SECONDARY NEWS
From the Assistant Principal
Classes Return to Normal in the Secondary
Classes in the Secondary for Years 7 – 9 are back to normal with the completion of semester exams over the last few days. The exams are only part of each student’s assessment profile and when receiving feedback from their teachers all students are encouraged to reflect on their efforts this year, and how they may improve in the future.
A great approach for students is to undertake a simple SWOT analysis:
Strengths:
-What are your strengths as a student?
-What achievements from this year can you celebrate?
-What do you do really well at school?
-What skills have you developed?
-What learning have you really enjoyed?
Weaknesses:
-What are your weaknesses as a student?
-What areas could you improve in?
-What skills need more work?
Opportunities:
-What opportunities exist for you to improve your approach to school?
-What could you do differently next year?
-What could you do to have better quality learning experiences next year?
Threats:
-What is standing in the way of you achieving your personal best?
-What obstacles do you need to overcome?
-What actions could you take to deal with any threats to achieving your personal best?
Staff are currently finalising the assessment process for their classes and they are preparing reports, which will be distributed on Friday 8 December.
All classes will be operating as normal for the remainder of the term as there is still coursework to be completed across all KLAs.
NESA Online Testing – Minimum Literacy and Numeracy Standard
As you would be aware the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) has introduced a minimum literacy and numeracy standard. The following information comes directly from the NESA site.
From 2020, students in NSW must meet the minimum standard of literacy and numeracy to be eligible for the HSC credential. The minimum standard is part of a broader NSW Government strategy to boost student literacy and numeracy across the state.
Pre-Qualifying For the Minimum Standard
Band 8 achievement in Year 9 NAPLAN reading, writing and numeracy tests is NOT the HSC minimum standard of literacy and numeracy. Students may still receive the HSC if they don’t achieve Band 8 results in Year 9 NAPLAN. A student’s NAPLAN results or online test results do not prevent a student from progressing to Years 10, 11 or 12.
Students will pre-qualify for the minimum standard if they achieve Band 8 or above in Year 9 NAPLAN reading, writing and numeracy tests.
Students will only need to sit an online test in the area in which they have not pre-qualified for the minimum standard. For example, if a student achieves Band 8 results in the Year 9 NAPLAN reading and numeracy tests but Band 6 results in the Year 9 NAPLAN writing test, they will only be required to sit the NESA online writing test.
Students who do not pre-qualify for the standard in Year 9 will have time with their teachers, parents and schools to work on strategies to improve their literacy and numeracy skills during Years 10, 11 and 12.
To prepare for the tests in 2018, NESA needs to check the suitability of the questions. To do this, they have invited all current Year 9 students to trial the online tests in 2017.The trial assessments, the be held in Week 7, will allow Year 9 students to gain an early understanding of the test format. As the 2017 tests are a trial, the results do not contribute towards your child's HSC minimum standard. However, schools will receive feedback on students’ performance.
We believe that this would be a valuable opportunity for students who did not pre-qualify for the minimum standard, in one or more areas, based on their 2017 NAPLAN results.
A note was sent home with students last week and if you DID NOT wish your child to sit the trial online tests, in the areas where they did not achieve Band 8, it was asked that you return the slip; otherwise these tests will occur this week.
Year 10 News
Last week Year 10 students were involved in activities which focused on preparing for their final Assembly on Friday, the Year 10 Camp at Copeton Dam and the Graduation Mass which will be held on Friday 1 December.
Year 10 Farewell Social
The Year 10 farewell social was also held last week. Year 9 students organised a fantastic send-off for the departing students. The school hall was decorated in a ‘Horror' theme and looked amazing. All students had a great time and Year 9 deserve congratulations for the cooperative way in which they worked together to achieve their goal of providing a memorable night for the Year 10 students.
Year 10 Graduation
Students and parents have received invitations to the Graduation Dinner to be held on Friday 1 December at the Inverell RSM Club. Students have been allocated their numbers and tickets can be purchased from the school office. We ask that tickets be purchased by the end of this week. If there are any changes or queries to the numbers already allocated please contact Miss Bailey as soon as possible.
Year 10 WEX
This week Year 10 will be completing the second Work Experience session for 2017. We are appreciative of the generosity of local businesses in providing placements for the students.
Upcoming Year 10 Events
Week 8
Monday 27 November – Wednesday 29 November: Christian Living Camp at Copeton Dam – students will come to school on Monday morning, with their requirements for the camp, to be bused to the Dam.
Thursday 30 December: Graduation Mass Practice - 9.15am at Sacred Heart Church.
Friday 1 December: Graduation Dinner Dance – 6.00pm at the Inverell RSM Club.
Graduation Mass - 9.00am at Sacred Heart Church.
Week 9
Monday 4 December: First Aid Course at HTS for participating students.
Wednesday 6 December – Sunday 10 December
Australian Catholic Youth Festival in Sydney for participating students.
White Ribbon March
On Thursday 24 November the White Ribbon March will be held in Inverell. The local Community Violence Team has invited our Year 9 students, along with other school and community groups, to participate in the march this year. It is held in support of stopping violence against women and in conjunction with other White Ribbon Day activities.
The march commences at 10.00am across from the Cinema and finishes outside the Inverell Shire Council. The students will be bused to and from the event. Mr Gibson and Ms Melvin will accompany the students on the march.