Principal Reflections

Dear Parents and Carers,

As we approach the end of the term, we celebrate the progress our students have made. This growth is supported by our deliberate and consistent approach to teaching and learning at St Edward’s, where we use targeted assessments to inform practice. These assessments are regularly discussed in our Professional Learning Team (PLT) meetings and include standardised measures as part of our whole-school assessment schedule.

Assessments such as NAPLAN and PM Benchmark reading provide valuable insights into your child’s learning. They help teachers identify strengths, areas for growth, and next steps in learning. NAPLAN assesses literacy and numeracy across Years 3, 5, 7 and 9, while PM Benchmark assessments provide detailed information about students’ reading development.

This information is used purposefully by teachers to adjust instruction, plan targeted learning experiences, and provide appropriate support or extension. It also enables us, as a school, to identify trends, monitor progress, and ensure our teaching remains responsive to student needs.

At St Edward’s, we view assessment as a tool for improvement. Through ongoing data analysis, we can implement targeted interventions and continue striving for the best possible outcomes for every student. Our Education Assistants do awesome work in this space.

We congratulate our Year 3 and Year 5 students and staff on their efforts in completing this year’s NAPLAN assessments. We look forward to sharing the results next term and continuing our work to support every child in achieving their personal best.

Should you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the school. We are always happy to assist.

Young Leaders Day

Our Student Leaders recently attended Young Leaders Day in Sydney, an inspiring experience focused on leadership, service, and making a positive impact. Mrs Gippel accompanied the leaders and sent me a wonderful text after the event, saying how proud she was to be there with them all. I was very proud to receive this and thank this wonderful team of leaders for the positive manner in which they represented our school. I look forward to catching up with these students and hearing all about their experience. Special thanks to the wonderful group of parents who also attended the day.

Until next week,

Keep smiling,

Alison Hatton