Deputy’s Message
NAPLAN has been in the news a great deal lately with a concerted push by some State Education Ministers to significantly review, and even abandon it. From its introduction ten years ago there has been a polarised response within the education community and it can be very difficult for parents to navigate the various views and opinions.
A recent article by Dr Nicole Mockler (University of Sydney Education) may be of some interest in understanding the various benefits and concerns of NAPLAN and how it is reported on the My School website.
“Professor Margaret Wu goes on to note that NAPLAN is also not very good at representing student ability at the class or school level…for schools with cohorts of 50 or less.”
Of particular interest is the discussion of its significance in schools with relatively small candidatures, like The McDonald College.
Technology and social media continue to provide significant challenges for teenagers (and adults) as they navigate the profound ways in which learning and social relationships are being redrawn in the 24/7 world of online interaction.
At the College we have taken the approach of trying to encourage students to embrace technology but to adopt responsible and appropriate behaviours in its use.
Part of responsible use of technology is balancing ‘personal’ use when engaged in ‘official’ activities such as classroom learning. The College asks for parents and students not to be messaging each other during class time. Should there be an urgent need to contact your child please call the Student Reception on 9752 0500 and we will ensure your message is conveyed to them in a way that does not disrupt classroom activities.
The College’s wifi filters have also been set so that many social media platforms, such as Snapchat, are not accessible on our network.
With the mid-year break fast approaching Year 12 are very focussed on completing major works in practical subjects and in preparing for their Trial HSC Examinations early next term. This is always a very challenging time – not just for students but also for their families and teachers. We wish all our HSC students the very best at this time of year and remind them that the key to success is to establish a good balance between studying/working hard and sleeping and eating well. Making time for family and friends is also a great way to alleviate increased stress at this time of year.
I hope you have a restful and rejuvenating break.