Teaching and Learning 

NAPLAN 

This week we have our Grade 3 and 5 students sitting assessments in the areas of Writing, Reading, Conventions of Language and Numeracy. We know our students are going to approach these sessions with a growth mindset and give each a red-hot go. 

The NAPLAN timetable for Buninyong PS is:

Wednesday March 15 - Writing

Thursday March 16 - Reading

Friday March 17 - Conventions of Language

Monday March 20 - Numeracy

There will be opportunities for catch up sessions should students miss a day. These will be organised with the students individually. 

As a reminder, the following strategies can be used to support your child in the lead up to the assessments:

Parents:

1.     Acknowledge that these assessments are part of the school day.

2.     Talk about times you had assessments in schools and how you approached them. (calmly and with a positive mindset)

3.     Talk about challenge and how we approach times of challenge. (Take a breath, grit our teeth, do our best and reflect on our efforts after the fact)

4.     Maintain a normal routine on the morning of the assessments and maybe do something relaxing and enjoyable in the evening.

5.     Whatever you think of NAPLAN, keep the adult conversations away from the ears of our kids. It is amazing how kids will take on the attitudes and feelings of the grown ups around them.

6.     When discussing the assessments at the end of each day, ask open positive questions that focus on the process that your child may have used. Ie NAPLAN always pops in some tricky questions, what strategy did you use when you were completing those questions? 

Learning Snapshots

As a strategy to give our school community a look through the window into the classroom, the Learning Snapshots are being released on Compass each week. Classroom and Specialist teachers alternate on a weekly basis to share the learning focus and an example of what it looks like in action.

Keep an eye out on Compass for these each week. This week, the classroom teachers will be sharing their Learning Snapshot.

iPad Information Session / Cyber Safety

Last week we shared some handy hints to support your child with their gaming at home. This week, our focus shifts to social media.

This edition of Think U Know deals with social media issues we all face with our children:

• Signing up - What to consider.
• Staying social media smart
• A social media checklist
• Conversations to have with your child.
• Getting Help