06 Mar 2023

From the Leader of Curriculum – Mr Paul Horvath

NAPLAN

In Week 7, all students in Year 7 and Year 9 will be involved in NAPLAN. NAPLAN assesses literacy and numeracy skills that students are learning through their regular school curriculum. Students sit assessments in writing, reading, conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy. The questions assess content linked to the Australian Curriculum: English and Mathematics.

As students progress through their school years, it is important to check how well they are learning the essential skills of reading, writing and numeracy. NAPLAN assesses the literacy and numeracy skills that students are learning through the school curriculum and allows parents/carers to see how their daughter is progressing against national standards and over time.

NAPLAN is just one aspect of a school’s assessment and reporting process. It doesn’t replace ongoing assessments made by teachers about student performance, but it can provide teachers with additional information about students’ educational progress. 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.

This year, at Mary MacKillop Catholic College, students will complete each assessment online. Online NAPLAN tests provide more precise results and are more engaging for students. One of the main benefits is tailored (or adaptive) testing, where the test presents questions which may be more or less difficult depending on a student’s responses.

Both Year 7 and Year 9 have had experience working in an online testing environment through PAT and Smarter Maths. Please note that students need a compatible device for NAPLAN Assessments and every student must have corded headphones. Airpods or wireless headphones are NOT suitable.
NAPLAN Dates 2023
Wednesday 15 March  – Writing
Year 9 – Period 1 & 2 

Year 7 – Period 3 & 4
Thursday 16 March – Reading 
Year 9 – Period 1 & 2 

Year 7 – Period 3 & 4
Friday 17 March – Conventions of Language
Year 9  – Period 1 & 2 

Year 7 – Period 3 & 4
Monday 20 March – Numeracy
Year 9 – Period 1 & 2 

Year 7 – Period 3 & 4

 

Missed tests will be completed on the student’s first day of return. If you have any questions around NAPLAN, please contact Mr Horvath.
Year 12 Study

For 2023 we are trialling providing an after school study space for Year 12 students. Currently Mr Horvath will be in the IMC every Tuesday until 6.00pm so that students can have a quiet study space, collaborate or access our school resources and internet. If Year 12 students wish to attend, they are to collect a permission slip and return it signed to Mr Horvath.