Curriculum- Teaching and Learning 

If you wish to hear more about curriculum, teaching and learning across our school, please contact: 

Melinda Rowe

Assistant Principal - Curriculum and Pedagogy

m: 0467 290 948

melinda.rowe@education.vic.gov.au

School Wide Teaching and Learning

In each edition of our school newsletter, we share with our community an insight into the curriculum being taught within our classrooms. This reflects our school's strong focus upon continuous improvement. 

Each edition covers a different area of the curriculum, and is supported by our school-wide approaches to teaching and learning. 

The National Assessment Program - Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) for Years Three and Five were held in March 2026.

NAPLAN tests assess student knowledge and skills in writing, reading, conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy.

NAPLAN tests were delivered in an online format (with the exception of Year Three writing), that adapted to correct and incorrect student responses providing a more precise understanding of student achievement.

Later in the year, parents/carers of students in Year Three and Year Five will receive their child's personal NAPLAN report. This report will describe your child's particular skills in reading, writing, conventions of language and numeracy.

Please keep the hard copy of this report safe as it is sometimes needed for applications to Secondary School.

For more information about the tests, please visit the VCAA website at www.vcaa.vic.edu.au or the NAP website at: www.nap.edu.au

If you have any questions regarding NAPLAN, please make contact with your child's classroom teacher or myself.

We are delighted to inform you that Upwey South Primary School will be participating in the world-renowned ICAS AssessmentsTM this year. ICAS is designed to target students’ higher-order thinking and problem-solving skills in English, Mathematics, Science, Writing, Spelling Bee and Digital Technologies. Each assessment celebrates students’ accomplishments by providing opportunities for recognition and development. 

Every student will receive a printed certificate and an online results report. Top performers will be eligible for medals and are invited to attend special award ceremonies to have their academic excellence publicly recognised. We encourage you to consider entering your child into ICAS this year. 

The assessments are suitable for students wishing to extend themselves academically and take up the personal challenge of competing in an international assessment, that has been running for over 40 years. Your child will be presented with high-quality, expert-developed questions, allowing them to apply their learning without the need for prior study or revision.

Please note that these assessments are only available for students in Year Three to Six and will take place throughout specified dates in August as listed in the attached.

Important information: The tests can only be conducted within the week that they are allocated. 

These assessments are conducted on laptops, so it is beneficial if your child is familiar with a touch pad and keyboard.

If you wish for your child to participate, please select the appropriate test/s for your child/children and make payment via the parent payment by the closing date of Monday 20th July 2026

Please sign up and pay at: https://shop.icasassessments.com/pages/parent-payment/HPJ629

School code: HPJ629

Our Student Agency Electives are an exciting opportunity for students to shape their own learning experience. Running on select Fridays during Session 6, these school-based activities are designed around student voice and choice. Students submit their elective preferences, helping us create engaging options that reflect their interests, strengths, and passions. The first round of electives runs across Term Two and part of Term Three, while the second round continues through part of Term Three and into Term Four. This structure allows students to explore new skills, collaborate with different peers, and take ownership of their learning in a supportive and engaging environment.

Please ensure that your child/children have filled out their choices in order. Students are generally placed in one of their first five choices depending on popularity of electives. Students will find out which elective they are placed in within the first three weeks of Term Two.

To view the selection of current electives, please refer to the attachment below: