WELCOME YEAR 7 AND NEW STAFF!
We have all been excited to welcome the 2023 students and staff to Greenvale Secondary College. Some new areas have opened to students to use at recess and lunch such as the grassed playing field, basketball court and front courtyard and it certainly feels more like a school now! We are very fortunate also to have another batch of excellent teachers in our school, all excited to be working in the Greenvale community.
THE CLASSROOM
The Year 7 students are settling in and the focus for Term 1 is on establishing good learning routines. Every session of the day, students line up outside the classroom. The teacher checks that students have all their resources so that they are ready to learn. Once in the classroom, students stand behind designated seats and wait to be greeted by the teacher before sitting quietly. It is a priority for us that classrooms are safe, supportive, and productive. Some of our new students are still struggling with learning this routine which is resulting in lunchtime and after-school detentions.
It can take some year 7 students some time to transition into secondary school; for most it will take at least a term. There is a strong partnership between families and the school to enhance this; communication must be strong, and we must work together to establish positive learning habits.
It is our goal that the learning in every classroom is intentional, engaging, targeted and effective. Our teachers work in Professional Learning Communities each Monday afterschool to examine their practice using evidence in an improvement cycle.
STUDENT MANAGEMENT
The following are some simple guidelines that we speak about constantly and would appreciate your support with at home:
- We demonstrate tolerance, respect and kindness to everyone
- We keep our hands to ourselves and respect each other’s space
- We let a teacher (Mentor Teacher or YLL) if we have a problem
- In an argument or conflict, we tell someone to ‘stop’, then walk away and report it to a teacher
- We follow instructions of teachers and staff members
- Violence is not a solution and is not tolerated at Greenvale Secondary College
NAPLAN
The delivery of NAPLAN has been brought forward in Australian schools to run In March (rather than May), beginning Wednesday March 15, 2023. This will mean parents and schools have access to the results earlier in the calendar year to enable a more timely and targeted response. We will schedule one test each day for students Wednesday – Monday and allow for catch up sessions for those who are absent.
WHY DO STUDENTS DO NAPLAN?
From <https://www.nap.edu.au/naplan/for-parents-carers>
As students progress through their school years, it is important to check how well they are learning the essential skills of reading, writing and numeracy.
NAPLAN assesses the literacy and numeracy skills that students are learning through the school curriculum and allows parents/carers to see how their child is progressing against national standards and over time.
NAPLAN is just one aspect of a school’s assessment and reporting process. It does not replace ongoing assessments made by teachers about student performance, but it can provide teachers with additional information about students’ educational progress.
NAPLAN also provides schools, education authorities and governments with information about how education programs are working and whether young Australians are achieving important educational outcomes in literacy and numeracy.
WHAT CAN I DO TO SUPPORT MY CHILD?
Students are not expected to study for NAPLAN. You can support your child by reassuring them that NAPLAN is a part of their school program and reminding them to simply do their best. Some familiarisation and explanation of NAPLAN is useful to help students understand and be comfortable with the format of the tests. Teachers will ensure students are familiar with the types of questions in the tests and will provide appropriate support and guidance.
ACARA does not recommend excessive preparation for NAPLAN or the use of services by coaching providers.
See the types of questions and tools available in the online NAPLAN assessments at the public demonstration site https://www.nap.edu.au/naplan/public-demonstration-site.
It is important that students are prepared and have their charged laptop each day and headphones. There are still a small number of students who do not have their own device (laptop). It is only possible to borrow a school device for short term. Please contact the Office to discuss options for purchasing a device.
