Middle School Report – May 16, 2019

A huge thank you to all of the parents who attended our Middle School Parent Information Night in preparation for their son embarking on the Melbourne Experience in Week Two of next term. It was a wonderful evening to get together and bridge any concerns parents had about this very different learning experience that their son is going to undertake in a not too distant future. Despite my inability to attend the evening, due to illness, I have only heard good things from the presentation delivered by Mr. Shane Hayes and Mr Sam Cue the two Year 9 Level Coordinators.

The following evening, both Shane and Sam, with the support of the Year 9 Team of Pastoral Care Teachers conducted the annual Year 9 Social with the girls from Loreto. Again, from all accounts the night was fantastic and enjoyed by all present.

This week, May 14 (Language Conventions), 15 (Reading) and 16 (Numeracy) will see all Year 9 students undertaking the last phase of their NAPLAN testing.

The National Assessment Program -“ Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) 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.

Please remember that we will be undertaking our Middle School Mid-Year Examinations from Tuesday June 11 until Friday June 14.

Year 9 boys remain at school all day as normal scheduled classes will continue whenever an Examination is not being conducted.

Mr Michael Busscher

Director of Middle School