From the Assistant Principal Learning & Teaching - Mrs Amanda Deeps
Semester One Reports - Understanding the K-6 Student Reports
Our Semester One Reports will be available through the Compass portal on Friday, 27th June. A notification will be sent to let you know when you can access these reports.
Why are there changes to the K-6 Student Report?
The NSW Government is reforming the curriculum to streamline and strengthen what is taught in every classroom in NSW, so every student is prepared and ready for their future. The curriculum reform has been informed by consultation with teachers, parents and education experts, and is underpinned by extensive research. Curriculum reform involves changing teaching, learning, assessment and reporting to parents.
The release of the new syllabuses provides the opportunity to revise aspects of the Student Report to align with current research.
“Parents want to know what was taught and how well their child has learnt it,
as well as where improvement is needed……. (NESA, 2023)”
For further information about the new K-6 English syllabus click here.
For further information about the new K-6 Mathematics syllabus click here.
How is English, Mathematics, Religious Education and Other Key Learning Areas reported on?
There is a separate template for English, Mathematics, Religious Education and the Other Key Learning Areas. This template includes:
- A statement that explains the aim of the Key Learning Area.
- An achievement grade for each Focus Area in English and Mathematics.
- Please click here to access the text version of the English Glossary and here to access a multimedia version of the English Glossary.
- Please click here to access the text version of the Mathematics Glossary and here to access a multimedia version of the Mathematics Glossary.
- An achievement grade for knowledge and understanding, and skills in Religious Education and the Other Key Learning Areas except for Creative Arts, which is reported on in Strands.
How are achievement grades determined?
Kindergarten
Achievement Grades in Kindergarten are identified on a three-point scale using the following descriptors:
- Working Towards
- Working At
- Working Beyond expected achievement.
Stage 1 (Year 1 and Year 2), Stage 2 (Year 3 and Year 4) and Stage 3 (Year 5 and Year 6)
Achievement Grades in Year 1 to Year 6 are identified on a 5 point scale using the descriptors from the Common Grade Scale: The Common Grade Scale describes the performance of students in Year 1 to Year 6 at each of the five grade levels A-E using the following descriptors:
- Extensive (A)
The student has an extensive knowledge and understanding of the content and can readily apply this knowledge. In addition, the student has achieved a very high level of competence in the processes and skills and can apply these skills to new situations.
- Thorough (B)
The student has a thorough knowledge and understanding of the content and a high level of competence in the processes and skills. In addition, the student is able to apply this knowledge and these skills to most situations.
- Sound (C)
The student has a sound knowledge and understanding of the main areas of content and has achieved an adequate level of competence in the processes and skills.
- Basic (D)
The student has a basic knowledge and understanding of the content and has achieved a limited level of competence in the processes and skills.
- Elementary (E)
The student has an elementary knowledge and understanding in few areas of the content and has achieved very limited competence in some of the processes and skills.
Teachers make professional judgements about student achievement based on a range of assessment information and teacher observations against syllabus outcomes and content. Teachers make decisions based on student achievement in relation to what students have been taught and how well they have achieved (up to the time of writing a Student Report). The teacher makes a judgement and selects the descriptor from the 3-point scale for Kindergarten or the Common Grade Scale for Years 1-6 that best describes student achievement at the time of writing the Student Report.
Can achievement grades vary from one report to another?
Yes. A variation in achievement grades may occur as a student’s achievement grade is based on what is taught up to the time of writing a Student Report. This means that student achievement can change depending on what a student has been learning and how well a student demonstrates their learning at various points in the year.
How are the Student Report Comments structured?
Student Report Comments reflect the Key Learning Areas on the Student Report. There will be multiple comments:
- English Comment
- Mathematics Comment
- Key Learning Area Comment and
- General Comment
The English and Mathematics Comments will reflect:
- Areas of Achievement and Growth
- Learning Goals
within each Key Learning Area.
