Professional Learning
2023 has started with a flurry of activity as members of our community settle back into daily routines. Staff attended School a few days before students returned to participate in valuable learning opportunities, which included further enhancement of the School’s focus on developing a Culture of Thinking at Tintern, based on Harvard’s Project Zero. Ron Ritchhart zoomed in from California for two sessions with our staff, during which he and they discussed the shifting nature of an educational institution as a place where we focus on learning, rather than performance. Staff were challenged to articulate the purpose of education and ways we can ensure that our classrooms are places where we see student engagement, learning and thinking thrive.
There also was a stimulating morning of professional engagement where both teaching and non-teaching staff came together to work with representatives from Australians Together. Staff built confidence in their understanding and appreciation of Australia’s shared history and the impact that continues today. As a result, Tintern staff will be able to help our students understand and engage more meaningfully with First Nations stories.
NAPLAN
From 2023, NAPLAN, which traditionally has been held in Term 2 of the school year, will be held in Term 1, commencing on 15 March. Bringing the test forward puts information in teachers’ hands sooner, allowing for more targeted support for students to ensure they are gaining important literacy and numeracy skills.
Further information will be sent to parents of students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 regarding NAPLAN testing in the weeks leading up to the online testing period in March.
Ongoing Reporting on our School Portal for all Secondary School students
Over the past two years we have trialed an ongoing reporting system for our Middle School students through the Tintern Portal. Key tasks were marked and made visible to parents and feedback and commentary on the tasks also was visible to parents and provided more detailed information for parents on their child’s progress in all subjects throughout the semester. These key tasks then became the main commentary which appeared on the end-of-semester report in June and December, along with summative grades for each subject. We now will expand this progressive approach to reporting across all secondary school classes (Years 7 to 12) and trust that this will become a valuable ongoing communication tool, ensuring parents are more fully aware of their child(ren)’s progress without having to wait for Student Progress Meetings or the arrival of end-of semester reports for a complete picture of their progress.
The Secondary School Ongoing Reporting System will be fully visible and updated as a ‘live’ communication tool for parents throughout the semester.
Student Progress Meetings for Years 7-12 will be conducted this term on 27 March (9.00am – 4.00pm), 28 March (4.00 – 8.00pm) and 3 April (4.00 – 8.00pm). Further information regarding these meetings will be forthcoming closer to the time.
I trust that our reporting process and Student Progress Meeting evenings will prove useful in understanding your child’s progress and will assist in strengthening the partnership between family, school and student that is so crucial to effective learning and growth.
Alison Bezaire | Director of Studies
