Teaching and Learning News
Naplan 2022
Our 2022 Naplan results have arrived and we are so proud of all our Year 3 and 5 learners.
Both year levels have missed the equivalent of three school terms plus an extra couple of weeks – or just over three quarters of a year – of in-class learning across 2020 and 2021.
Their results, however, are cause for great excitement, despite these two years of disrupted learning. The results are evidence of how our teachers and parents worked together and provided learning that enabled our students to continue to grow and progress even during the most difficult times of uncertainty.
NAPLAN is one test that governments, education authorities, schools, teachers and parents use to determine whether or not young Australians have the critical literacy and numeracy skills for lifelong learning.
The tests provide parents and schools with an understanding of how individual students are performing at the time of the test - May 2022.
We can also use Naplan to reflect on how our teaching and learning programs in Literacy and Numeracy are working and which areas need to be prioritised for improvement.
The Victorian State Mean has not been released yet, but compared to the National Mean, SMDP is above the national average in all areas that were assessed for both our Year 3 and Year 5 students.
Our 2022 results are continuing to show a steady upward trend in Reading, Writing and Numeracy since 2018.
Like our 2021 results, writing was a particular highlight in our 2022 Naplan results.
Students in both Year 3 and Year 5 demonstrated an awareness of the audience, careful selection of vocabulary and attention to details including spelling and punctuation.
More than 87% of our students achieved at or above the expected level, which is an exceptional achievement.
Below are some excerpts of what our students wrote during this year's Naplan Test.
The topic was Brave.
Some Year 5 excerpts
Excerpt 1
Excerpt 2
Excerpt 3
Some Year 3 excerpts
Excerpt 1
Excerpt 2
Excerpt 3
If you would like to drill down into your child's Naplan results, make an appointment with your child's teacher or speak with Denise or myself.
Book Week
Book Week has been and gone for another year.
We celebrated the joy of reading and storytelling using this year's theme ‘Dreaming with eyes Open’ to make rich connections with reading which engage and inspire children.
It was a whole school celebration of the importance of having many rich and connected experiences with stories and storytelling. We were so pleased, after two years of celebrating Book Week differently, that we could come together as a community, with parents, siblings, and carers being able to join us for the book week parade.
The parade was a joyful occasion with many students dressing up as their favourite book characters. I think Harry Potter won the prize for the most students dressed up as characters from this book series.
In the afternoon the students rotated through different classrooms and listened to picture books nominated for book of the year.
Here are some of the students reflections about Book Week
Nash (PL) - I liked when we walked around and I really liked my costume.
Ila (PN) - It was fun, I liked dressing up and making space hats.
Harley (3/4ST) - I liked dressing up. I was Marcus Bontempelli. I also enjoyed doing the activities in the other classrooms.
Ronnica (1/2C) - It was fun when I put on my steam and walked around with my class. I liked the art activities.
Enjoy the photos from the parade .
Father's Day
Last week we hosted Dads, Grandads and special men for a yummy breakfast in our school hall.
Thank you to the staff who planned and prepared this gathering and to all those who joined us to chat and enjoy breakfast and then gather in prayer of thanks and gratitude.
The previous day students had the opportunity to purchase great gifts for their dad or dad like person in their lives.
Thank you to the band of helpers who ensured a selection of lovely gifts and smiling dads on Sunday morning.
Zone and District Athletics
Congratulations to Marley, Aewin, Hailey, Eilidh and Ajur who represented St Martins last Tuesday at Werribee for the Divisional Athletics meet. All gave their best and demonstrated a competitive spirit complemented by great sportspersonship.
Hailey - 4th 800M, Eilidh - 8th 200M,
Ajur - 3rd High jump,
Aewin - 4th in Discuss &
Marley - 5th 200M
Well done to Owen in Grade 5/6S for winning the Bronze Medal for Under 11 Boys’ Epee State Championships representing our school in fencing.
Sarah Connolly's Visit to SMDP
Sarah Connolly is one of the Victorian legislative assembly members.
Today SMDP had the pleasure of meeting Sarah. She is very calm and humble. She talked about what it is like to be a part of the parliament. She also talked about working hard and trying our best. "It took hard work to get into a law degree”. She encourage us to do our best when we learn, even though we may not be the smartest one in the room. We appreciated her time to look at our amazing school and talk to the students.
By Nathan and Manu (School captains)
Green Week
The student leaders have organised Green Week from Monday 12th September to Friday 16th September. Green Week is about raising awareness of the things we can all do in our day to day lives to look after our precious planet.
They have planned activities, challenges and learning opportunities throughout the last week of the term.
Elise Coghlan
Deputy Principal | Literacy & Numeracy Leader | Visible Learning Leader
Denise Kelly
Co-Deputy Principal | Learning & Teaching Leader