Assistant Principal's Report

Naplan Testing

As you are aware, the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) for Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 students is held in May each year. NAPLAN tests assess student knowledge and skills in Writing, Reading, Conventions of Language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and Numeracy. The results of the tests provide information for students, parents, teachers and principals and can be used to improve student achievement.

The tests begin this Tuesday 11 May for all Year 7 and Year 9 students. Events have been created on Compass, students must refer to their Compass schedule for test times and ensure they are waiting on the ALC ramp at the start of the designated session.

All tests will be conducted online. Students DO NOT need to bring a device or any other materials to the test, a computer and all required materials will be provided by the school.

All students are expected to participate in the NAPLAN Online tests. Catch up tests will be available for individual students who are absent on test days in the following week, on Monday 17 and Tuesday 18 May.

Students may be withdrawn from NAPLAN by their parent or carer. This is a matter for consideration by parents and carers in consultation with Mark Henderson, Assistant Principal. If, after consultation, you decide to withdraw your child, you must call the school immediately and sign a Student Withdrawal form. These forms are available at the school, please ask at reception.

Later in the year you will receive your child’s personal NAPLAN report. The report will describe your child’s particular skills in Reading, Writing, Conventions of Language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and Numeracy. The report will also show how your child performed in relation to national minimum standards. These describe the minimum acceptable standards for students across Australia.

I am confident that the information you receive as a result of your child’s participation in the NAPLAN tests will be valuable in helping you to assess your child’s progress in literacy and numeracy.

For more information about NAPLAN Online, please visit the VCAA website at www.vcaa.vic.edu.au  or the NAPLAN website at www.naplan.edu.au, or feel free to contact me directly at the College.

Year 7 2022

Parent, carers and Year 6 students will be finalising their choices of secondary school by the end of this week (Friday 14 May 2021). 

For students that are in government primary schools, the transition form can be found here.

For students at Catholic or independent schools, the transition form can be found here.

If anyone in the Westall Community knows someone that is interested in coming to WSC next year, please ask them to contact me directly for a tour.

Open Day

On Tuesday 30 March (last week of Term 1), Westall SC hosted an Open Day for prospective students and the families to see the Westall Way in action. The school looked fantastic and all of the staff and student volunteers proudly showed how amazing this school is.

A special thank you to all student volunteers for your enthusiasm, passion and hard work at Open Day. The families that you showed around the College were very impressed and grateful for your time and attention to detail. The word 'professionalism' is one that is banded about so loosely at times but I believe you were all the picture of professionalism yesterday, what an atmosphere you created!

You are all developing as great leaders and I am very proud of you all. I have never worked in a school where teachers can rely on so many students to volunteer for events, clubs etc. You are a credit to the College and I can't thank you enough for the work you do.

A special thanks to Ms Kristina Vasilakis for all of your help and support for Open Day. I don't know where you find all the hours for the great work you do- we are lucky to have you. Well done on leading such an engaging and authentic leadership program.

Westall Points

Congratulations to students and staff for continue to celebrate the Westall Way through the giving and receiving of Westall Points. The year level leaders are:

iCreate Aviation Update

Engineers without borders were back again this week! The new challenge for our i-Create Aviation/STEM was appropriate housing and looking how certain countries have different climate control, for example flooding! Students worked in groups and had limited materials to work with to create a house that could float. Well done to the winning team on getting 104 marbles!