by Rosina Fotia, Principal
Welcome to Term 2, I trust that everyone has had a restful Easter period and is enjoying the beautiful autumn weather we are currently experiencing in Melbourne. This term promises to be very busy and includes events such as: NAPLAN, Work Experience, Open Night, Examination Periods, Self-Evaluation, Attitudes to School Survey and Reports.
Learning Focus
This term the College will continue to keep its focus on Literacy and Numeracy across the whole school. The key emphasis for Professional Learning during this term will be introducing Writing Across the Curriculum and undertaking some Cultural Understanding Training regarding working with and supporting the learning of Indigenous students. Term 2 also sees the NAPLAN testing completed across the country. The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is an annual national assessment for all students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9. All students in these year levels are expected to participate in tests in reading, writing, language conventions (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy.
ANZAC Day Primary School Ceremony
On Wednesday April 24, the Middle School Global Conflicts class, with the support of Ms Riazati and the Lilydale Legacy Group, facilitated an ANZAC ceremony for over 120 students from local primary schools. The event is now a regular on our College calendar. It provides young people with an authentic opportunity to strengthen their understanding and to come together and appreciate the significance of ANZAC Day. Students were also provided with the opportunity to chat with war veterans and meet with local MP’s and RSL and Legacy dignitaries.
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ANZAC Day Dawn Service
The Lilydale Dawn Service ceremony was attended by College leaders and representatives this week. The student leaders laid a wreath, along with other community groups, on behalf of the Lilydale Heights College community. Many thanks to College members who were also in attendance.
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Cross Country
Congratulations to Yarra House who followed up on their Swimming Carnival performance by taking out the Cross Country title at this year’s event. Conditions for the event were perfect and participation rates were very high. Many thanks to staff and students who participated in the event.
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Attitudes to School Survey
We value student voice as a means to improving student engagement, wellbeing and quality instruction and are conducting a survey to find out what your child thinks of our school. The Attitudes to School Survey is an annual student survey offered by the Department of Education and Training to assist schools in gaining an understanding of students' perceptions and experience of school. Our school will use the survey results to plan programs and activities to improve your child's schooling experience.
Students from Years 7 - 12 at our school will participate in the survey. Your child will complete the survey online during school hours using a purpose built secure online survey tool. It is important to note that we are not in any way “testing” your child. Your child has the right to refuse or withdraw from the survey at any point before, during, or after completion of the survey. Your child will be provided with a unique login to complete the survey. The student login is an assigned identifier that may be used to link data for statistical and research purposes only. All responses to the survey are kept anonymous in the response file. Personal identification data will not be recorded in the survey response file. This ensures that the confidentiality of your child’s responses is protected at all times. This year the Attitudes to School Survey will be conducted at our school over the period April 29 and June 7. The survey only takes 20 minutes to complete and occurs during your child's class time.
Anonymous survey results will be reported back to the school before the end of Term 2.
If you would like more information, please speak to your child’s teacher or visit: http://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/teachers/management/improvement/Pages/performsurveyat.aspx
Encouraging School Attendance
Absences add up! Missing just two days a month means a child misses 10% of the school year.
Encouraging regular school attendance is one of the most powerful ways you can prepare your child for success—both in school and in life. When you make school attendance a priority, you help your child get better learning outcomes, develop healthy life habits, avoid dangerous behavior and have a better chance of graduating from high school and transitioning to further study, traineeships or full time employment.
When students are absent for fewer days, their results and reading skills often improve—even among those students who are struggling in school. Students who attend school regularly also feel more connected to their community and develop important social skills and friendships.
If you are having difficulty getting your child to school and would like some support, please do not hesitate to contact the relevant sub-school Learning Leader on 9735 1133.
