From the Director of Primary
Welcome to Term 2
Welcome back to another term of learning. At the commencement of each term naturally one looks at the calendar to see what is scheduled and indeed, a great deal is planned for the coming months.
NAPLAN
NAPLAN (The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy) assesses literacy and numeracy skills that are essential for every child to progress through school and life.
Next week (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday) students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 participate in the annual NAPLAN tests in reading, writing, conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy. The assessment provides parents and schools with an understanding of how individual students are performing at the time of the tests. NAPLAN is just one aspect of a school’s assessment and reporting process - it does not replace ongoing assessments made by teachers about student performance.
In 2019, with the exception of the Year 3 Writing paper, the students will sit NAPLAN online. One of the main benefits of NAPLAN Online is tailored (or adaptive) testing, where the test automatically adapts to a student’s test performance. The test presents questions of higher or lower complexity, depending on a student’s performance.
We ask that parents help your child prepare by reassuring them that NAPLAN is just one part of their school program, and by reminding them on the day to simply try their best. A NAPLAN individual student report will be issued later in the year.
We ask that appointments are avoided next week during the testing period. Students who are absent for a given test will have an opportunity to complete missed tests at another time during the College’s testing schedule.
The NAPLAN results are used to discuss students’ progress with parents and teachers; to identify students who would benefit from greater challenges or extra support; to identify strengths and areas to improve in teaching programs, and to set goals in literacy and numeracy.
Premier's Reading Challenge
The Year 5 and 6 student leaders have taken on the role as Reading Ambassadors, encouraging students to respond to the challenge of reading at least 10 books in 10 weeks.
“Reading and literacy skills are the basic building blocks of life, no matter what you aspire to do or be. This year you can also win book prizes, Hawthorn football game tickets and school visits by players.” (Premier’s Message)
All students from Prep to Year 6 have been registered, receiving a reading log to record the books that they read during the Challenge. Students are also encouraged to write book reviews that may be published on the website - premiersreadingchallenge.tas.gov.au - with a number of prizes to be won. The Premier’s Reading Challenge concludes at the end of Term 2.
Earn and Learn
Mount Carmel College has once again registered for Woolworth’s Earn and Learn promotion. It is a very easy way for the College to gain new equipment to support programs across the curriculum. You may deposit your stickers in the box at the local Woolworths in Sandy Bay or drop them off at the College Office. Thank you for your support.
Wishing all the College mums and grandmothers a happy Mothers' Day this Sunday.
Caroline Wilson-Haffenden
Director of Primary