No Images? Click here Using and evaluating evidence is an important part of being an adaptive educator. Tracking student progress over time and using this evidence to directly inform practice is an important aspect of developing as a teacher. As educators, we draw our evidence from numerous sources, one of these is NAPLAN. The NAPLAN process is essentially a 12 month cycle from testing to the final release of data. Whilst families received their daughter’s individual reports at the end of Term 3, four months after testing, the national statistics and comparative school data continues to arrive. The significant lag time between the students sitting the exams, schools receiving the results, and the release of the national analysis, in addition to concerns which have been raised about the testing instruments provides an opportunity to reflect on the way we use these results. Currently, PLC uses the NAPLAN data as one piece of evidence to help inform curriculum design and track student progress. The recent Grattan Institute report – Measuring student progress (October 2018) not only provides a commentary about NAPLAN but also suggestions about how best the data can be used to support teaching and learning. Some of the key points from the report are:
The real takeaway from a PLC perspective is that it reinforces the comprehensive structures and systems we have in place to track the academic progress of every student. The work carried out on a daily basis by the Learning Co-ordinators to track the academic progress of every girl, provides the evidence for teachers at PLC to personalise the learning. This work is complemented by the regular analysis carried out by the Teaching and Learning Team which informs the development of curriculum improvement plans in every subject area and across the School. It does, however, prompt the need to review the standardised testing instruments we currently use to ensure that teachers have access to a rigorous understanding of all our students and that these testing instruments have the have capacity to measure the longitudinal progress of student learning in a way which is both reliable and valid. - Dr Andrew Cousins, Deputy Principal Friday 9 November and Saturday 10 NovemberLower Senior School Production, A Christmas Carol, 7.00 pm. Friday 16 NovemberPrincipal’s Thank You Sundowner, 6.00 pm – 8.00 pm. Thursday 6 DecemberLast day of Term 4 Thursday 6 DecemberSenior School Speech Night, 5.30 pm arrival time, HBF stadium. Congratulations to Isabelle Ricciardello whose winning design in the Uniting Care West’s Design a Card Competition will go to print next week. Proceeds will be used to raise funds to transform the Tranby Shelter and support people experiencing homelessness. Year 8 Family Project Bread RunPlease note the recent change of bread collection from Melville Bakers Delight to Kardinya Bakers Delight. Click here for further information. Term 4 Christmas AppealChristmas is a time of the year that can be especially tough if you are experiencing financial hardship. Our Christmas Appeal supports local community members who are experiencing financial crisis, homelessness, domestic violence and mental health issues. Food donations close on Monday 26 November in readiness for delivery through UnitingCare West. Please click here for further information. - Chonny James, Director of Wellbeing As we move towards the end of the year, several culminating events take place in the Junior School that demonstrate the students' commitment to their learning and the community spirit that exists within the Junior School. Two such events are the Year 6 Exhibition and the Pre-Primary Nativity. Both events showcase the School’s transdisciplinary approach to teaching and learning and also celebrate students as learners. Pre-Primary NativityThe Pre-Primary Nativity is one of the first opportunities for the cohort to work together to produce a shared collaborative performance. This draws upon students' abilities to cooperate but also create a work, which is an application of their skills, knowledge and understandings across a variety of disciplines. This performance is a much loved one in which Pre-Primary students take great pride and show great excitement in sharing their learning with parents and the community. Year 6 ExhibitionThe Year 6 Exhibition is similar in nature, however, it is one of the last opportunities a Primary Years Programme student will have to communicate themselves as learners before transitioning to the Senior School. It also sees students explore issues and areas of interest within the local community, again drawing on upon the skills, knowledge and understandings gained over the entirety of the primary years experience. - Jennifer Rickwood, Deputy Head of Junior School - Teaching and Learning JUNIOR SCHOOL KEY EVENTSJunior School Assembly – hosted by Year 1 Date: Friday 2 November Junior