NAPLAN ONLINE COMMENCES
Well done to our Year 7 and 9 students in the manner in which they have commenced the NAPLAN tests this week.
The online tests have commenced smoothly with students sitting the Writing Test on Wednesday and the Reading Test on Friday. They will sit the Language Conventions and Numeracy Tests next Monday 17 May 2021 and Tuesday 18 May 2021. NAPLAN catch-up tests will be held next week from Wednesday to Friday (Week 5).
INTRODUCING P.E.E.L.
Students at the College are presented with the P.E.E.L. Paragraph Writing technique to support them structure paragraphs. This helps students to express their thoughts and opinions to the reader. P.E.E.L. is an acronym for Point, Explanation, Evidence and Link. P.E.E.L. posters are being placed in all classrooms around the College.
STUDY SKILLS TIP – SET TIMES FOR HOME LEARNING
It is recommended that students have set allocated times for home learning. Many students find that learning in 20-30 minute blocks works well for them. During this time students should do homework first, then work on any assignments or upcoming tests, then use the rest of the time allocated for schoolwork to complete independent learning activities such as reviewing work they find difficult, making study notes or doing practice questions to build their skills. All distractions should be removed during this time, so students learn to focus for 20-30 minute blocks of time. It is a good idea to make a timetable of the home learning and place it on the fridge so everyone is clear when students are focusing and when they are doing other activities.
PREPARING FOR EXAM BLOCKS
With the Years 7 – 10 Examination Block commencing in Week 6, families are encouraged to access the Study Skills Module “Preparing for Exam Blocks”. The module provides students with a range of strategies to support them in best preparing for the assessments. Following are the login details to access the Study Skills Handbook Modules:
Link: www.studyskillshandbook.com.au
Username: edmundrice Password: 13achieve
WORK EXPERIENCE REQUESTS
A reminder that all Work Experience requests need to be initially forwarded to the College Careers Advisor, Mrs Jenny Hodson. Students are required to complete compulsory paperwork that must be completed and received by the Careers Advisor at least one week prior to the proposed work experience. This includes paperwork for parents/carers, students, employers and the College. For further information about Work Experience, please do not hesitate to contact Mrs Jenny Hodson.
PROJECT BASED LEARNING
Year 7 students in the Enrichment Class will be engaging in Project Based Learning (PBL) in the coming months. They will be working on two PBL experiences. The first project, ‘When in Rome’, integrates Outcomes from the English and History syllabuses and involves the students recreating an aspect of daily life in the Roman Empire so that an audience has an immersive experience of what it would be like to be alive at that time. The second project, ‘Project Moonshot’, integrates Outcomes from the Science and Mathematics syllabuses and involves students exploring the mathematics and physics of flight and its real-world application through the context of rocketry. Thank you to the teachers who will be facilitating this experience for the students: Ms Davey (History / Mathematics), Mrs Thompson (Science) and Mr Booyar-Rybak (English). A special thank you to Ms Ndaira (Teacher Librarian) who has been driving and leading this initiative. Ms Ndaira will be providing updates on the progress of this initiative to the community through our College newsletter.
ENRICHMENT TESTS
On the weekend, 58 Year 6 students from primary schools throughout the Illawarra and Shellharbour sat the Year 7 2022 Enrichment Test at the College. The test covered Mathematics, Reading and Writing. The students also had the opportunity to meet students from other schools. They will be seeking a place in the Year 7 Enrichment Class in 2022. The College was very impressed in how the students conducted themselves.
PROBLEM OF THE FORTNIGHT:
Two birds start flying from the tops of two towers 50 metres apart; one tower is 30 metres high and the other 40 metres high. Starting at the same time and flying at the same rate, the birds reach a fountain between the bases of the towers at the same moment. How far is the fountain from each tower?
A SOLUTION TO THE LAST PROBLEM:
The boy is 16 years 6 months.
WORDS OF THE FORTNIGHT:
Following is a link to spelling lists and rules contained in 2021 newsletters. Click on the link and ask your son(s) to spell these words and use them in a context. https://bit.ly/3tTMKQk
Mr Sozio
Director of Learning and Teaching