From the Assistant Principal's Desk

PUBLIC SPEAKING

During term 1 Year 5 and Year 6 students completed a unit about public speaking as part of the English Curriculum. Students prepared speeches and presented these to their peers. This term, students in Year 5 & Year 6 who are interested in competing in the Sydney Catholic Schools Public Speaking Competition will be presenting their speeches on Wednesday 15 May to Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6 students at St Aidan's. 

After these speeches are presented the two finalists will be chosen, one from Year 5 and one from Year 6, to represent St Aidan's in the semi finals at the SCS Competition on Thursday 30 May. We wish the students the best of luck!

PEER SUPPORT

This term, students will be participating in Peer Support Lessons each Monday. This is a great opportunity for students to build relationships with students from across the school. The content in the lessons will focus on developing the knowledge, understanding and skills important for building respectful relationships, enhancing personal strengths and exploring personal identity to promote the health, safety and wellbeing of themselves and others. The students will learn about recognising what makes them unique, exploring different emotions, anti-bullying, positive forms of communication, resilience, working as a team and positive growth mindset.

2024 AUSTRALIAN EARLY DEVELOPMENT CENSUS

The Australian Early Development Census (AEDC) is a national data collection of early childhood development at the time children commence their first year of full-time school. The data collected will cover the following domains:

• physical health and wellbeing
• social competence
• emotional maturity
• language and cognitive skills (school based)
• communication skills and general knowledge

Since 2009, communities, schools and governments across Australia have used results from the AEDC to help provide the right kind of services, resources and support for children and families.

Teachers of children in their first year of full-time school will complete online training prior to completing the Australian version of the Early Development Instrument (AvEDI) for children in their class. Data collection will take place from May 2024 and school results will be available from late 2024. Individual children are not identifiable in the results.

Teachers complete the Australian version of the Early Development Instrument (similar to a questionnaire) using a secure data entry system. The Instrument is completed based on the teacher’s knowledge and observations of the children in their class. Children are not required to be present while teachers complete the Instrument.

To find out more about the AEDC and how schools and communities are using the data to help children and families, visit www.aedc.gov.au. Please notify the school if you wish to opt-out of this census.

ICAS ASSESSMENTS - TERM 3

Students in Years 2-6 have the opportunity to showcase and celebrate their talents in the world-renowned ICAS competition this year.

What is ICAS?  

ICAS is an online academic competition that gives students the opportunity to challenge their higher order thinking and problem-solving skills in English, Mathematics, Science, Writing, Spelling Bee, and Digital Technologies.

To learn more about this year’s exciting ICAS competition, visit: icasassessments.com/products-icas/ 

How to participate in ICAS  

If you wish for your child to participate in ICAS this year, please follow the instructions in the image below to order and pay for your child’s ICAS tests online.

1. To enter your child, visit https://shop.icasassessments.com/pages/pps
2. Enter the school’s unique access code: EXN492
3. Add your child’s details.
4. Choose the assessments you wish for your child to participate in and make a direct payment. 
5. You will receive a confirmation email.
6. All assessments will be conducted online, at school. You will be notified of the dates that the ICAS assessments will be completed and when the results are ready.

Warm regards,

Fenna Di Maggio