Welcome to mid-term.
The first weeks have flown by, and we have achieved a great deal with new arrivals and continuing students. All new students have sat a diagnostic test to find out how well they are currently using English. We will level all students again at the end of term to measure their growth. Usually, our students grow between 1 to 2 language levels per term. Sometimes they grow more and occasionally, they plateau before their next burst of language growth. Children will develop their language here with us, it’s just a matter of how much and how fast.
We will be in contact with you if we feel there is an issue with English language learning. Please help us support your child by encouraging homework, listening to and watching English language programs and by speaking English as much as possible at home, and when you are out and about!
Our Year 11 and 12 courses have started and the students in those classes are preparing for their first summative assessment tasks. They are focussing on improving study skills and time management. Of course, they are trying to understand as much content as possible. Writing study notes, practising questions, memorising work, and solving new problems are good ways to prepare for these. Proof reading and responding to feedback from teachers is also essential to meeting personal achievement goals.
Parent teacher Interviews
Thank-you for meeting us at our first parent teacher interview of the year. This was successful and I hope you found meeting the teachers and talking about progress, helpful. If you need any more information, please contact us to make an appointment.
In Week 11 of this term, you will receive a formal written report with the grades for each subject. In addition, you will read comments from each teacher about the achievement of your child in each subject. Please expect to see your child’s report in week 11.
Teaching and Learning
In the coming weeks, there are 2 outings for students to help them learn subject content and language skills. Students will visit the State Theatre to see a play.
The second event is an excursion where students travel around Adelaide city. The EAP students will collect evidence of how green spaces lower temperatures and built areas cause pockets of urban heat in Adelaide. Their assessment is to show how well they understand create micro-climates in an urban setting in our temperate biome. Sustainability is one of our cross-curricular foci.
Homework: I remind you that homework is an expectation of the school. The amount of homework which is reasonable varies for the year level of the student with a primary student doing no more than 30 minutes and a year 12 student typically completing 3 hours or more per night.
Thank you for your support and please be in touch if you have any queries about matters relating to teaching an learning.
Ms. Phillips.
