, past tests and associated marking criteria and marking guides. Parents and carers would also find the following link to a brochure on NAPLAN informative NAPLAN on paper – information for parents and carers.

On each of the three scheduled days for NAPLAN, students are to leave their bags in their lockers before morning Homeroom and take with them only what is required for the NAPLAN tests, i.e., a pencil, eraser and a pencil sharpener, in a transparent plastic sleeve, and a calculator only for the Numeracy test on the Thursday. Normal examination rules and expectations are to be followed for the tests, i.e., no talking, no pencil cases, no mobile phones, no ‘smart’ technology, no borrowing, no food or drink, except for water in a clear transparent bottle with the label removed.

The NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) has advised that the genre for the 2021 writing test will not be disclosed prior to the test period. In 2021, as in previous years, the writing test will be a single common task for all students. Students will be required to respond to either a narrative or a persuasive prompt. Therefore, boys from Years 7 and 9 should practise and familiarise themselves with both the persuasive and narrative styles of writing. To understand more about the writing test, please visit the NAPLAN site at: https://www.nap.edu.au/naplan/writing.

Parents and students of Years 7 and 9 are reminded that in the event of absenteeism due to illness or misadventure during the NAPLAN test period, they must contact their relevant Year Coordinator on the morning of their test - Mrs Warsop for Year 7 or Mr Herro for Year 9. Where possible, the College may arrange for individual students who are absent at the time of testing to complete missed tests at an alternative time during the testing week. Upon the student’s return to school, a medical certificate for the illness or misadventure must be given to their relevant Year Coordinator.

Michael Cutrupi 

Director of Curriculum

Year 9 Italian Cannoli Day

During Week 8 of Term 1, the two Year 9 Italian elective classes put their knowledge to the test in a practical lesson that was fun for everyone. We had recently been learning about food and everything revolving around it, in our first topic of the year. So, it was only fitting that we wrapped up the term by using the skills we had learnt to buy a cannolo from our teachers. 

On the day, everything in the classroom was set up just like a typical Italian pasticceria, with tables to sit at and enjoy the treat with our classmates. We used what we had learnt in the term to have a conversation with our teachers to buy our cannoli. We started with a basic ‘buongiorno’ or ‘ciao’ and after we asked for the type of cannolo we wanted e.g. (Prendo un cannolo alla vaniglia or Prendo un cannolo al cioccolato). We were able to devour the traditional Italian sweet with our peers. 

Overall, all the boys thoroughly enjoyed the lesson which could not have been possible without the help of Signora Valente, Signorina Cristanelli and Signora Mascolo whom we thank enormously for continually putting in the effort to make each of our lessons enjoyable for everyone. 

Grazie Mille!

Daniel De Pasquale and Joshua McKeown 

Year 9 Italian