The Key Learning Areas Comment will reflect:
- Areas of Achievement and Growth
- Learning Goals
across Creative Arts, Science and Technology, History, Geography and Personal Development, Health
and Physical Education.
Note: If your child achieves Elementary for each of the Focus Areas within the KLA, the comment may reflect some syllabus content/indicators from the stage below. If your child receives Extensive for each of the Focus Areas within the KLA, the comment may reflect some syllabus content/indicators from the stage above.
The General Comment will reflect non-academic achievement and could include:
- extracurricular activities and/or
- additional comments to elaborate on the Learner Profile and/or
- demonstration of school values and/or
- a student’s social/emotional learning.
ICAS Assessments - Reminder
Within our school community, there are students who shine brightly, displaying exemplary dedication and academic talent. They deserve to be recognised, and again this year, we are giving students in Years 3-6 the opportunity to showcase and celebrate their talents in the world-renowned ICAS competition.
What is ICAS?
ICAS is an online academic competition that allows students to challenge their higher-order thinking and problem-solving skills in English, Mathematics, Science, Writing, Spelling, and Digital Technologies.
ICAS results are in-depth and meaningful, and ICAS evaluates student performance against other competition entrants across the state and nation. The data reveals student strengths and areas for growth and can help you recognise and support your child's academic journey.
Learn more about ICAS here: icasassessments.com/products-icas/
ICAS results and certificate
Every student who participates is celebrated and recognised with a printed certificate in each subject area, and an online results report to track development each year. Top performers are eligible for one of the highly coveted ICAS medals.
Your child’s ICAS certificates will show their results and the login details, “TAP ID and PIN”. You use these details to enter the Results Portal https://orti.icasassessments.com/ortiStudent
How to participate in ICAS
If you wish for your child to participate in ICAS this year, please go to the Parent Portal to register for your chosen subjects.
You can do this in one of two ways:
- Direct login link – faster!
Use this link to log directly into the shop and start registering:
https://shop.icasassessments.com/pages/parent-payment/CBC583
- Log in using the PPS code
Visit our shop and use our PPS code to log in:
Shop link: https://shop.icasassessments.com/pages/pps
PPS code: CBC583
Registration for all subject areas closes on Monday, 21st July.
This year, our students in Years 3-6 can elect to sit the following assessments:
Please note that we cannot facilitate refunds or make alterations, as all money is paid directly to ICAS Assessments.
Read the terms and conditions here: icasassessments.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2023-ICAS-Assessments-Schools-TsCs_S2023.V6-1.pdf
Privacy collection statement
The following information is a privacy notification about how your child’s data is kept private and secure.
ICAS Assessment is owned by Janison Solutions Pty Ltd (We, Us, Our).
To deliver assessment products, Janison will require your child’s School to obtain your consent to provide Janison with certain personal information of students. Janison will collect, store, use, disclose and otherwise deal with such personal information in accordance with its privacy policy (below). We are aware of our responsibility to protect personal information related to children and students from being disclosed when we deliver an ICAS Assessments product. Unless you, as the child’s legal guardian consents, we will not:
- collect any personal information or data of children other than the information we need for the successful completion of an assessment, test, or exam.
- transfer any personal information we obtain from a child in the delivery of assessments and tests to any jurisdiction outside of Australia.
- share any personal information relating to children with any third parties (except for those third parties necessary for us to carry out our Services or provide our Products e.g., medal engraving).
- use any personal information or data relating to children for marketing purposes.
You can view our full privacy policy at https://www.janison.com/privacy-policy/.
We may retain personal information and data relevant to a child for their future purposes or for research purposes by Janison for the duration of the school life cycle of the child. However, if you or your child at any time wish to have their personal information or data removed from our systems, they or you may opt out by simply contacting our Privacy Officer at privacy@janison.com or by contacting icasassessments@janison.com.
Please do not hesitate to contact me via the school office or email if you have any questions.