School Orientation Day Years 2 - 6 Date: Friday 16 November Pre-Primary Nativity Date: Wednesday 21 November Year 6 Final Assembly Date: Friday 23 November Year 6 End of Year Celebration Date: Friday 23 November Suzuki Christmas Concert Date: Tuesday 27 November Junior School End of Year Assembly Date: Tuesday 4 December Last day of Term 4 – Thursday 6 December Please note the early finish time – 1.00 pm My first grandchild made his grand entrance into this world last Saturday amidst overwhelming joy. As a grandparent, I find myself thinking about how I can contribute to making Fletcher’s life a comfortable, happy and fulfilling one; how I can help him make sense of the world, which has been described as ‘one great blooming buzzing confusion’! We all know how confusion makes us feel. The question is how do we process this confusion? Psychology and scientific research has found that our brains seek patterns, make predictions about the future and orient our behavior in line with those predictions. The problem is that the brain can’t gather all of the information required to make an accurate prediction. Because of this, it fires off warnings which result in feelings of uncertainty and degrees of anxiety. Rituals have been found to be particularly good at helping to quell the stress of life’s uncertainties because of their calming properties. Their repetitive nature creates order and structure and a sense of personal control. Engaging in ritualized events can trick the brain into thinking that it’s experiencing the pleasant state of predictability and stability. In stressful situations, the brain will subconsciously lead us to engage in ritualized activities as a compensatory mechanism. I used to think things like wearing the same set of underclothes in every basketball match (like Michael Jordan did) or putting the left sock on before the right to ensure a good day were just superstition, but it seems there is a science behind these practices. In society, we engage in rituals around birthdays, Christmas and other significant religious and cultural occasions. These and the rituals we have at school – our Assemblies, Speech Nights, special occasions such as Valedictory and even those in an every-day class, are not just about tradition but actually serve to provide a sense of certainty, security and predictability. The newest member of our family won’t be enjoying PLC rituals in the future (for obvious reasons), but the family rituals we already have established will be important in providing him with a sense of his own place and space in the world; just as our school and your own family rituals do for your daughters. I will be out of the School next week on one of our school rituals – the Year 9 Outdoor Education Programme! In my absence, please contact the relevant Deputy Head of Senior School – Emma Haining (Years 11 and 12), Jenny Crisp (Years 9 and 10) or Victoria Kelleher (Years 7 and 8). - Sharon Anderson, Head of Senior School Student AchievementsA few talented PLC poets were among the award winners at this year's Roland Leach Poetry Prize. PLC was even named the “most poetic school” due to the number of prize winners!
The International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS) Maths Competition saw approximately 6,300 schools in Australia and New Zealand participate in ICAS competitions throughout the year. A High Distinction is given to the top 1% of all participants, and a Distinction for the next 10% of participants. PLC also had 53 students that received Credit certificates (the next 25% of participants) and 6 students that received Merit certificates (the next 10% of participants). This year, Shan Yu Lim (Year 8) achieved the highest score in her year group in WA! Many other PLC girls received some incredible results. Click here to see the full list of results. Congratulations, girls! Boarding House NewsLots of fun in the Boarding House last night – Halloween mischief, fun and games. Read more in Boarding House News. Career NewsDownload Career News below. SENIOR SCHOOL KEY EVENTSYear 9 Outdoor Education Programme Round 2 Parent - Daughter Caving and Abseiling Weekend Date: Saturday 17 November and Sunday 18 November Advent Service and Awards Assembly Date: Monday 3 December Christmas Assembly Date: Thursday 6 December Speech Night Date: Thursday 6 December Do you know a family who has yet to experience our wonderful Early Learning Centre? Let them know about an upcoming Open Morning on Saturday 10 November! The PLC difference:
Open Garden Day Raffle Winners
Upcoming Parent EventsYear 8 Parent DrinksDate: Friday 9 November Year 12 Parents End of Year Drinks EveningDate: Saturday 17 November Year 5 Parent Christmas Drinks Date: Saturday 17 November PLC Jute BagsIf you missed out on these at the Open Garden Day, you can purchase direct from kirstybarrett@iinet.net.au. Proceeds will go to Open Garden day. |