ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS’ REPORT

Mrs Julie Andrews, Mr Paul Dawson &

Mr Bradley Headlam

Assistant Principals

Performance averages and Progress Reports

Parents/Carers please check your child’s Progress Report that are to be released on Monday. It is important that you discuss these results with your child and please feel free to contact your child’s teacher if  you require further feedback on their progress and how they can improve. Performance Averages below 2.5 place the student on a Year Level Coordinators “at risk” list.  These students will be closely monitored by the Student Management Team. Scores that are consistently below 2.0 may see the student repeat the Year in 2020.

End of Semester Exams are coming!

All students will be participating in various exams towards the end of this term. This is a great opportunity for students to extend themselves in maintaining their understanding of what they have learnt. In recent years it has been noticed that students have started study routines to prepare to revise weeks out from the exams. This is excellent, however, a regular routine of going over notes and key terms, revising and practising skills are going to reduce the need for last minute cramming. If your children are saying there is no homework (email the teacher - there probably is!), remind them of the exams as revision can always be done!

SEAL Program Testing

Last Saturday, 11 May, saw the testing for the 2020 SEAL program.  This year the school had the most applications in all of the years of running the program.  The student’s results were exceptional which indicates another outstanding SEAL class for 2020.  We would like to thank John Mullins, James Cowan-Clark and Tonia Tigani who gave up their Saturday to conduct this testing.

Careers and pathways planning Year 9

In recent years we have been building on our pathways programs at each year level where appropriate. This year, Year 9 students will participate in a far more extensive program that sees them further reflecting on their abilities, interests whilst starting to shape their future pathways. The careers team, in association with the Middle School staff, will begin this process in the students’ core classes. They will take them through an online survey that will give them an understanding of their potential pathways and is meant to be referred to and refined in future years in successive careers programs at NGSC. Not only will our careers staff educate the students into the lead up to the survey, there will be a professional interview to take the students through their survey results in order to best inform them of their pathway choices.  Information on the survey will be sent home prior to this process. The program for Year 9 will culminate in their completion of their Career Action Plan which parents can also observe via Compass or on the end of year reports. 

NAPLAN

The NAPLAN testing for 2019 was conducted this week. The students impressed their teachers with their dedication and concentration while completing the four tests. The results for these tests will be available later in the year. 

Thank you to all staff who supervised the tests, and a special thank you to Ms Tigani who assisted with the preparation for the tests and the administration tasks. 

One aspect of student organisation was highlighted this week during the tests.  There were many students who lacked the necessary classroom materials and it is concerning that these students are trying to manage their learning without the basics; pencils, eraser, pencil sharpener and calculator. The items on the booklist have been selected by teachers as essential to support learning. Not only should these items be purchased at the beginning of the school year but regularly topped up throughout the year. All students are expected to be organised for their classes with their student planner, iPad or laptop, pencil case, writing books and novels/textbooks. A student’s learning is not as productive if they have to borrow equipment and materials regularly in class. Being organised for class and bringing the correct equipment features in the NGSC Progress Reports and in the general classroom rules. 

Year 7 Immunisations

Last week the Year 7 students had their first round of immunisations for this year. If your child was away on the day you can visit the Barwon Health clinics for the immunisations. A table of locations and times is included in this newsletter. If you are unsure about the immunisation schedule you can ask at a clinic or visit the “immunehero” website.