Talking About Their Day

As we enter the mid-way point of term 1, it’s important to have conversations with your child about their day.  Studies have shown talking about school can boost their mental health, happiness and wellbeing.  But how do you get more than a one-word answer from the question: How was school?

At San Clemente, we utilise Lyn Sharratt’s CLARITY framework to make learning visible and foster meaningful discussions between the teacher and student.  The CLARITY framework has also been adapted to guide conversations between parents and children:

1. What did you learn today?
2. How did you go?
3. What did you do if you didn’t understand?
4. How can you improve on your learning?
5. What are you most proud of?

Whilst these questions may initially feel awkward, incorporating them into your conversations will encourage reflection and promote a deeper understanding of your child’s educational journey.  Next time you’re cooking dinner, why not invite your child to join in and initiate a conversation using these questions?

NAPLAN 2025

Stating March 12^th, all Year 7 and Year 9 students will participate in the Australian NAPLAN tests, covering Writing, Reading, Conventions of Language, and Numeracy.  To prepare, students undertook two NAPLAN Practice Tests on Thursday 27^th February.  The practice tests provided an opportunity for students to familiarise themselves with the lockdown browser and experience the Writing (Persuasive) and Omnibus Tests (combination of Reading, Conventions of Language and Numeracy tests).  Students results in the Practice Tests were not recorded or marked. 

For the NAPLAN tests commencing Wednesday of Week 6, students will need a fully charged laptop, pen, and headphones.  Calculators are not permitted in the test, though an online calculator will be available for relevant questions.  If a student is absent on the day of a test, they will complete their test in one of the catch-up sessions provided during the testing window.

If you have any questions regarding the NAPLAN tests, please contact the school.

Planned Assessment and Stage 5 Assessment Handbooks

Later this week, students in Years 7-8 will receive an assessment calendar that identifies the week summative assessment tasks are due or will take place on.  As Years 7 & 8 are not required to follow the formal procedures for absenteeism as Years 9 and 10, they will not receive a handbook. 

Students in Years 9 and 10 will receive their respective assessment handbooks.  To ensure understanding of the requirements around assessments in Stage 5, I will guide students through the handbook in a year meeting.  The assessment handbooks provide crucial information about the assessment process, including its importance for learning, guidelines for absenteeism and malpractice during assessments, and procedures for seeking extensions due to unforeseen circumstances.  Each year group now has a dedicated handbook featuring an Assessment Calendar and Assessment Schedules, offering families a comprehensive overview of assessment tasks for the year.

Whilst we strive to adhere to the scheduled assessment dates, slight adjustments may be necessary due to unforeseen events.  Students and families will be promptly notified of any changes. 

I encourage parents to refer to the calendar when booking holidays to avoid conflicting schedules and familiarise themselves with the procedures around assessments relevant to your child’s learning.

Warm Regards