Learning and Teaching News

NAPLAN

NAPLAN Readiness Testing for Year 7 and Year 9 Students

This Tuesday and Wednesday, Year 7 and Year 9 students will participate in the NAPLAN Readiness Testing.

Details for Year 9 NAPLAN Readiness Testing:

• Date: Tuesday 17 February, 2026
• Location: Draney Theatre and then allocated classrooms

• Time: Periods 1-3

   

Details for Year 7 NAPLAN Readiness Testing:

• Date: Wednesday 18 February, 2026
• Location: Draney Theatre and then allocated classrooms

• Time: Periods 1-3

   

What students need to bring:

• A fully charged laptop
• Wired headphones/earphones
• Pen

• Water bottle

   

The purpose of the practice test is to familiarise students with the online testing experience ahead of the NAPLAN tests in March. These sessions will also assist schools with technical readiness checks, so no results will be recorded.

All students will participate in the session. At the end of Period 3, students will return to their regular timetable classes.

For further information about NAPLAN, please refer to the email sent to you this week, which included an information brochure. Additionally, the public demonstration site is an excellent resource for both students and parents, offering more practice tests to help students continue familiarising themselves with the platform. Click on the link to access the Public Demonstration site: NAPLAN Public Demonstration Site

We appreciate your support in ensuring students come prepared with the necessary items.

Scholars Assembly

Assembly on Wednesday of last week saw our annual Scholars Assembly where we recognised our Year 11 Optimus Award winners and welcomed back our high ATAR-achieving Old Boys from 2025. We thank our 2025 College Dux, Max Gallagher, for delivering an inspiring address to the school.

Year 11 Optimus Awards

As part of the Scholars assembly, we congratulate the following recipients of Optimus Awards for their results in Year 11 Unit 2 of 2025:

Bronze Optimus Awards 

Hugh Ambrose, Tyson Baker, William Banner, Joshua Bellett, Oliver Bishop, Lucas Dempsey, Toby Doolan, Oliver Eaton, Tobias Forbes, Hayden Gane, James Garden, Finlay Gardiner, James Johnston, Alexander Keane, Daniel Londema, Lyndon Maynard, Jack McCormick, Isaac McDonnell, Max McGuinness, Bryn Morgan, Joseph Murphy, Lachlan Nisbett, Archie Powell, Henry Robinson, Archie Searle, Jackson Skinner, Willem Starrenburg, Caden Tucker, George Watson

Silver Optimus Awards

Eli Briza, Llewellyn Carrigan, William Davis, Adrian Garbellini, Sebastian Martinuzzi, Cooper Matthews, Connor Parsons, Heath Parsons, Arjun Punj, Jack Webster, Harry Zappert

Gold Optimus Awards

Aiden Agnew, Ethan Barbaro, Fletcher Carlson, Tyson Cooper, James Dee, Thomas Farrell, Harper Frazier, Luke Garvey, Alessander Javier, Cade Kelly, William Lambley, Toby McCormack, Ryan Mullin, Jack Purcell, Matthew Stower, Daniel Thirgood, Isaac Ting, Ewan Wood

Student Monitoring Week 

Mentoring weeks begin in Week 4 with a focus on students developing a clear and precise academic goal for Term 1, 2026. Students will be engaging with their subject results, overall GPA and their learning processes.

These weeks provide an opportunity for conversations between students and teachers, and it is important for boys to identify their goals, the processes that need to be changed and a timeline of implementation. Some key guiding questions will be:

• What is my goal? 
• What is my current habit that may limit me from reaching this goal?
• What habits need to change for me to achieve this goal?
• What is my timeline for achievement ?

Assessment Schedules  

Assessment schedules will be released this week. Please remember that assessments that have “EXAM” in the name are placed during exam block. The exact timing of that assessment will be released with the exam block schedule, however, please know that it will fall sometime during Week 9.

Boys will be able to locate the schedule in the Orbit app and Student Café on the portal under “Exam and Assessment Schedule Information”. Your son is encouraged to download this schedule and transfer assessment dates to his College Diary and any home planners.

Old Boys Tutoring List

Please find here a list of Old Boys who are available to tutor your son outside of school hours. This list can also be located on the parent portal or via this link. Please note it is the parent’s responsibility to organise and liaise tutoring times with the Old Boys.

Marist Subject Support 

Marist Subject support tutoring is off and running. 

Tutoring is offered by Old Boys and takes place in the Primary Library and I109 from 7:30am to 8:30am and also 3:30pm to 4:30pm Tuesday to Thursday each week.

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