Teaching and Learning Coordinator Message

By the time you read this, our Year 7 and Year 9 students will have completed the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) testing. These tests provide a snap-shot of student’s progress every two years, allowing schools and the State to measure both cohort and individual student’s progress. It is important to remember that they are only one small part of how student progress and learning is measured. More fundamental to your child’s development is their everyday classroom learning and how we work together with teachers, students and parents to evaluate progress and plan for on-going development and achievement. Encouraging students to develop agency over their learning by promoting self-evaluation and reflection, guiding them to set their own learning goals has been proven time and again to be the most powerful tool in attaining improved academic outcomes. Our College has moved to Online NAPLAN but due to technical complications on VCAA’s part, we made the decision to move to the paper form. All in all, students have successfully completed their testing.

With subject-based exams for our Year 10 and 11 students currently held, now is the perfect time for parents to work with their children to set SMART goals for study and revision. Personally, I would like to recommend creating very visual mind maps with sticky notes of key terminology and vocabulary. Students have a number of revision tools and study ideas in the back of their planners to help them choose the right revision techniques that work for them.

On Wednesday 12 June, our VCE students completed the General Achievement Test (GAT). I conducted an information session to all VCE students prior to the GAT to reiterate that this test is used as an assessment and moderation tool by VCAA in tandem with the final examinations and the various school based results and rankings. It is effectively a vital insurance policy taken by students to ensure that their better results are preserved, especially should some unusual or unfortunate circumstances occur.

Moving in to Semester 2, Year 10 and 11 students will participate in subject selection and course counselling for 2020. I look forward to working with students along-side our Careers Department and our Year Level Coordinators throughout this process. As always we will endeavour to deliver an academic program that caters to the many various interests and needs of students, possibly with some new subjects depending on student interest.

Please ensure that you regularly check your SEQTA for updates and emails. It is incredibly important to remain updated in order to keep the reciprocal relationship in assisting our students throughout the academic year. A reminder that parents should not share their log in details, including passwords with their child. Students have separate log in details to parents and they are unable to perform many of the functions that parents have access to.

I always remind students that the key to success is through organisation and open communication. We would appreciate if you also encourage your child to discuss matters with their teachers and in the event of a missed assessment, students communicate with their teacher immediately.

I wish you a very safe and happy holiday.