Year 3 - Year 5

Assistant Principal's Report

Middle School News

It is an exciting time in our first term of learning for 2019 with the holidays fast approaching, celebrations, feedback and reflections together with planning days, arrangements and organisation for the new term ahead.

With students well and truly settled into their 2019 classroom timetables and routines, it is important to note that change to these timetables and routines can cause some concern to some students.  Research shows that being proactive and forthcoming in information supports these students to be productive and calm each school day.

Planning days for all teacher/year level teams will occur in week 10 of this term.  These planning days are a critical component for ensuring Pakenham Springs Primary School continues to differentiate the learning and ensure all students are targeted at their point of need.  During planning days, teachers analyse student learning results and use this to inform future teaching and learning.   We have high expectations of all students and we know that ‘failing to plan, is the same as planning to fail’.   Here at ‘The Springs’ we plan for SUCCESS.

During planning week, students will not have their normal specialist timetable running.  All specialist subjects (PE, STEM, Media and Visual Arts) will be held on the same day as the teachers' plan.  For example:

The Year 3 team will be planning on Thursday 4th April.  This means the students in Year 3 will attend all specialist classes for that day.  The classroom teacher will still be onsite however ‘locked’ away planning term 2 with the team. The Year 4 team will have their planning day on Wednesday 3rd April and the Year 5 team have their planning day on Tuesday the 2nd April.  All students will have this information prior to week 10, however, if you are aware that your child may need extra details and/or information, please touch base with myself and I will ensure they are provided with the additional support.

NAPLAN will be held in term 2.  A practice test system has been developed and students will be given adequate time to learn the new on-line system.  In the past NAPLAN has been completed using pen and paper.  In 2019, NAPLAN has moved to an online assessment tool, although Year 3 students will continue to use pen and paper for the NAPLAN writing component.  Having begun looking at the new platform, I am confident our students will do great.  Please note that two of our Year 3 and two of our Year 5 classes will complete a ‘technical’ test on Thursday.  This IS NOT assessed and will not provide these classes with extra benefits.  NAPLAN authorities require a sample from all schools to participate in this ‘technical’ test, purely to ensure that the system is strong enough to handle multiple students across Australia logging in and to prevent ‘system crashes’ during the planned NAPLAN assessment period.  Further information will be sent home closer to the date.

Good luck and have a wonderful two weeks ahead.

Kindest Regards

Jane King

Assistant Principal in Middle School