Curriculum & Data

As Term 1 comes to a close, I would like to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of all students in completing their assessment tasks over the past few weeks. It has been a busy period, and I commend their efforts.

I also want to take this opportunity to reiterate our school's policy concerning assessment tasks and student absence due to illness. As previously communicated during the Parent Information evenings, we strongly advise students who are feeling unwell to remain at home and not attend school to sit for assessments. The health and well-being of our students is our priority.

What to do if a student is unwell on the day of an assessment task:

Submission of Hand-in Tasks:

• For any assessment task that is a physical, hand-in submission, it is crucial to note that these tasks must still be submitted on the scheduled due date, even if the student is absent due to illness on that day. The only exception to this requirement is if the task is of a nature that prevents electronic uploading, such as a physical artwork. In such cases, please contact the teacher as soon as possible to discuss alternative arrangements.

• All assessment tasks must be completed and submitted by the specific date and time as indicated on the Assessment notification. Please be aware that for most tasks, the submission deadline is 8:45 am. Any task submitted after this designated time will incur a penalty as outlined below.

Late Submission Penalties (Years 7-9):

The school has a clear policy regarding late submissions, as the timely completion of tasks is essential for effective learning and assessment. For students in Years 7-9, the following penalties will be applied to late submissions:

Late Submission Penalties (Years 10-11):

For students in Years 10-11, the penalties for late submission are as follows:

Please note that Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays are considered as individual days when calculating late penalties.

Important Information Regarding Year 12 Assessments (NESA Regulations):

This year, the New South Wales Education Standards Authority (NESA) has introduced new regulations concerning Year 12 assessments. Any student who does not have medical documentation or another valid reason for missing an assessment task on the scheduled day or for submitting it late will receive a zero mark for that task.

What to do if a Student is Having Trouble Completing a Task on Time:

If a student anticipates difficulty in completing an assessment task by the due date, it is their responsibility to proactively communicate this to their class teacher at least one week before the task is due. They should obtain, print, and complete the Illness/Misadventure/Special Consideration Form, available on the Compass site, and submit it to their class teacher and/or Head of Department. Following a discussion, an extension may be granted if deemed appropriate. Please be aware that students are typically given four weeks' notice regarding assessment tasks, and therefore, extensions will be granted in very limited circumstances.

Learning Through Mistakes

At the heart of education is the understanding that mistakes are not roadblocks, but rather stepping stones to learning. As educators, we embrace the opportunity for students to learn and grow from their errors.

As students mature and encounter more complex challenges, making mistakes becomes an inherent part of their development. These experiences, coupled with an understanding of accountability and consequences, are crucial for their learning journey.

Our role as teachers is not to define students by their missteps, but to guide them in recognizing their capacity for change and new beginnings. By allowing students to make mistakes, we foster the development of essential problem-solving and critical thinking skills, as they learn to analyse what went wrong and seek alternative solutions.

Therefore, let us normalise mistakes and remove any stigma associated with them. It is through these experiences that some of the most valuable learning occurs.

Wishing everyone a restful and joyful Easter.

Trish Smith

Director of Curriculum and Data