Welcome back to what promises to be an exciting Term 2 packed full of learning. We finished last term moderating students' work samples with other teachers from Romaine Park, Somerset, Havenview and Ridgley Primary schools in preparation for the mid-year student reports to be sent home on Friday 28^th June. This moderation of student work and collaboration of teachers working together, has been a focus for our professional conversations this year and will continue throughout the year to allow students to understand where they are with their learning and what they can do to move this learning forward. This time has also allowed for discussion to moderate student work in preparation for the Mid-year report. Parent – Teacher discussion will be held during the last week of term.

Next week our Grade 3 & 5 students will be participating in the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN). Students in Grades 3,5,7 and 9 throughout Australia will be involved in these tests. Staff are currently making preparations for our first time completing NAPLAN online. We see considerable advantages in the online capacity to allow testing to tailor questions to each student’s capabilities. Hopefully this give teachers much more accurate information about what students know and need to learn. Grade 3 and 5 students will be completing the tests from 14th to 23rd May; a nine day period of testing as opposed to the traditional three days. These tests are just one aspect of our school’s assessment and reporting process and they complement the extensive ongoing assessments made by teachers about each student’s performance throughout the year. The tests also provide information for schools to help set priorities and goals in Literacy and Numeracy, and they allow teachers to use the results and the support materials to help identify students who require greater challenges or additional support. For more information about NAPLAN, visit the NAPLAN website www.nap.edu.au .

This term the winter sporting rosters kick in, providing our students with a number of different sporting opportunities in netball, football, soccer and hockey. Thanks so much to those parents, teachers and community members who have offered to help out to organise teams, coach, umpire or officiate. It is a privilege to represent Burnie Primary School, and as a school we expect the same impeccable behaviour and expectations of best effort, positive and safe, as we would here at school and expect students and parents to conduct themselves in a way that supports all players from all teams in a respectful and courteous way. Positive behaviour by players and spectators makes the primary school sporting experience a much more enjoyable and positive one for all concerned, and allows the focus to be on participation and enjoyment. 

Congratulations and best wishes go to Lottee Rolls, Taya Munday, Bryce Dunham, Oliver Rattray, Joshua Butcher, Ellie Rayner and Blake Bracken who will be representing the NW at the State Athletics Championships tomorrow in Launceston. I am confident they will uphold our Burnie Primary expectation of ‘Best Effort’.