Teaching & Learning

NAPLAN

National Assessment Program

– Literacy & Numeracy

Students in Year 7 and 9 will complete NAPLAN testing on paper this year. This 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 our school’s assessment and reporting process – it does not replace ongoing assessments made by teachers about student performance.

The data the school receives from this assessment is used to develop intervention and extensions programs that support our students. Please ensure that your child attends school on these days and encourage your child to do their very best.

Students at the Mooroopna and McGuire campuses will participate in NAPLAN at the same time:

Tuesday 11th May

9:00am - 9:45am: Language Conventions

10:15am-11:00am:Writing

Wednesday 12th May

9:00am-10.05am: Reading

Thursday 13th May

9:00am-10:05am: Reading

A snap shot of electives at the Mooroopna Campus

Thank you to our Year 9 students who shared their thoughts about the electives they are currently enjoying.

Jack P – I like Building a

nd Construction. We are making cabinets at the moment and we are learning different skills like using a chisel and how to put things together.

Lily D – My favourite elective is Beat Producer. It gives me an opportunity to be creative and make the music I like. It allows me to express myself.

Emre A – Digital Photography has taught me how to take a proper photograph by using angles. We take photos of each other and we are learning to edit.

Asma E – In Beat Producer we learn how to make music. We put different sounds together to make a beat. The music I make is relaxed and slow.

Liam K – I like Specialist Basketball. It’s something I like to do out of school and it is my favourite sport. The teachers teach us skills we need in basketball and we get to play fun games. It’s a really practical subject.

Brandt E - In Engineering we are using angle grinders and we are going to learn to use the welder. We are learning to cut metal using different hand tools. We are going to make a plant pot holder or a hose holder.

Charlotte J – Cross-Age Tutoring is a great elective. It’s a good class because it teaches us how to work with kids and it also teaches us leadership skills. Like being responsible. The class is really supportive and I like the way we all work together.

Madison D - AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) has helped me by teaching me new skills like interviewing skills, study skills and critical reading. Now I know how to critically read I know I can find the parts of the text that are really important and that helps me understand the text better. I feel like everyone in the class is really committed to the class and really wants to succeed.

Every day counts

Going to school every day is the single most important part of your teenager's education. Students learn new things at school every day - missing school puts them behind. School is better when your teenager is there.

WHY IT IS IMPORTANT

We all want our students to get a great education, and the building blocks for a great education begin with students coming to school each and every day.

Students develop good habits by going to school every day – habits that are necessary to succeed after school, whether in the workplace or in further study. Missing school can have a big impact on students academically and socially.

It can affect their test results, including VCE & VCAL, and, just as importantly, it can affect their relationships with other students, and lead to social isolation.

There is no safe number of days for missing school – each day a student misses puts them behind, and can affect their educational outcomes.

Each missed day is associated with falling behind in subject topics and assessment tasks, and lead to fewer subject choices and may impact on achievement in years 11 and 12 and post-school pathways.

TOP ATTENDANCE TIPS FOR PARENTS

Schools want to work in partnership with parents – act early if you have any concerns by contacting your child’s school and asking for advice and support
Remember that every day counts
There is no safe number of days for missing school – each day a student misses puts them behind, and can affect their educational outcomes and their social connectedness
Talk positively about school and the importance of attending every day
Open and prompt communication with your child’s school about all absences is a good idea
Avoid making routine medical and dental appointments during the school day or planning family holidays during the term
Seek help from your school if you are concerned about your child’s attendance and wellbeing. Schools want to work in partnership with parents to support student attendance and wellbeing.

FURTHER INFORMATION

For more information and resources to help address attendance issues, visit:

https://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/teachers/studentmanagement/attendance/Pages/improve-attendance.aspx

Megan Michalaidis

Associate Principal of Teaching & Learning