Class Learning News

With the introduction of Seesaw and the continual communication of learning via this means, we will no longer be sending home a separate Class Learning News at the beginning of each term. Important information or organisational information will be communicated via Compass and at the end of the year parents will be provided with a list of requirements for the following year. As always if you have any questions about the learning in your child’s class please contact the class teacher via the school office.

St Francis of Assisi Award - For love of and appreciation for all of God’s creation

This year we are introducing a new award at St Michael’s. It is an Environmental Award that will be presented to students who have exemplified themselves by contributing to a range of the criteria listed below. One student per class will be nominated by their teacher. This award will be presented on 1st September when the school community comes together for a liturgy to celebrate the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation. 

Criteria

• Aligns their environmental beliefs with Gospel Values through their words and actions, at school and at home.
• Reflects St Francis' devotion to God through their love and appreciation for all of God's creation. This includes showing care / concern for those less fortunate, the poor or sick.
• Exhibits the naturalist intelligence. Students with naturalist intelligence are those who seem to be in love with the natural world. They like to spend time there, they thrive there, they are skilled and confident and comfortable there, and they learn best there — in short, they are nature smart.
• Demonstrates great interest in nature, the environment, conservation, stewardship, ecology, and/or sustainability and sustainable development.
• Exemplifies enthusiasm, energy, initiative, and commitment toward the natural environment, and serves as an inspiration to other students.
• Has perhaps put their interest into action through an ongoing campaign or one-time project (of age/grade-appropriate scale) that has raised environmental awareness or led to environmentally friendly discussion, reaction or change in the student's class, school or community. 
• Demonstrates commitment in being part of the Green Team and taking care of the gardens on a regular basis.
• Assists with the waste management within the classroom and the playground  by making sure the 4 coloured bin system runs smoothly.

We look forward to sharing this opportunity with our students and hearing about the great things they are doing for God’s creation. 

Mrs Katie Kelly  - WEN Representative

How to read my child’s Academic Report

Reports are written in line with the requirements of the new NSW K-10 syllabuses for the Australian Curriculum in English, Mathematics and Science. In addition, St Michael’s follows Diocesan guidelines in the writing of reports. Grades are awarded to students following the Common Grade Scale. At the Parent Teacher Interview your child’s class teacher will be able to explain how the grade awarded reflects the level of work your child is currently demonstrating. It is a requirement of national legislation for primary schools to provide twice-yearly written reports for students in Years 1 - 6 to parents for ten years of schooling. These reports are to be standards-referenced which in NSW means reporting based on the Common Grade Scale. Standards-referenced reporting requires teachers to consider the performance of each student according to the standard detailed at each level (A-E) of the Common Grade Scale for each Key Learning Area (KLA). Students are then awarded a grade based on the evidence teachers have of their learning in that particular KLA and the standard it reflects. According to the Common Grade Scale a ‘C’ grade is considered sound. That is, if awarded a C in a particular KLA the student has demonstrated that they have gained the knowledge, skills and understanding expected of them at that point in time. Some features of the report include: Overall grades Each KLA has an overall grade that is determined by the teacher by considering the evidence of each student’s learning and the standard on the Common Grade Scale it reflects. Overall grades are not determined by averaging performance on strands within a KLA. In many cases more time has been dedicated to learning in one strand over others and this contributes significantly to the balanced judgement a teacher is required to make in order to award an overall grade. It is not unusual for a student’s overall grade to change from one reporting period to the next as the knowledge, skills and understanding they encounter in each KLA will vary from one reporting period to the next.