Welcome to the 2017 Academic School Year! I want to take this opportunity to wish all students well in their studies. I encourage them to actively involve themselves in subject related experiences and coaching opportunities. In advance I thank parents/ guardians for your faith and support in us. Please don't hesitate to contact any member of staff if you feel inclined.

At the start of each year there are a few messages that need to be said to parents and students alike. Most of these have been said at Information Evenings already.

Year 12- Are already 1/4 the way through their courses. They will have Mid Course Exams in Wk7/8 of this Term. It is essential that they plan for this to be a success.

Year 9/ 11- Will start in their chosen electives. There will be a settling in period- Week 2. No changes will be made until week 3. Students need to get some experience in their initial choices before they request a change. Subject changes are restricted by NESA (NSW Educational Standards Authority- formerly BOSTES) requirements, class sizes, lines and timing. No changes will occur unless the Change of Subject Form has been collected from me, completed fully and new timetable issued.

No changes will occur after the end of Week 5. A substantial amount of work has been done by this point and assessments are underway.

Year 10- Will continue with Year 9 Electives unless they have spoken to me and their class teacher. The same process listed above and restrictions apply. Students will complete 200hrs of each elective.

Year 7 and New Students Information and Welcome Evening 5.30pm 22nd February. Presentation commences at 6:00pm in College Hall.

By the end of Week 5 students will be issued with an electronic copy of their Assessment Booklets. It notes important information about requirements, processes and procedures. These documents will also be uploaded to our website. I urge parents to read these too.

Following is some information issued by NESA regarding Literacy and Numeracy and HSC standards/ requirements. It applies to Year 9 2017 and from here on in. It has implications, particularly in regard to NAPLAN.

Stronger HSC Standards: Minimum standard

From 2020, all Year 12 students in NSW must reach the minimum standard of literacy and numeracy to receive an HSC.

Students in Year 9 in 2017 will be the first students expected to meet the standard.

Set for success in everyday life

The standard is mapped against the Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF) Level 3, a nationally agreed standard of functional literacy and numeracy.

The minimum standard is part of a broader NSW Government strategy to support students to succeed in life and work. The minimum standard complements a new cross-sectoral, statewide strategy to boost literacy and numeracy.

Students at risk of not demonstrating the standard will be identified early and supported to improve their reading, writing and numeracy skills.

Multiple opportunities to pass

Students can demonstrate they meet the standard by passing the online reading, writing and numeracy tests, which will be available for students to sit in:

Year 10
Year 11
Year 12
for up to five years after beginning their first HSC courses.

Students can access a demonstration test to find out the level of skills required for these tests.

Students will have the first opportunity to prove they meet the standard by achieving Band 8 results or above in Year 9 NAPLAN reading, writing and numeracy tests. Students who achieve Band 8 will not need to sit the online tests later in years 10, 11 and 12.

No student will be ineligible to sit for the HSC on the basis of their Year 9 NAPLAN results.

Why have a minimum standard?

The best indicators of success (employment, higher salaries and good health) rely on a student’s literacy and numeracy skills.

Without targeted intervention and support to reach the standard, some students risk missing out on skills necessary for everyday life. These skills allow students to:

compare prices and understand percentages
understand interest rates and lending offers
work out quantities and measurements
manage personal budgets
understand and write routine workplace instructions
navigate websites
take meeting notes and complete official documents.

Currently, the HSC does not directly measure students’ literacy and numeracy skills nor require a minimum standard to be met.

The minimum standard will prompt an early focus on literacy and numeracy, and help students meet progressive milestones. Advanced students will also benefit from an increased focus on literacy and numeracy by developing more sophisticated skills. For example, Western Australia recently introduced a minimum standard, which has helped lift the proportion of students in the top two NAPLAN bands.

Helping students achieve the standard

Schools will have access via Schools Online to information about Years 10-12 students who have or have not met the minimum standard in reading, writing and numeracy. This will help schools boost support for students at risk of not meeting the standard.

Support materials, including BOSTES resources, will emphasise early identification of students in primary and high school at risk of not meeting the standard. Teachers will have access to strategies and materials to help their students meet the standard.

Schools can deliver short courses, topics or additional tutoring in numeracy skills. Some students may continue studying mathematics as the best way to improve their numeracy skills.

The NSW Literacy and Numeracy Strategy is a plan to ensure NSW students have the essential literacy and numeracy skills they need for success in learning and in life.

Literacy and numeracy skills will be described clearly, taught explicitly, assessed meaningfully and reported regularly in all schools across NSW providing early identification and support for students most at risk of not meeting the minimum standard.

Find out more about the NSW Literacy and Numeracy Strategy.

Students who don’t meet the standard

All students should complete high school with a functional level of literacy and numeracy for everyday life and employment.

Students who don’t demonstrate the standard will have five years after beginning their first HSC courses to meet the minimum standard and receive an HSC. They will receive a Record of School Achievement on leaving school.

While maths will not be mandatory for Year 11 and 12, studying Mathematics General 1 is an option for students who need to improve their numeracy skills in order to meet the minimum standard.

Exemptions

Disability provisions will be available for the new tests in line with existing provisions for the HSC.

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