Middle School

Our swimming sports was an excellent day of competition around the pool with all boys contributing to the success of their individual Houses. Despite what looked like a bleak day in the early morning the clouds parted, and a very hot day ensued. What a wonderful chance once again to see our Middle School boys enjoying themselves with their fellow classmates. It's times like this that boys need to understand the importance of attending the day as days like this will most likely never come their way again as they transition into the workforce. 

March 12 to March 19 our Year 9 boys will be involved in The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN), an annual national assessment for all students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9. All students in these year levels are expected to participate in tests in reading, writing, language conventions (spelling, grammar, and punctuation) and numeracy. 

NAPLAN tests assess student knowledge and skills in numeracy, reading, writing, spelling, punctuation, and grammar. The results of the tests provide information for students, parents, teachers, and principals about student achievement which can be used to inform teaching and learning programs. 

NAPLAN is the measure through which governments, education authorities, schools, teachers, and parents can determine whether or not young Australians have the literacy and numeracy skills that provide the critical foundation for other learning and for their productive and rewarding participation in the community. The tests provide parents and schools with an understanding of how individual students are performing at the time of the tests. They also provide schools, states and territories with information about how education programs are working, and which areas need to be prioritised for improvement. 

NAPLAN tests are one aspect of each school’s assessment and reporting process, and do not replace the extensive, ongoing assessments made by teachers about each student’s performance. NAPLAN tests the important skills that are essential for every child to progress through school and life, such as reading, writing, spelling, grammar, and numeracy. The content of each test is informed by the Australian Curriculum. The Literacy tests are based on content in the English learning area, and the numeracy tests draw content from the mathematics learning area. 

To finish off this term the Year 10 students will begin the first of a three-part experience of their Tomorrow Man incursions. As we are rapidly approaching the conclusion of Term 1 we also begin in earnest to prepare for upcoming events in Term 2 for the Middle School including; the Year 9 Dancing Program and Social with Loreto College, the Year 9 Retreat, the Year 10 Tomorrow Man experiences two and three, Retreat and One Night of Homelessness and finally to finish off the term the Melbourne Experience with the Year 9’s. 

So much is ahead for the Middle School!