Dear Parents

This week our students in Grade 3 and Grade 5 were involved in completing activities for NAPLAN. This National Assessment has progressed rapidly over the last three years with many schools now sitting the activities online, including us here at St Mary’s. Debate over the value of NAPLAN has been evident since it started with all teachers, students and parents having different opinions. We use the results of NAPLAN to check it against other assessments to work out gaps or links to improve our teaching and helping students. It is one of many assessments that are completed at school. Others include PAT English and PAT Maths, Letter ID, BAS for English, MAI (maths interview), Spelling Assessments- the list is long and also includes anecdotal notes during the course of each day. The reason I am sharing this is to reassure you that NAPLAN is not everything - it is one small part of each child’s learning journey.

NAPLAN is intended to measure the growth of each child in the years leading up to the test. Within these guidelines it organises each child to see where on that day they sit in relation to other children in the state of Victoria and Australia. The data also can be used to help the secondary school understand more about a child’s learning before they enter Year 7. This is common practice at Catholic College Sale. All children at St Mary’s are encouraged and supported during NAPLAN and they have undertaken each task diligently.

National Reconciliation Week begins on Thursday, 27th May and concludes on June 3rd. This year’s theme - More than a Word: Reconciliation Takes Action. Thursday, 27th May is the anniversary of the 1967 Referendum which saw over 90% of Australian voters choose, yes. Yes, to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people being counted in the census and yes to the Government to create laws that could assist in addressing inequalities. At school we will be completing some whole school activities and are also in the process of updating our website to include an acknowledgement of Welcome to Country and some of the resources available to both homes and schools. 

Catholic Education Week will be celebrated at St Mary’s between May, 21st and May, 28th this month. The theme for this year is : Faith in the future- I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.

Our school will be open for kindergarten children and other families who may like a school tour. For children in kinder this is the first step in the process of enrolling for the 2022 school year. Families will be able to make an appointment for enrolment interviews and take information packs on the days of the tours.

Tuesday, 25th May- 9am-11am

Wednesday, 26th May- 9am-11am

Thursday, 27th May-9am -11am 

We hope to see many families come and see our school during this week.

I hope you all have a great weekend.

Jason