Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Update

Assistant Principal Update

Assistant Principal Curriculum and Reporting: Kara Dunstan

Learning Specialist Curriculum (Years 7 - 10): Alison Dowler

End of Term 4 Newsletter Update: Curriculum at Western Port Secondary College

As 2024 draws to a close, we would like to take this opportunity to celebrate the many achievements of our students across Years 7-12 and share some key updates from the curriculum space. Term 4 has been a busy and productive time, with students displaying academic growth and the completion of important milestones such as final summative assessments and reporting.

Tracking Growth Through PAT and DIBELS Data

This year, we have continued to utilise PAT (Progressive Achievement Tests) and DIBLES (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills) testing to analyse, monitor and support student progress.

• PAT Reading: PAT Reading aims to measure the essential skill of reading comprehension. The assessments require students to utilise a variety of processes in a range of contexts as reflected by different written texts on an online platform.

• DIBELS: DIBELS is a series of short tests designed to evaluate key literacy skills among students in kindergarten through 8th grade, such as phonemic awareness, alphabetic principle, accuracy, fluency, and comprehension.

Below is a snapshot of our fantastic Year 7 data which shows excellent growth for both PAT reading and DIBELS (Word Count Per Minute) from Semester 1 to Semester 2.

Year 7-10 Maths Competition

This term, we were thrilled to host the annual Western Port Secondary College Maths Competition for students in Years 7-10. The competition showcased the exceptional problem-solving and critical-thinking skills of our students, with participants tackling challenging mathematical problems across a range of topics.

Congratulations to all students who took part in the competition. A special mention to the following students who placed in their year levels:

Year 7:

1. Noah Doll

2. Milla Kerber

3. Summer Farrell

Year 8:

1. Ruby Blake

2. Chaz Harrison

3. Ivy Rooney

Year 9:

1. Izzy Price

2. Lenny Graham

3. Jamie Cummaudo

Year 10:

1. Kayne Fakira

2. Liam Ricard

3. Harry Mirabella

Grand Final placings:

1. Lenny Graham

2. Harry Mirabella

3. Milla Kerber

End-of-Semester Reports: Reflecting on Progress

Students and families have now received their End-of-Semester Reports, providing a comprehensive overview of academic progress throughout the semester. These reports are an important opportunity for students to reflect on their achievements, growth, and areas for further development.

We encourage families to discuss these reports together, celebrating successes and setting goals for the year ahead.

Looking Ahead to 2025

As we wrap up another successful year, we are already planning for an improved 2025. Some key curriculum initiatives include:

• Expanding our focus on data-driven instruction, with enhanced use of PAT and DIBELS results to improve teaching and learning strategies.

• Refining formative and summative assessments, including providing targeted and rich feedback to all students.

• Strengthening our assessment and reporting processes to provide even more actionable feedback for students and families.

On behalf of the Curriculum Leadership Team, we would like to thank all our staff, students, and families for their hard work and support throughout 2024. Together, we have achieved so much, and we are excited to see what we can accomplish next year.

Curriculum Team