From the Deputy Head of College, Patrick Brennan
NAPLAN – what are we learning from it?
This week all students in Years 5, 7 and 9 at Waverley College completed their National Assessment Program Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) exams.
The College places a high priority on improving student’s literacy and numeracy levels and the snapshot that NAPLAN provides allows us to assist every student’s academic development, providing our curriculum leaders (our Heads of Departments) with feedback in terms of our teaching performance across all subject areas.
The job of delivering Maths and English to our students is not solely the responsibility of these two faculties at the College. All teaching programs across the College have literacy and numeracy outcomes including PDHPE, Science and Languages. This consistent and reinforced cross curricular approach ensures our students have the best outcomes in these essential curriculum areas.
As a nation, Australia has seen a steady decline since 2000 in literacy and numeracy when compared with other OECD countries. Over the past 15 years, Australia has gone from a high performing nation to an average performer.
A vital role of NAPLAN (and the HSC) is that it allows us to benchmark the performance of the College against other schools, providing essential feedback on our teaching and learning practices and opportunities to identify and learn from other successful educators.
I thank our Head of Learning Support Mr David Parnell and our Director of Learning Ms Elizabeth Watson and their teams for their work on NAPLAN this week and the ongoing strengthening of our literacy and numeracy results at the College.
Excellent May Procession Attendance Rates and Presentation
I would like to express my gratitude to all parents and their sons for the manner in which they attended Sunday’s May Procession. Boys presented themselves in full winter uniform and were respectful and prayerful during the service.
Thanks to the large number of parents who also attended this event. You are always welcome at College events such as these.
Waverley College Students Making the Right Choices in Public
Whilst at the Football at Cranbrook over the weekend I had a conversation with a long term member of their teaching staff. Over recent years he has noticed a number of positive changes in terms of our behaviour and uniform whilst in public and representing the College. Saturday was no exception and the scene was replicated later in the day when I was at Queens Park watching the rugby against Shore.
I congratulate our students for this ongoing change and the positive messages about our school this this sends to the wider community. It’s also a timely reminder of the consequences that will be put in place should boys make the wrong choices in public. At times it’s a small few whose actions tarnish the great work the rest of us are doing.
Waverley College Meningococcal Vaccination Program
Waverley College meningococcal vaccination program targeting Year 11 and 12 students is scheduled for July 21st.
This is an important College health initiative to protect our students, their families and the broader community from meningococcal W which has emerged as a significant cause of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) in NSW.
The vaccine is given as a single dose, protects against meningococcal serotypes A, C, W and Y and has been shown to be both safe and effective.
Details will be sent out to Year 11 and 12 students and their parents in the coming weeks. In the meantime, more information can be obtained by contacting College Nurse, Adele Cutbush in the Health Centre on 9369 0644.
