Reports will be out soon for Term 1 work and so it’s a key time to reflect with your child on the efforts that they are putting in at school each day and on their ‘at home’ tasks and assignment work. Questions to ask them, as a good place to start are;

• Do they think they are putting in their best each lesson and all lesson?
• What is getting in the way of them doing their best?

Term 1 Reports are interim reports, giving grades to indicate your student’s academic progress as well as their effort and behaviour in each subject. If you do not have an email address registered at PBC, then a Report will be mailed home.

Parent interviews are on in Week 3 (11, 12 and 13 May) and I would encourage you to meet with your child's teachers to work together to get the best outcomes for them. 

Along with reflecting on this completed term it's also the time to set some goals for the new term and what actions will be needed to achieve them. I ask our teachers and our students to challenge themselves in this goal setting as it’s from discomfort and pushing ourselves that great growth will come.

NAPLAN

In Week 4 and 5 our Year 7 and 9s will be sitting NAPLAN exams, these exam results are used by our English and Maths teachers to tailor programs to continue to build on the literacy and numeracy skills as the students move on to the next year level. At PBC we also value these tests as research has shown that they are the best indicator of future academic success. We are encouraging students to follow our motto of doing their best when it comes to these exams. Our staff and those at the primary schools have been working on building the skills needed for these exams for years but there are little things that can be done in these last few weeks.

Exams are one of those times in life where we have to prepare for our best performance a bit like a job interview or a grand final. Yes there is stress in these moments and it’s important to talk to your child and share how you manage yourself in a situation where you have to bring your best performance. Other factors that will help, that as a parent you can support them with, will be getting enough sleep, eating healthily, doing some physical activity and not over scheduling them in the lead up.

This year the tests are spread out over two weeks from Tuesday 11 May to Thursday 20 May, students will be sitting the following:

• Language Conventions 40 minutes
• Writing 65 minutes
• Reading 45 minutes
• Numeracy 65 minutes

Students will sit these during timetabled English classes, with their teacher, in the room that they would usually have English. NAPLAN this year will be completed online as adaptive tests and so there is no need to timetable them all to be done at the same time.

Should your child be absent for any of the tests, they will be provided with a catch-up session on Friday 21 May 2021.

Students require their school laptops charged for the day as usual and a pair of headphones. They will also need a pen or pencil for use on their scribble paper.

All parents of Year 7 and 9 students should have received a letter (sent as an email attachment) concerning NAPLAN and parents of students supported by the Inclusive Practices Department should also have had separate contact from DP Tammy Burns.

National Day of Action Against Bullying

Our students are aware of Stymie, an app that allows them to immediately and anonymously report bullying; this app empowers our students to take positive action against bullying immediately.

Head Lice

Just for your information we have had families that have indicated that head lice are around so if you are able to check and treat your child if effected that would be recommended.