Dear parents,

Thank you to all parents who attended the Parent Information Night on Tuesday. I hope you found it beneficial.

All parents should have received an overview outlining what is happening this term in their child’s class. If you did not receive an overview, please contact your child’s teacher.

This week I have received correspondence from the body corporate representing the residents from the units opposite to our school on Wimmera St. They have asked parents to refrain from taking a short cut through their units as this is private property and poses a safety risk for residents. I ask parents to please respect their request.

Testing and School Targets

Over the next few weeks all students from years one to six will undertake a suite of tests we call PAT. These tests allow all teachers to see where their children are at and to design teaching activities to match the students needs. All classes (1-6) undertake the numeracy and reading assessments while the older grades also do a vocabulary test. In term two, years three and five sit NAPLAN.  Both testing regimes use standardized tests which allow us to compare how our students are performing against other schools, systems, and states, as well as nationally.

Each year we set school targets based on our NAPLAN results and these are communicated to parents. With NAPLAN taking place at the start of term 2, and results not being available until later in the year, the goals are set to be reported in two years time. The two year gap also allows for us to report on the same cohort of students as our year three students would have progressed to year five. It also allows us to see individual growth for all students across each band which is one of the key pieces of information we look for. Our results from 2019 will be reported on this year. The targets set in 2019 and to be reported on after this years NAPLAN results are:

• 2021 Targets
  
  • In Numeracy, to move the students currently sitting in band 4 (39% - Year Three) to bands 7 and 8 by Year Five.
  • Improve students’ writing across the school by using the NAPLAN Marking Guide – Elements of Writing; to teach and assess each writing element explicitly while linking it to the Seven Steps for Writing Success. Linked to this will be an increased focus on word processing and keyboarding skills. Our aim is to move our Year Three students where approximately 76% are in Bands 4 and 5 to Bands 7 and 8 by Year Five.

Last year NAPLAN was cancelled due to COVID and we were unable to report on the targets set in 2018. These targets were.

• 2020 Targets
  • For all students to achieve at least one year’s growth in PAT Maths.
  • Increase the percentage of numeracy students achieving above expected growth in Year 5.
  • Increase the percentage of students in Years 3 & 5 sitting in the top three bands to match the state.
  • In spelling, move the students in Year 5 from Bands 4-6 into Bands 7 & 8

With no NAPLAN data in 2020 we have been unable to set targets for 2022. This particularly impacts on our current year four students as while we can see individual results next year, we can’t see growth over the two years. Our current year six students will have the same issues when they sit NAPLAN in 2022.

Every year we share NAPLAN data with parents across the school. This is available on our website at https://www.motherteresa.act.edu.au/naplan-results. 

Since a review carried out six years ago by the Australian Council for Education Research we have placed a lot of emphasis on improving students outcomes and this is evidenced in our improved results over the last few years. We have another ACER review happening this term and have prepared an overview of our results over the last few years. The tables are reproduced below.

This year our focus will be on implementing the general capabilities across the school. Miss Jeffries has been leading this and parents will receive further information in this newsletter and newsletters to come. This will allow parents to deepen their understanding as the capabilities are now included in school reports.

School Fees

Term 1 school fees will be emailed next week.  If you do not receive your fee statement please contact the front office.

God Bless

Peter Hughes