DIRECTOR OF LEARNING & TEACHING
COMMENCEMENT OF THE NEW ACADEMIC YEAR
The beginning of the academic year has witnessed a bustling array of activities. The Year 8 students are settling into their new campus, while the Year 7 students underwent an induction program to experience a warm welcome to their inaugural year as members of our St Joseph’s College community. Accelerating Year 10 and Year 11 students got their first taste of VCE. Simultaneously, our Year 12 cohort embarked on their final year academic journey at the college.
An initial survey was conducted on the first day to gauge the experience of our Year 7 students. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with students expressing a sense of welcome and enjoyment during their first days. The highlight for many was the thrilling 'amazing race'. Common sentiments included appreciation for 'supportive teachers', a general 'feeling of welcome', and the sheer 'enjoyment' of the activities. We have also actively sought suggestions for further enhancement, ensuring the ongoing refinement of the program for future years.
If parents have any feedback, please email this through to me to be considered when planning occurs for 2025.
ALTERATIONS TO YEAR 9 EXAMINATIONS
Owing to recent changes in scheduling, timetabling, and the division of subjects between Years 9 and 10, there will be a departure from the traditional full-week format for Year 9 Exams. Instead, Year 9 students will now undergo a condensed examination period comprising only one day during the final week. Year 9 students will only have English and Maths examinations.
This modification is aimed at maintaining the beneficial practice that exams offer to students while also giving an extra four days of teaching at the end of each semester. Meanwhile, Year 10 and 11 students will continue to follow the standard exam week schedule, ensuring continuity in the examination process for those cohorts.
YEARS 7 AND 9 NAPLAN
The NAPLAN online assessments are scheduled to take place from Wednesday 13 March to Friday 15 March, with a catch-up session scheduled during the following week for students who may have missed a session.
It is important to emphasise that NAPLAN is designed to inform teaching practices and government policies, rather than serving as a tool to judge individual students. The assessments cover various aspects, including writing, reading, conventions of language (spelling, grammar, and punctuation), and numeracy. The results aim to provide valuable insights for students, parents/carers, teachers, and principals, contributing to the enhancement of student achievement.
Students are advised to bring fully charged laptops and headphones to each session. To familiarize themselves with the test format, students can visit https://nap.edu.au/naplan/public-demonstration-site.
For students with Personalised Learning Plans, adjustments for NAPLAN can be arranged, and Mrs Melanie Saleta will be in touch with families to discuss possible accommodations.
Parents or carers have the option to withdraw their child from NAPLAN after consultation with the Principal or Principal’s delegate. If this decision is made, a signed student withdrawal form is required, available by sending me an email.
Later in the year, parents will receive their child’s personal NAPLAN report, detailing specific skills in reading, writing, language conventions, and numeracy. This information is anticipated to be valuable in assessing your child's progress in literacy and numeracy.
Additional information can be found on the VCAA website.
Mr Emmet Brown
Director of Learning & Teaching