ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS' REPORT

PARENT-TEACHER-STUDENT CONFERENCES

Thanks to all parents and students for their attendance at the recent Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences. These valuable conversations make a significant contribution to maximising students’ academic performance.

EFFECTIVE FEEDBACK THROUGH LEARNING TASKS

It is vital that parents access information about their children’s assessment results via Compass Learning Tasks. Once you have logged into Compass, click on ‘View Academic Reports’ (left of the screen) and select the ‘Learning Tasks’ tab. This shows all of your child’s Learning Tasks for the Semester; you can order them according to subjects by clicking on the ‘Group by code’ button at the top.

The due date for each task is shown and you can access more specific feedback (once it’s been completed by the student and marked by the teacher), by clicking on the name of the Learning Task. This will provide you with information relating to the student’s performance, achievement/improvement comments, and the Victorian Curriculum standards (Years 7-10 only) - see the image below for an explanation of the Learning Tasks page.

When looking through your child’s Learning Tasks you may see some variation between subjects’ assessment schedules, which will be completely normal - in some classes, students complete a high volume of smaller assessment tasks (every few weeks), while other subjects have a small number of ‘larger’ assessment tasks (which may be submitted later in the semester). This would explain why teachers’ use of Learning Tasks may appear to be inconsistent. End-of-semester reports will still be published at the end of Terms 2 & 4 and these will be a compilation of all feedback provided on Learning Tasks throughout the semester (which parents will be able to print, if you wish). Finally, please note that when student work is returned in class, it will often include more, explicit feedback from the teacher (in addition to that provided on Learning Tasks).

WINTER UNIFORM

Families are reminded that all students should now be in full winter uniform. School blazers must be worn to and from school. It is also important to note that nail polish and facial piercings are not acceptable at school. Please note the only type of socks boys may wear are grey school socks. Thank you to all families for your continued support of our uniform policy.

NAPLAN TESTING

Year 7 and 9 NAPLAN tests

On Tuesday 15 May, Wednesday 16 May and Thursday 17 May our Year 7 and Year 9 students will be undertaking the NAPLAN tests. NAPLAN (National Assessment Program for Literacy and Numeracy) tests are conducted by the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA). There are five tests in total, including an assessment of students’ writing skills, use of language conventions, a reading test and two numeracy assessments.

IMPORTANT: Please note all students will need a calculator for one of the Numeracy tests on Thursday 17 May. Any calculator that can perform basic addition, subtraction, multiplication, division functions is suitable. CAS calculators are NOT suitable. All students will be provided with a pencil and eraser; students may bring a black or blue biro for the Writing test on the Tuesday.

Students must not bring mobile phones in to any NAPLAN test.

Year 7 students will need to report to the front of the Hall, lining up in class groups, by 8:20am on each of the three testing days. Year 9 students will need to assemble in class groups at the front of the Hall by 10:50 am, just before the end of recess, on each of the three testing days.

The results of these tests provide diagnostic information about each child‘s performance in English and Mathematics. This information is used to support teaching and learning programs and improve student achievement. It is important that all Year 7 and 9 students are present during the testing period. For further information please ring Michael Kan on 8520 9000.

Later in 2018 the results are distributed to parents (towards the end of Term 3). Parents are supplied printed information regarding their child’s progress in relation to state and national benchmarks. NAPLAN achievement will not be recorded on students’ end of semester reports.

For further information please access the NAPLAN website: http://www.naplan.edu.au

& VCAA’s NAPLAN page: http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/prep10/naplan/index.html

INFLUENZA VACCINATIONS

With winter approaching we need to be mindful of the impact influenza (the flu) can have on students. Unlike other coughs and colds the flu is a severe illness that can confine a healthy child or adult to bed for at least a week. We highly recommend students receiving the vaccination at your local GP before winter starts.

SAFE AND RESPONSIBLE USE OF SOCIAL NETWORKING

Incidents have arisen recently where individuals have used social networking sites such as Instagram to post offensive and harmful material to students.  

Please discuss with your child their use of such social networks, including the risks associated with creating online 'friendships' with individuals they don't know in person. In addition, creating an online presence/profile that permits anonymous postings is extremely risky and should be strongly discouraged. Whilst we recognise that online communication and interaction is a big part of students' lives, we want to ensure they are also safe and responsible users of such technology.  Online harassment via social networks can not only cause great damage to students' self-esteem, it is unlawful.