Dear Parents and Caregivers,

I can’t believe we’re already halfway through the term! It has been a fantastic start, filled with lots of exciting activities.

NAPLAN

Next week, our Year 3 and Year 5 students will participate in NAPLAN testing. A letter detailing the schedule has been sent home via Seesaw. Our onsite Instrumental Tutors and Specialist Teachers have been made aware and will accommodate the NAPLAN testing times. Please ensure if you have allied health/appointments for children in Years 3 or 5 you reschedule to allow children involved in NAPLAN to complete the assessments with their class. We anticipate Year 5s to sit their tests before Recess and the Year 3s between Recess and Lunch. 

NAPLAN assesses students’ literacy and numeracy skills as part of the school curriculum, helping us understand their progress against national standards. However, it is important to remember that NAPLAN is just one aspect of our assessment and reporting process. It complements, rather than replaces, ongoing teacher assessments, providing additional insights into student learning. The results also help governments and educational authorities evaluate the effectiveness of teaching programs nationwide.

If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me before testing begins next week.

Teach Well: Professional Learning

In 2025, CESA is partnering with Teach Well to deliver a 5-day Masterclass Series in High-Impact Instruction for all Leaders of Learning. This includes myself, Josh Bennett and Bonnie Crofts. This exciting professional learning opportunity will also feature ongoing coaching from Teach Well and support from a System Coach from Catholic Education.

The 9-month course is designed to equip teachers and school leaders with evidence-based strategies to enhance classroom instruction. With a strong foundation in research, the masterclass provides practical techniques educators can implement immediately. It also fosters collaboration between schools, promoting a consistent and research-driven approach to curriculum delivery.

Joshua, Bonnie and I will work together to share these high-impact teaching strategies with our staff, ensuring we continue to enhance student outcomes at Kingswood. We will keep you updated on our progress and share any valuable insights along the way.

Inclusive Education

It has been a pleasure meeting with families to discuss personalised learning plans and collaborate on the best outcomes for our students. Over the coming weeks, I will follow up with emails and provide any additional resources mentioned in our meetings.

In Week 8, we will send home Personalised Learning Plans (PLPs) for parents to review ahead of Learning Talks in week 10. These will be emailed by your child’s classroom teacher and will need to be discussed and signed off during the conference.

As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at any time to discuss your child’s learning. Open communication is key to working together effectively.

Homework Policy

Last year, we introduced an interim Homework Policy to ensure clarity and consistency across the school. After reviewing it, we have now finalised the policy for continued use this year.

It’s important to note that homework should not involve new learning. Instead, it serves to reinforce essential skills, such as practising multiplication facts and reviewing previously learned sounds. When in doubt, prioritise reading as much as possible! Listening to your child read, reading to them, and discussing stories together play a crucial role in literacy development.

For further guidance, here’s a helpful resource on the Five from Five approach to reading:
? Reading with Children

Click here to view our current Homework Policy for your reference.

Oliphant Science Awards

Keep an eye out for parent information regarding the Oliphant Science Awards, which our school is participating in for the first time this year! A huge thank you to Kate Mueller for her efforts in launching this initiative. This marks the beginning of the expansion of our STRETCH program—exciting developments ahead!

Until next time…

Vanessa Saccardo

Until next time…

Vanessa Saccardo