Dear Parents,

Next week students in Year Three and Year Five undertake the Federal Governments National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN). While this is an important test, the school also assesses student knowledge throughout the year using a variety of assessment methods. At the moment staff are analysing the results of DIBELS (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills) testing to see which students need extra support to enhance their literacy skills. Besides standardized tests, teachers also gauge students progress through observation, examining work samples, end of unit testing and discussions with the student.

Last year our NAPLAN results were outstanding, placing students at St Mary’s in the top 1% of students in NSW. The challenge for us is to maintain above average results given the students sitting the tests differ from year to year. We wish our students the best of luck.

I also pass on the blessings of the entire school community to our Year Four students who will be making their First Reconciliation tomorrow at St Mary’s Church.

Each year the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is undertaken by students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9. Students will participate in tests for writing, reading, conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy.

NAPLAN 2024 will take place from Wednesday 13 March to Monday 25 March.

NAPLAN is just one part of our school learning assessment program. The tests assess literacy and numeracy skills your child is already learning at school.

In preparation for NAPLAN, our school will undertake activities to help students become familiar with the format and functionality of the online tests. These activities are not an assessment of student ability and will not be marked. Excessive preparation for NAPLAN is not required nor recommended.

The public demonstration site (https://www.nap.edu.au/online-assessment/public-demonstration-site) is available to see the types of questions, tools and functions used in the NAPLAN tests. 

Further information about NAPLAN is available on the NESA website (https://educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/wps/portal/nesa/k-10/understanding-the-curriculum/naplan/parent-information). 

If you have any questions about NAPLAN, please contact your child’s teacher.

TESTING TIMETABLE AT ST MARY’S

Our NAPLAN testing times for Year 3 and Year 5 will be:

Week 7:

• Wednesday 13th March - Year 3 Writing 9am - 10am                                                                             Year 5 Writing 10am - 11am (Note change of date)

• Thursday 14th March - Year 3 Reading 9am - 10am & Con. of Lang. 10.10am - 11am. (Fruit break in between)

• Friday 15th March - Year 3 Numeracy 9am -10am

Year 8 :

• Monday 18th March - Year 5 Reading 9.00am - 10.00am

• Tuesday19th March  Con. of Lang. 9.00am 10am. 

• Wednesday 20th March - Numeracy 9am -10am

If you have made appointments for your son or daughter during any of their testing times and these can not be re-arranged, please contact your classroom teacher or Mrs Thompson as soon as possible, to let them know. 

Just a reminder that If a student is absent due to illness, they will be required to make up the test they missed before they can sit any future ones as ACARA stipulates the testing sequence. Mrs Thompson will be managing the make-up testing schedule and will communicate with those students when the make-ups will take place.  

We encourage you to help your child(ren) to stay calm and remind them that NAPLAN is just a snapshot of their learning and only ONE measure of their achievement. Please refer to the attached advice regarding children’s wellbeing during NAPLAN. 

Sacrament of Reconciliation

Tomorrow, Saturday March 9th at 4:30 pm at St Mary’s Church, our Year 4 students will receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  

We ask members of our community to keep these children in our prayers over the weekend.

Project Compassion Appeal

The theme of Project Compassion this year is For All Future Generations, with Caritas Australia highlighting the inspiring journeys of three resilient women.

This week, students followed Memory, raised in the Mwanza district of southern Malawi alongside her four siblings, on her journey to become the first female carpenter from her village.

Archdiocesan Swimming Carnival

Well done to all our swimmers that attended the Archdiocesan Swimming Carnival in Boorowa on Monday. It was a terrific day and everyone showed such enthusiasm with many PBs and a tremendous effort!

Congratulations to Chloe Buck who was named Snr Girl Champion! Chloe achieved maximum points for the day which is an outstanding achievement!

