Naplan

The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) tests for Years 3 and 5 students will be held on Tuesday 14 May, Wednesday 15 May and Thursday 16 May 2019. NAPLAN tests assess student knowledge and skills in writing, reading, language conventions (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy.

All students are expected to participate in these assessments. Exemptions may be granted to students with significant intellectual disabilities and to students who have been learning English for less than one year. Students may be withdrawn from the NAPLAN by their parent or carer.  If you decide to withdraw your child, please contact the principal as you are required to sign a Student Withdrawal form.

NAPLAN assessments form one part of your child’s achievement and progress. Students undertake many forms of pre and post assessment in classes each term. Please see your child’s teacher if you need further information regarding your child’s progress.

NAPLAN parent reports are issued to school in the first few weeks of term 3.The report  to parents will describe your child’s particular skills in reading, writing, language conventions (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy. The report will also show how your child performed in relation to national minimum standards. These describe the minimum acceptable standards for students across Australia.

For more information about the tests, please visit the VCAA website at www.vcaa.vic.edu.au

or the NAPLAN website at www.nap.edu.au

Athletics Day

We are looking forward to a fantastic School Athletics day this Friday 5 April. Parents, families and friends are welcome to join us from 9:15- 11:00am at Bricker Rd Reserve. Our year 6 Sports and Play Leaders will be supporting Mrs Pattinson with running events. Students may wear their team colours on this day.

As this is the last day of term, school will finish at 2:30pm on this day.

Easter Raffle

Thanks to the many families who donated items and purchased tickets for the Easter Raffle. The Raffle will be drawn on Friday 5 April.

Parent Engagement Platform/Website/App

Last year the school board worked on collating information and making recommendations how we could improve and streamline communication platforms in our school. Much of the feedback indicated that the multiple electronic platforms for various forms of information was confusing. Board parents suggested that one platform that could store information and could be easily accessed would be more helpful.

I am pleased to announce after researching communication platforms of other schools we have engaged Schoolzine to support our school with a new Parent Engagement Platform, Website and School App. The benefit of Schoolzine products is that they integrate, providing easy access of information to parents.

The Parent Engagement Platform will allow parents to access the latest e-news, print a copy and locate archived newsletters. This platform also stores information such as school policies, uniform and canteen information, school calendar, and staff contacts. Other features include booking events, translating the newsletter into different languages and contacting the school regarding a student absence.

The school app called SZapp allows parents to access newsletters and calendar, report a student absence, call the school and place an order for the canteen.

The Parent Engagement Platform and the app is designed so as current parents can easily access school information.

The school website, while still providing parents with general information about our school is designed more for new families wishing to find out information about programs the school offers and the enrolment process.

We hope to change over to the new Schoolzine products in week 2 of term 2. This will mean that parents will still receive a link to the newsletter via email. You will not need to subscribe as we will transfer all current parent emails over to schoolzine. Parents will need to install the Schoolzine app called SZapp on their phones.

As of Monday 29 April we will no longer be using Flexibuzz to communicate messages to parents.

School Performance- Term 4

This year we will once again be holding a whole school performance. Our performing arts teacher Mrs Trish O’Gorman will be leading our students in a performance on Tuesday 8 October at Kilbreda College. Performance time to be advised and further details will follow.

School Uniform

As the weather is still often mild in the first two weeks of term 2, students may choose to wear either summer or winter uniform until the end of week 2- Thursday 2 May.

School Closure Days Term 2

There is no school for students on Friday 3 May. All staff will engage in Professional Learning off site on this day.