Assistant Principal's Report 

Assistant Principal's Report

Attendance - Everyday Counts

It was great to see the number of students who are making the most of their learning opportunities by attending every day in Term 1.

The Year 12 students are leading the way with 33% of Year 12 students attended every day in Term 1, followed very closely by the year 11s with 32% of the students attending every day. 

I would like to congratulate the following students who attended every school day in Term 1:

Student Learning Tasks and Reports – via Compass

The College has developed continuous ‘Learning Tasks’ (LT) Reporting for the Scoresby Secondary College community.  Continuous LT reporting, through Compass, will enable each student and parent to view assessment grades and feedback as the task is assessed and reported on by the teacher.  In most subject areas there will be a minimum of 3 LT per semester that will have specific feedback.  This will occur continuously throughout the semester.  The grades of the LT’s will be summarised in the Semester report.  LT reporting will enable students and parents to see the progress and allow the student to reflect on their learning by reading specific feedback that will allow them to gain an understanding of the next steps with their continual improvement.

Parents and students are encouraged to check Compass regularly.

ANZAC Day

Traditionally a student from Scoresby Secondary College has joined the Waterford Valley as part of their ANZAC Day commemoration service. This year I had the pleasure in witnessing Amber Pascua continue the legacy by reading ‘In Flanders Field’ poem. 

In Flanders Fields – By Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae – 1915

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place: and in the sky

The larks still bravely signing fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead: Short days ago,

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved: and now we lie

In Flanders Fields!

Take up our quarrel with the foe

To you, from failing hands, we throw

The torch: be yours to hold it high

If ye break faith with us who die,

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders Fields

Lest We Forget

NAPLAN

Students in Years 7 and 9 will participate in the National Assessment Program Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN). Students undertake national testing in areas of Language conventions, writing, reading and numeracy. Students are encouraged to try their best. 

NAPLAN will occur during weeks 4 and 5 of Term 2. If you do not wish for your child to undertake NAPLAN testing please speak to myself.

In Term 3 Parents/Carers will receive a copy of their child’s actual results and a pamphlet that explains how to interpret the report.

Attitudes to School Survey

We value student voice as a means to improving student engagement, wellbeing and quality instruction and are conducting a survey to find out what your child thinks of your school. 

The AtoSS is an annual student survey offered by the Department of Education and Training to assist your child’s school to gain an understanding of students' perceptions and experience of school. Students will be asked about their thoughts and feelings in relation to their school, their learning, peer relationships, bullying and life in general. 

There are also some questions about student health and wellbeing. Understanding health and wellbeing needs is important to support students to learn and thrive at school. The Department is providing this addition to the core survey to allow your child’s school to capture this information to support students.

Students will be asked about resilience, family relationships, community connections, health (including mental health), access to health services and physical activity.

This year, the AtoSS will be conducted over the period 10 May to 11 June. 

At Scoresby Secondary College we take this survey very seriously and use the results and subsequent student forums to guide our practice in all areas.

End of Semester Exams (Year 9, 10 and 11 students)

Year 10 and Unit 1 exams commence during week 7.  All Year 10 and Unit 1 subjects will have an exam.  All Year 10 and Year 11 students have been advised to begin their preparation for these exams if they have not already done so.  There are a number of purposes of conducting exams at Year 10 and Year 11, all of which aim towards improving student achievement in the Senior School. They include; 

• Consolidating the learning gained over the semester
• Students practicing to manage the workload of exams
• Students practicing the skill of exam preparation
• Students practicing writing under timed conditions
• Decreasing stress experienced in exams by familiarising students with the processes

Year 10 and Unit 1 & 2 exams are a significant indicator of a student’s ability to cope in that subject in the following year.  Exams assess the student’s ability to make connections between and within learned concepts (higher order thinking).  Exams are the best opportunity to present students with an assessment where they apply skills over a broader content knowledge.

Students sometimes feel some anxiety as they perform in exams. The first step in managing exam anxiety is to prepare well. Students have been advised to take the following actions;

• Take notes during term and review these regularly
• Always maintain ordered notes – use trigger words and colour coding
• Create mind maps
• Use practice questions or practice tests and exams to test your knowledge and skills
• Practice the skill of including enough detail in responses under timed conditions
• Manage and organise study timetables using the Student Planner

Students in Year 9 will also have the experience of undertaking exams; however these exams will be specific to English and Mathematics only.

Riding to School

For the safety of the students riding their bikes to and from school, they are reminded that by law they are required to wear a helmet while riding.

Students that elect to bring their bike to school are also reminded that they must dismount and walk their bike through the school grounds to the bike shed.

Students should also ensure that their bike is locked with a secure lock.

Mr Chris Knight

Assistant Principal