A big well done to our small yet determined squad who will now represent the Canberra-Goulburn Archdiocese at the upcoming MacKillop swimming Championships in Sydney on April 3rd:

Evie Brodbeck - 8yrs 50m Free

Rory Brodbeck - Snr 200m IM, Snr Breaststroke,

Chloe Buck - 100m Free, 12yrs 50m Free, Snr Breaststroke, Back & Fly, & Snr 200m IM

Kynan Burgess - 11yrs 50m Free & 11 yrs Fly

Sam Presser - 100m Free, 12yrs 50m Free & Snr Fly

Snr Boys Relay Team - Sam Presser, Jesse Gault, Rory Brodbeck & Kynan Burgess

Snr Girls Relay Team - Myami Robinson, Chloe Buck, Kate Aston & Harlee Cartwright

We wish you all the very best of luck and will be cheering you on during the livestream!!!

Archdiocesan Rugby League & Netball Trials

We wish the following students the best of luck as they compete for selection in the Archdiocesan Rugby League (12s & 11s) Team and the Archdiocesan Netball Team next Tuesday in Lyneham:

Rugby League

Jesse Gault (12s)

Nixon Gault (11s)

Tom McKnight (11s)

Kynan Burgess (11s)

Oscar McRae (11s)

Ollie Harden (11s)

Netball

Daisy Sullivan

Annabel Bailey

We also wish Oscar Wright and Arthur Wright the best of luck as they compete in the NSW Netball Primary All Schools Boys 12 Years & Under Selection Trial 2024 in Wagga next Wednesday.

School Cross Country Information

Our Cross Country Carnival will be held on Thursday 21st March at The Young Golf Course. 

* 5, 6, 7 and 8 year olds will run 1 km.

PLEASE NOTE …… IF YOUR CHILD IS TURNING 8 AND WISHES TO BE ELIGIBLE TO COMPETE AT THE WESTERN REGION CARNIVAL THEY WILL NEED TO RUN 2KM AGAINST THE 9 YEAR OLDS. IF YOU WISH FOR YOUR CHILD TO RUN WITH THE 9 YEAR OLDS PLEASE LET ME KNOW VIA EMAIL.

* 9 and 10 year olds will run 2 km.

*11 and 12 year olds will run 3 km.

CHILDREN DO NOT COMPETE IN GRADE GROUPS – THEY COMPETE AS THE AGE THEY ARE TURNING OR HAVE ALREADY TURNED IN 2024 REGARDLESS OF THE GRADE YEAR THEY ARE IN.

 Following is the format for the day:

• 9:15am – 5,6,7 and 8yrs doing 1km will be taken by bus to the Golf Course. They will follow a golf cart around the course and will begin at approximately 9.30am.
• 10:00am – Buses will return the 5/6 year olds and bring the 9 and 10 year olds to the Golf Course and wait to return 7 and 8 year olds back to school. The 9 and 10 year olds (including any 8 yr olds competing for WR Selection) will begin their races (following the golf cart) at around 10.30.
• 11.15am – Buses will bring 11 and 12/13 year olds to the Golf Course and wait to return the 9 and 10 year olds back to school. The 11 and 12/13 year olds will begin their races (following a golf cart) at around 11:30am.
• Approx. 12:00pm – All remaining students will return to school by bus.

PLEASE NOTE, THE TIMES ABOVE ARE APPROXIMATE TIMES ONLY. While we do our best to stick to the times given, we may run early or late. All students will be given a sticker with a unique number which will be recorded at the completion of the race to establish placings. 

ALL CHILDREN ARE TO WEAR THEIR SPORTS UNIFORM. They will take their bag to the golf club with their hats, sunscreen, fruit break and a drink. The canteen will operate normally for the day.

Any students with asthma indicated on their medical information must have their puffers in their pockets for the entire race and ensure they’re wearing their asthma band they received from their teacher. Students with asthma will not be permitted to race without their puffer.

Any assistance you can offer on the day would be greatly appreciated. In order to ensure the day runs smoothly we really need people to supervise at checkpoints. If you can help on the day please let me know via email. leonne.challen@cg.catholic.edu.au