From the Deputy Principal - Head of Junior School

From Mr Coppin

Communicating with Parents and Carers - Semester 1, 2024 Reports

Our Kindergarten to Year 6 teachers are busy at present preparing student progress reports. 

 

We anticipate reports will be distributed via email on the penultimate school day of Semester 1 (Wednesday 26 June, 2024). You may also access past Academic Reports via Edumate. Please see the steps on how to access your daughter’s past reports at this link. Please note: to access reports via Edumate, please log in using a tablet or laptop.

 

Preparation students will also receive a Learning Portfolio at the end of this term. Please check your daughter’s Sundial Learning Moments.

 

I have thoroughly enjoyed reading your daughters’ reports over these past two weekends. These reports truly highlight the multifaceted nature of each Kambala student.

In reviewing the reports, I was reminded that the New South Wales Curriculum is structured in stages, with each learning stage spanning two years:

  • Early Stage 1: Preparation and Kindergarten
  • Stage 1: Year 1 and Year 2
  • Stage 2: Year 3 and Year 4
  • Stage 3: Year 5 and Year 6
  • Stage 4: Year 7 and Year 8

As students progress to a new learning stage, they encounter a fresh set of learning outcomes and have two years to master these. It is common for grades to initially stagnate or slightly decline during this transition. For example, a student who earned an A in English at the end of Year 2 might receive a B at the beginning of Year 3, and a student with a B in Mathematics at the end of Year 4 might initially receive a C in Year 5 due to the increased rigor of the new stage’s curriculum.

 

Please be reassured that students have two years to thoroughly understand and excel in the teaching and learning outcomes of their new stage, and they typically become stronger as they progress.

 

In Kindergarten, the first formal year of learning in the New South Wales Curriculum, A-E grades are not awarded due to the individualized pace of learning. The NSW Educational Standards Authority (NESA) advises that A-E grading should commence from Year 1.

At Kambala, we are committed to realizing each student's academic potential and are proud of the comprehensive nature of our reports. However, it is important to remember that our view of the students is multifaceted and extends far beyond words on a page.

KITE (Kambala Institute of Teaching Excellence)

We are excited that we have three Junior School Educators who will be attend Project Zero Classroom on campus at Harvard University in 2024.  In Week 9 of Term 2, Ms Kate Moore our Deputy Head of Junior School will be attending, as will Ms Kathryn Della-Valle and Ms Tanya Badin.  These educators have shown great commitment to building a culture of thinking at Kambala having completed the online study module course Building Capability Through Critical and Creative Thinking.

 

We look forward to hearing from Ms Moore, Ms Badin and Ms Della-Valle when they return for the commencement of Term 3.

 

ICAS Assessments 

Kambala is pleased to offer our students in Years 3-6 the opportunity to participate in the ICAS Assessments, which will take place in Term 3. This year, our students can nominate to sit the English, Science and/or Mathematics assessments. The assessments are designed to target students’ higher-order thinking and problem-solving skills. 

 

The dates for each competition are as follows:

 

English - Monday 12 August 2024  

Science- Monday 19 August 2024 

Mathematics- Monday 26 August 2024 

 

If you would like your daughter to enter any or all of these ICAS competitions, please submit the online form via the link below. Please note this is optional and the girls will be taken out of class to participate in this competition.

 

Each assessment celebrates students’ accomplishments by providing opportunities for recognition and development. All students receive a certificate and an individual student report with their score and achievement level. 

 

Please consider carefully before choosing this enrichment opportunity for your daughter. It is a rigorous competition with many questions set beyond grade level. Participants are required to demonstrate a deeper, integrated and thorough level of learning. Please note that most schools only enter their most capable students, so the averages are very high.

 

More information about the assessments can be found at ICAS Assessments: Home

Please submit this Online form as soon as possible so that entries into the competition can be finalised. Please submit one form per sibling. The closing date for notifying your daughter’s participation is Friday 26 July 2024 (end of Week 1, Term 3).

NOTE TO YEAR 6 PARENTS - Year 6 Production - The Little Mermaid - Afternoon arrangements Thursday 20 June, 2024

Please note - there will be NO Extra Curricular activities for Year 6 girls this Thursday 20 June prior to the Evening Performance of THE LITTLE MERMAID. 

 

**Girls will have an early Pizza dinner on Tivoli Lawn at 3.20pm and will then prepare for the evening performance - they will not be going home from school in the afternoon.

 

PLEASE ALSO NOTE - all Year 6 students are permitted to wear their sport uniform from Monday 17 until Thursday 20 June, 2024 (inclusive) to make rehearsals easier. 

Year 3 Term 3 Saturday Sport Registration

Please click here to access all the information in regards to the Year 3 Saturday Sports offer for Term 3.

The girls will have the opportunity to play in a Minkey Hockey (modified 6 a side hockey game) competition held at Ascham on Saturday mornings.

 

Please note that the final day for registrations is Friday 21 June. The Google Registration form can be found at the bottom of the letter.

 

PLEASE SEE THE NEXT PAGE FOR SAVE THE DATE & EVENTS COMING UP IN TERM 3