Golden Grove High School Golden Grove High School iCARE – identity, Care, Achievement, Respect, Excellence. TERM 1 | ISSUE 3 13 April 2017 2017 1 Adey Place, Golden Grove South Australia 5125 Principal’s Column Peter Kuss | Principal T: (08) 8282 6400 F: (08) 8282 6499 E: [email protected] Term 1 Reports The term is rapidly coming to a close. www.goldengrovehs.sa.edu.au into a final report that will be approved Teachers have been furiously completing by DECD and then shared with the their marking and reconciling their school community early next term via assessments to determine Term 1 grades. the school’s website. Inside this issue This year, all Year 8-12 classes are being We have received a draft report that assessed using A+ to E- grades. This identifies aspects of school performance Page 2: allows teachers to provide finer grain detail • Naplan 2017 that were noted as strengths and others in their marking and provides students with • Term 1 Reports and Parent/Teacher that represent areas for development. clear feedback about their achievements Interviews We know that we will receive four formal in each of their assessment tasks. Term 1 • Y10 Work Experience directions to be addressed over the next reports indicate progress grades. These Page 3 4 years before we are again externally are finalised at the end of Term 2 once • ATSI Forum reviewed in 2021. The directions will • Farewell to Matsumoto High all of the work for the semester has been focus on: Page 4: assessed. Parent Teacher Interviews • National Day Against Bullying are scheduled for Thursday 4 May from • Effectively engaging and • Harmony Week 2:00pm to 7:30pm. Subject Teachers intellectually challenging students in Page 5: have indicated on the reports whether their learning • Vista Athletics an interview is Requested or Optional. • Developing and implementing a • Sports Day Report We ask that families prioritise attending school wide understanding of high • Cricket Achievement for Zac Page 6: an interview if one has been requested quality, best practice pedagogy • Parenting Forum Report because we know that better outcomes • Driving continuous school • One+ Careers Expo for students are achieved when the school improvement through action plans Page 7: and home work in partnership. aligned to key professional learning • EXCEL - World Scholar’s Cup External School Review • Evaluating the effectiveness and • UN Youth Representatives Page 8: The school was recently externally impact of improvement plans on • EXCEL news cont. reviewed by a DECD panel of four student achievement. • Isaac to attend Special Olympics experienced Principals. The review panel I look forward to sharing with the school Page 9: met individually with all school leaders, community how these directions will • International Women’s Day more than half of the staff, approximately translate into action over the remainder • PLP Community Involvement 60 students and 6 parents. The panel also of this year. Page 10: visited classrooms, attended Learning Have a wonderful Easter and holiday • Y8 Japanese Recital Competition Area meetings and experienced a whole • Y11 Lunctime Volleyball break and we look forward to welcoming school assembly celebrating Harmony • Success in Karate all of the students back on Monday 1 • Y11 Maths Experience Day. May. Page 11: The evidence collected over the three Peter Kuss • Notices days is now being collated and condensed Principal Page 12: • Dates to Remember Thursday 4 May Year 8 - 12 Students Dismiss at 1.05pm Parent/Teacher Interviews 2.00 to 7.30pm YEAR 10 WORK NAPLAN 2017 EXPERIENCE 2017 All Year 9 students will be involved in NAPLAN testing during Week 2 of Term 2. As in previous years all Year 10 students The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is an assessment will be undertaking Work Experience program for Year 3, Year 5, Year 7 and Year 9 students, testing knowledge and skills in during the week Monday 25 September – aspects of literacy and numeracy. Golden Grove High School will be administering paper Friday 29 September. This is during Week based tests again in 2017. 10 of Term 3. The week is a significant part of learning in Year 10 and is very In 2017 the Year 9 tests will be held on Tuesday 9 May, Wednesday 10 May and Thursday much enjoyed by the students. All Year 10 11 May. All Year 9 students are expected to participate in the NAPLAN tests unless students and families have received a letter withdrawal approval is negotiated with the Principal before the start of testing. This can be and the Agreement Form either through organised by contacting Mr Mike Meredith at school on 8282 6400. their Personal Learning Plan teacher or As a school we value the data provided by the NAPLAN tests; it allows us to better support Home Group teacher. individuals in improving their literacy and numeracy as well as identifying and improving It is our expectation that all students make whole school learning in these areas. We ask for your support