PB4L News
As we begin Term 2 we hope you have had an enjoyable and safe holiday. We begin this term by reviewing procedures and expectations taught in Term 1 and making adjustments in light of the building renovations. This week, we will be focusing on assembly routines.

All teachers will be reinforcing our school rules: BE SAFE, BE RESPECTFUL, BE RESPONSIBLE, and what these look like in all areas of the school. This will be done through explicit teaching, modelling and practising by each class.

ICAS / UNSW Assessments for Years 3-6
We are delighted to inform you that St Francis of Assisi will be again participating in the ICAS Assessmentsthis year. ICAS is designed to target students’ higher-order thinking and problem-solving skills in English, Mathematics, Science, Writing, Spelling Bee and Digital Technologies. Participation is voluntary.

Each assessment celebrates students’ accomplishments by providing opportunities for recognition and development. Every student will receive a printed certificate and an online results report. Top performers will be eligible for medals and are invited to attend special award ceremonies to have their academic excellence publicly recognised.

The assessments are suitable for students wishing to extend themselves academically and take up the personal challenge of competing in an international assessment, that has been running for 40 years. Your child will be presented with high-quality, expert-developed questions, allowing them to apply their learning without the need for prior study or revision.

Our school has signed up for the ICAS Assessments parent payment system (PPS) for parents to order and pay for the assessments online. The price of most of the assessments is $17.05, with Writing costing $21.45. They can be ordered online at https://shop.icasassessments.com/pages/pps, after entering the code LWH995. Assessments need to be ordered no later than 20 May, with online sitting dates of
9 August – 3 September.

NAPLAN 2021
During the weeks of 10 May - 21 May, Year 3 and 5 students across Australia will sit the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) assessments. NAPLAN assesses literacy and numeracy skills that students are learning through their regular school curriculum.

The assessment provides parents and schools with an understanding of how individual students are performing at the time of the tests. NAPLAN is just one aspect of our school’s assessment and reporting process – it does not replace ongoing assessments made by teachers about student performance.

NAPLAN also provides schools, education authorities and governments with information about how education programs are working and whether young Australians are achieving important educational outcomes in literacy and numeracy.

Year 3 and Year 5 students will sit NAPLAN on the following dates.