Dear Families,

How quickly the weeks are passing. Shortly students and teachers will be finalising assessment tasks for the year prior to the end of year reports. The Australian Curriculum is a standards based curriculum designed so that students have opportunities to learn and demonstrate what they know and understand by the end of the academic year. The Australian Curriculum is designed to challenge students thinking and application of knowledge and skills in each of the 8 learning areas. It is important that parents understand the rigour of the Australian Curriculum is challenging. Whilst a student may be very capable demonstrating knowledge on a traditional ‘test’, demonstrating knowledge in the context of the curriculum, working collaboratively or independently through a task requiring organisation, planning and focus over time can be a challenge for some students. It is the application of knowledge and understanding that is a core quality of the Australian Curriculum and that the end of semester report card for each student is measured against. I encourage you to explore the information available to parents on the Australian Curriculum website. https://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/parent-information/

Today I was delighted to spend some time in Year 4 classrooms. It was wonderful to see the students engaging in their inquiry projects and observing the learner assets in action. Their confidence as learners at Yeronga State School is always wonderful to me. I was a surprised to hear the comment ‘I’m nervous about Year 5’ when I asked if they were excited about their next year. When I inquired further the response was because of NAPLAN! The student then elaborated, we didn’t do NAPLAN in Year 3 because of COVID. Evidently a fear of tests and what is perceived as ‘high stakes’ assessment is on our student’s minds. This is of concern to me. We know our young people face an increasingly uncertain world. How can we provide them with a sense of assurance as life-long learners rather than focussing on the outcome of a point in time test. Whilst the following resource is aimed at teens, you may find some tips to support your child come to terms with the place of tests in their schooling.

We the Differents - Tips to survive exam block

Exams can be a stressful time, but the good news is there are ways your teen can tackle them head on and avoid those last-minute cram sessions. It could be finding the right study space, taking short breaks or getting their body moving. The We the Differents website has some great tips on how to survive exam block. Your teen will also find a collection of articles to support them to find their different, know what’s on offer, get the right support and make the most of their education.

It was an honour to attend the Flag Raising ceremony at Yeronga State High School on Monday. I commend the school for this important step in the spirit of reconciliation in our community and look forward to the installation of our new flag poles to host the first nations flags at YSS in 2022.

Have a great week!

Eunice