in ensuring that all students every attempt to find their own Work complete these tests giving us the best possible information to act upon. Experience and utilize their own networks Information related to NAPLAN: to approach workplaces that may support their learning in an area of interest. Those • NAPLAN tests are administered simultaneously in all schools across Australia. students who are undertaking PLP during The aspects of literacy assessed are reading, writing and language conventions first semester will be provided with support (comprising spelling, punctuation and grammar) by their PLP teacher whilst students who • The aspects of numeracy assessed are number; algebra, function and pattern; are doing PLP in the second semester measurement, chance and data; working mathematically and space will be provided with support from their • NAPLAN tests are another way of finding out what students can and cannot do so Home Group teacher and additional support by Ms. Burton. All students will that support can be provided. Students do not have to learn specific skills for NAPLAN also be required to undertake a mandatory tests Workplace Safety module. Home Group • Students have an opportunity to become familiar with the NAPLAN tests and with and PLP teachers will provide students ways of showing their answers to questions before they do the tests with information and a worksheet on how • NAPLAN individual student reports show the achievement of an individual student in a to find work experience which they should series of bands, against national minimum standards and the ranges of achievement bring home. for the middle 60% of students in Australia Students will be required to have the work • NAPLAN individual student reports are expected to be ready for distribution to parents/ experience organised by end of Term 2 so caregivers during August/September. The test results will add to existing assessment that we are able to process forms, contact workplaces and prepare students and knowledge for each student and will assist in identifying intervention strategies that staffing for the week. provide the greatest advantage for improvement and progress. Please encourage your son or daughter For further information refer to the NAPLAN website www.nap.edu.au or to make an appointment early in Term 2 to DECD https://www.decd.sa.gov.au/teaching/assessment/naplan meet with Ms. Burton in the P@th Office in Thiele to support this process if they If you have any questions regarding the NAPLAN tests please contact Mr Mike Meredith require extra help. at school. Thanks. Ms. Ruth Burton Mr Mike Meredith Leader Vocational Learning/ Assistant Principal Student Pathways TERM 1 PROGRESS REPORTS AND PARENT TEACHER INTERVIEW DAY/NIGHT Term 1 progress reports will be available on DayMap by Thursday 13 April 2017, for both students and parents/caregivers. As part of our assessment and reporting process, Term 1 progress reports will be followed up by interviews. Parent Teacher Interviews will take place on: Thursday 4 May 2017 from 2.00 pm to 7.30 pm All interviews will take place in the DRMC, Thiele Library and the Unit. Students will be dismissed at 1.05 pm so that interviews can take place. These interviews will allow discussions between you, your child and his/her subject teachers. Interviews will be kept to a maximum of ten minutes to ensure that teachers are able to see the majority of parents/caregivers who request an interview. You will have received information that provides specific details which you require to request an appointment. Requesting an appointment can be made using the internet-based booking system called Parent Teacher On-Line (PTO), accessed on the school’s website. The staff of Golden Grove High School look forward to meeting with you to discuss your student’s progress and achievement in Term 1. Toni Carellas Deputy Principal ATSI STUDENT FORUM On Friday 17 March our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, along with special guests and teachers, gathered in the Dame Roma Mitchell lecture theatre to listen to some of their distinguished elders tell “their personal story” and share the journey they have taken to achieve their dreams and celebrate their success. Our guests were Rhian Miller, AIME Institute manager who is currently studying teaching at Uni SA, Mr Shane Tongerie who works within the Department for Youth Justice, Mrs Glennis Warrior, DECD Northern Area Manager, Ms Allysia Weetra, Mr Luke Booth and Mr Travis Perry- Quantas. The students were attentive listeners and provided some valuable feedback about what their take home messages were: “You have to work hard for what you want.” “Be what YOU want to be, not what others are.” “Enjoy the small moments.” “With willpower and determination you can succeed.” “Get an education and you will have the life you want.” Some excellent questions and answers wrapped up the forum and of course a lovely shared recess spread of cakes and fruit was enjoyed by all.