From the Deputy 

Term 2 Curriculum

This term students in Prep to Year 6 will be exploring the Science Curriculum as a key focus for our integrated unit of work.  Two engaging units will be taught across the term with one focusing on the Earth and Space Sciences and the other, Physical Sciences.  I have included a document below which outlines the specific focus for year levels across the school.  

In addition to developing their content knowledge, students will also be developing vital skills in conducting scientific investigations by making predictions or testing hypotheses by conducting experiments and making observations.  Students will also explore science as a human endeavour, learning how science helps people to understand the effects of their actions and how this knowledge can be used to solve problems that affect our everyday life. 

Integrated Curriculum Overview - Term 2 

We provide this information to you because research highlights the strong positive relationship between parental engagement and student academic achievement (Wilder, S. (2014). Effects of parental involvement on academic achievement: a meta-synthesis).  I encourage you to support your child by sharing in their learning across the term, asking questions and exploring ideas and concepts together.   

NAPLAN

Year 3 and 5 parents will be aware that the National Assessment Platform - Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) tests will be conducted this term between Tuesday May 11th and Friday 14th May. The areas assessed include Reading Comprehension, Writing, Language conventions and Spelling; and Numeracy.  

Typically, results are sent to schools in August and the data provided includes:

·         individual results,

·         school trends over several years,

·         how the school performed compared to other schools in the state and

·         how much the children have ‘grown' between NAPLAN in Years 3 and 5.

We use this data to inform our improvement strategy at a school level and to track and monitor student growth over time.  I would encourage families to keep the importance of these assessments in perspective by ensuring that students know to do their best with each assessment without worrying that under performance on any day will result in anything but knowing that it wasn't their best day.  At St Anthony's we 'triangulate' all data to ensure it aligns with our knowledge of each student and this includes the results from NAPLAN.  

If you have any questions about the curriculum, NAPLAN, or the learning that your child is engaging at school please don't hesitate to contact your child's teacher or myself - poverbury@santglen.catholic.edu.au

with best wishes,

Peta Overbury

Deputy Principal

Learning and Teaching Leader

Diversity Leader