Learning & Teaching News
NAPLAN Testing Begins
This week our Year 7 and Year 9 students began their NAPLAN assessments. As many families would have seen reported across the country, there were some early technical hiccups with the online system on the first day. This was not unique to our school and was experienced by many schools across Australia as the testing platform was under significant demand.
Despite this slightly bumpy start, our students approached the assessments calmly, and testing has since continued smoothly. NAPLAN provides one snapshot of student progress in literacy and numeracy and, alongside our own school-based assessment data, helps teachers understand how students are developing in key skills such as reading, writing and numeracy.
We thank students for the respectful and focused way they approached the testing sessions.
Celebrating Women in STEM
On Friday, fifteen Year 9 students from our Clyde North campus attended the STEM Futures International Women’s Day event held at Casey Tech.
The morning included a Q&A panel with women currently working and studying in STEM fields, a keynote address from Dr Lisa Dethridge, and hands-on opportunities for students to trial emerging technologies and collaborate with peers to solve practical challenges.
Events like this are a wonderful way for students to see the wide range of pathways available in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, while hearing directly from women who are leading the way in these fields. It was an inspiring experience for our students and a great opportunity to connect classroom learning with real-world applications.
Student Learning Conferences - 30th April
Our Student Learning Conferences will take place on Wednesday 30 April from 11.30am to 8.00pm.
These conferences are an important opportunity for students, families and teachers to come together and discuss learning progress, strengths and next steps. At St Peter’s College, we believe that strong partnerships between home and school play a vital role in helping students grow and succeed.
This year the conferences will be delivered in a hybrid format, allowing families to choose the option that works best for them:
Online meetings via Microsoft Teams, or
In-person meetings at your child’s respective campus.
Further information about booking times will be shared shortly. We encourage families to take the opportunity to connect with teachers and celebrate the progress students are making across the year.
As always, thank you for your continued support of our students and the learning journey we share together.
The Four Stages of a Lesson
This year, we have introduced a shared structure for lessons across the College to help students engage more deeply with their learning.
Many lessons now follow four clear stages: an introduction to the learning focus, teacher modelling of new ideas or skills, guided or independent practice, and a short reflection to consolidate understanding. This structure helps students move from seeing a concept demonstrated to applying it themselves with confidence.
When students know what to expect in a lesson, they are better able to focus on the learning itself. A clear and consistent structure also helps teachers provide timely feedback and support as students practise new skills.
You may hear students refer to these stages at home as they reflect on their learning.
Mrs Jade Smith
Deputy Principal - Learning & Teaching