Principal Reflections
From the Principals - Alison & Pete
Semester Two Reporting
As we move into the last couple of weeks of the school year, teachers are busily working on assessments and feedback on each of our students. Some of this is provided in the form of the Semester Two written reports. These are provided to parents, but in reality they are an important means of communicating progress in student learning to all involved.
So how are these reports developed? Or more importantly why?
Ultimately the reports are the result of assessments carried out by teachers. Not necessarily the typical pencil and paper tests that are historically used at the end of a unit of learning to measure the acquisition of specific knowledge (assessment OF learning), but an ongoing and involved composite of measures teachers deploy to assess FOR learning.
In other words, the assessments carried out and the reports subsequently generated have been about providing ongoing, formative and informative data to support students as they learn. Typical examples of the tools and strategies that provide such support include (but are not limited to):
- Ongoing observations recorded through anecdotal notes;
- Student-teacher one to one interviews;
- Listening to group and paired talk sessions taking notes of concepts grasped and misconceptions;
- Teacher questioning and probing to ascertain student understanding;
- Ongoing effective and corrective feedback in line with pre-set criteria (verbal and written);
- Peer and self assessment in relation to pre-set criteria;
- Formalised rubrics with step by step success criteria; and
- Practical tasks, projects and presentations.
At St Edward's, our assessments identify what students know, understand, feel and help us to cater for different stages in the learning process. The purpose being to provide every learner with the right amount and type of timely feedback so each student can become a continuous independent learner. Students play an integral part in the learning process and from an early age are encouraged to comment, reflect and respond to their learning.
Children only get one go at being a child and in receiving an education. It is therefore up to each one of us (parents and teachers) to make sure that it will be the best education we can provide. It is this partnership between home and school that will support your child academic success.
We urge you to discuss with your child the Report Card uploaded to Compass, looking at the areas they did well in and the areas that they can put a little more effort in to next year. There is always room for improvement, but there is also a real need to give praise and recognition when and where it is due!
Moving Up Day
On Wednesday next week the students will go to their class groups for next year (“Moving Up Day”). This is an opportunity to meet with their ‘new’ teacher and spend some time with their ‘new’ classmates. We look forward to seeing the excitement on their faces as their learn some exciting news for 2024.
Finally, we are looking forward to seeing you all and celebrating our wonderful year next Tuesday at our presentation evening.
Peace & Best Wishes
Keep smiling,
Alison Hatton and Pete Flynn