NAPLAN

NAPLAN testing will begin this Wednesday 15 March with the Writing Test component. The remaining tests are spaced over the next week and a half. Please see the timetable below.

Students participating in NAPLAN are asked to bring their laptop power supply in on test days.

Earphones (not Bluetooth) are compulsory for NAPLAN testing. Students who present to the test session with bluetooth earphones or without earphones, will be sold a set - $6 charged to the students’ account. We urge all students to keep the earphones in their pencil case ready for testing sessions. The uniform shop has a small supply of earphones for $6. Earphones must have a 3.5mm standard jack. See images below. Wireless/bluetooth earphones (e.g. Apple air pods) are not compatible.

If you wish to withdraw your student from NAPLAN testing, please contact Megan Munckton, Middle School Coordinator, megan_munckton@shalomcollege.com

Study for Success: Editing Writing

Have you ever noticed that it is easier to spot an error in your writing after it has been printed, posted online, or sent in an email? This is a common experience for our students as well. When I give my students back their exams it’s not uncommon for them to shake their heads at their own mistakes. They certainly did not notice these errors at the time of writing!

The time pressure of exams can make it difficult to edit effectively. When it comes to preparing and submitting an assignment, however, that is not the case. Often it is tempting to simply type up a response, and submit it without checking, but any extra time spent checking a written response is a worthwhile investment in improving student grammatical structure, vocabulary, and punctuation.

Specific tips our teachers give students on this process include:

1. Print out your writing and read it on the page, rather than on screen.
2. Read your work out loud – to yourself or a trusted person. Make notes on what you hear.
3. Take a break from your writing. Come back after a length of time and re-check it with fresh eyes.

As I tell my students, the eye reads what the brain thinks it wrote. The strategies above try to create some ‘distance’ from the work completed to allow the student to identify errors they may otherwise have skimmed over.

Read more on the success of reading out loud as a strategy to find errors here: https://www.learningscientists.org/blog/2022/10/20-1

Preparing for Assessment

As we approach the end of term many students will be working towards assessment. Parents are encouraged to work with their students to develop appropriate homework and study plans – the Record Book is a helpful tool for this purpose. A Homework Study Planner is included for each term (see p.44 and 45 for Term One). A monthly or term overview for your child’s study location at home is also a good strategy.

Parents can access upcoming assessment dates for their children via Sia. Each student has a “Due Work Calendar” that shows upcoming dates for checkpoints, drafts, and exams. To access this calendar for your child in the Sia Smartphone Application please select “My Shalom” and then “Due Work”. On the webpage, an option to select Due Work will show under your child’s photograph on the home page.

Learning Area Coordinators have assigned tasks in each faculty area and class teachers adapt these to specific days/lessons when applicable. Please be aware that some tasks with multiple components may be duplicated in the Due Work Calendar.

Academic Policies and Procedures

It is important to be aware that student assessment is regulated by Shalom’s Academic Policies and Procedures which can be found in the Student Record Book from page 13 to 26. This includes issues surrounding drafting, academic integrity, and non-submission.

Flowcharts outlining the processes required for students who miss an exam or wish to request an extension are on page 15 and 16. Please be aware that extensions need to be applied for in advance of the due date. Drafts are compulsory. Non-submission of a draft may lead to a student being asked to attend a Supplementary Session on Tuesday afternoon. Of particular importance is the requirement for evidence (eg. a medical certificate) for exams missed in all Year 11 and 12 subjects.

Please contact the Middle School Coordinator (Megan Munckton)  megan_munckton@shalomcollege.com or Senior School Coordinator (Larissa Scoles) Larissa_Scoles@shalomcollege.com with any questions regarding assessment submission.

Mrs Patricia Allen
Acting Assistant Principal – Curriculum
allenp@shalomcollege.com