Middle School Report

by Mr Michael Busscher,  Director of the Middle School 

Welcome back to all the Middle School families. I hope that everyone was able to enjoy the Easter break and are now well and truly back into the swing of things and are looking towards another very positive term of school.

This week we began our dancing lessons with the girls from Loreto. Much fun and some great dancing displays were witnessed by all in attendance. Dancing lessons will continue next week and the following fortnight, which will culminate in the Year 9 Social on Thursday, 19 May from 7.00 to 9.30pm at the St Patrick’s Cathedral Hall.

There will be a Parent Information Night in the SPC Pavilion on Wednesday, 4 May at 7.00pm. This is an important opportunity for parents to gain more information about this exciting Year 9 experience and the changes we have made to the program. Parents will be able to ask questions of senior staff in attendance.  The Melbourne Experience is designed to promote important life skills, such as independence, initiative and responsibility, and provide a real-world link to the Year 9 Curriculum.

The Melbourne Experience Objectives include:

·       Learn about different aspects of Melbourne

·       History, Culture, Arts, Sport, Design and Innovation

·       Learn how to use public transport

·       How to navigate around the Melbourne CBD

·       Develop teamwork and independence skills

·       Experience a range of activities across the CBD:

·       Shrine Tour, NGV Tour, Eureka Skydeck Tour, Melbourne Museum Tour

I am hoping to meet many of the Middle School parents on this night and alleviate any fears you may have. The Melbourne Experience will be conducted in the second week of Term 3 for all Year 9 boys.

May 10 to May 12 Year 9 boys will be involved in The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) which is an annual national assessment for all students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9. All students in these year levels are expected to participate in tests in reading, writing, language conventions (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy. NAPLAN tests assess student knowledge and skills in numeracy, reading, writing, spelling, punctuation and grammar. The results of the tests provide information for students, parents, teachers and principals about student achievement which can be used to inform teaching and learning programs. NAPLAN is the measure through which governments, education authorities, schools, teachers and parents can determine whether or not young Australians have the literacy and numeracy skills that provide the critical foundation for other learning and for their productive and rewarding participation in the community. The tests provide parents and schools with an understanding of how individual students are performing at the time of the tests. They also provide schools, states and territories with information about how education programs are working and which areas need to be prioritised for improvement. NAPLAN tests are one aspect of each school’s assessment and reporting process, and do not replace the extensive, ongoing assessments made by teachers about each student’s performance. NAPLAN tests the important skills that are essential for every child to progress through school and life, such as reading, writing, spelling, grammar and numeracy. The content of each test is informed by the Australian Curriculum. The Literacy tests are based on content in the English learning area, and the numeracy tests draw content from the mathematics learning area.

Regards,

Mr Michael Busscher

Director of Middle School