Preps Learning about Community Services

Naplan 2019

What does NAPLAN assess and why is the test moving to an online format?

NAPLAN assesses literacy and numeracy – important skills that each child needs to succeed in school and life. If your child is in Year 3 or 5 this year, they will be participating in NAPLAN tests for reading, writing, conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy. The NAPLAN tests are designed to help us make sure students are on track with their literacy and numeracy development over time.

This year, between 14 and 24 May, our school will be doing NAPLAN Online. One of the main features

of NAPLAN Online is that it is a tailored (or adaptive) test. The NAPLAN Online tests adapt to student responses, presenting questions that may be easier or more difficult, to better assess the student’s ability. Students should not be concerned if they think that the questions are more difficult than expected – this may simply mean that they are taking a more challenging but more appropriate pathway. This ‘tailored testing’ approach means that a wider range of student

abilities can be tested (compared with the paper approach, where all students answer exactly the same questions.

Students do not need to be computer experts to take the NAPLAN test online. Making sure students have computers skills is part of our school curriculum, and our teachers will ensure your child is familiar with the online format.

Year 3 students will continue to complete the writing assessment on

paper. To see the types of questions and interactive features of NAPLAN Online, try out the tests on the public demonstration site, available on the NAP website.

Test integrity

To ensure test security and prevent student access to the internet and spell-check applications during

NAPLAN Online, a locked-down browser has been installed on each student's CHROME book.

Omnibus Test

On Thursday 28th March both our Year 3 and Year 5 students will be sitting a practice test for the upcoming Naplan Online tests in May. The practice test will be a 45 minute OMNIBUS test which incorporates reading, language conventions and numeracy. The idea behind having students sit the OMNIBUS test is that it exposes students to the online testing environment as well as the different types of questions they are likely to face in Naplan Online.

If you have any questions or concerns re Naplan 2019 do not hesitate to contact Sandy.

STEM @ NGV

On Tuesday 19th March, eight STEM expert students attended Design Week at the National Gallery of Victoria to listen to the 'Final Pitch' to a Waste Challenge by primary, secondary, tertiary students and professionals. The day provided a lot of discussion as to how the waste problem was addressed, the design, the prototypes and costs involved in production. Our 8 STEM expert students will be sharing their ideas and designs with their learning centres early next term as we use design to solve sustainability and biodiversity problems.

Important Dates

Week 9 & 10 - Term 1 2019