St John Paul II College Year 9 “Stepping Up”

How is Year 9 different to Year 8? What can you expect? St John Paul II College How is Year 9 different to Year 8? What can you expect? Year 10 Certification, Homework and Assessment, Planning effectively for ILT, NAPLAN Year 9 does constitute a big step up on a student’s journey through high school. It is the beginning of the two years of academic results that are recorded on a student’s Year 10 Certificate. In order to achieve success, students will need to spend more time at home, working on their routine homework (30 minutes of sustained reading, 15 minutes on Maths) but also adding 30 minutes to complete assignments. During peak times of assessment, this may well be more. Their planning and effective use of ILT time is even more important as the expectations of teachers rise. Year 9 is also the year when they will sit NAPLAN tests in May, testing both literacy and numeracy skills.

St John Paul II College Year 10 Certification The Year 10 Certificate details all the grades received in each semester unit of work for the four semesters of Year 9 and Year 10.

St John Paul II College Year 9 is the first stage of the Certification process Academic results from Years 9 and 10 are recorded on the Year 10 Certificate Important to approach Year 9 studies seriously Issued in December 2018

Assessment and Homework St John Paul II College Assessment and Homework

St John Paul II College Homework 30 minutes of sustained reading 15 minutes of Mathematics 30 minutes dedicated to assessment items for other subject areas (this should include revision of their foreign language for those students who have elected to continue their Language study) This will need to increase during peak periods of assessment during the semester

St John Paul II College Assessment Types of Assessment and their due dates are published on the Unit Outline for each class Available on Moodle along with other resources Students should plan for assessment and complete the Assessment Planner either in their ILT booklet or on line. The Assessment Alert App helps parents track assessment deadlines.

“Assessment as Learning” St John Paul II College Resubmission “Assessment as Learning” All students who have made a genuine attempt on the task and submitted by the due date are given the opportunity to improve their learning and “grade” through resubmission. Students need only resubmit those sections of a task that they feel they can improve and only those components are re-marked. In Semester 2 of Year 10 they are no longer allowed to resubmit in preparation for Senior Studies where it is not allowed. Instead, they are encouraged to submit drafts of their work for comment.

Effective planning and use of ILT St John Paul II College Effective planning and use of ILT Check Moodle often Refer to your Assessment Planner Plan to be in the spaces where your teachers are

St John Paul II College NAPLAN On-line testing from this year- held over a 2 week period to account for this Monday 14 - Friday 25 May (Year 9 hopefully in the first week of this period) More information will be distributed closer to the time Please avoid scheduling appointments on these days

What can STUDENTS do to Step Up Academically? St John Paul II College What can STUDENTS do to Step Up Academically? Develop your organisational skills! Develop a study/homework timetable Use a diary system Use Moodle to check on work and due dates Allow time to plan your day EVERY day Don’t PROCRASTINATE!

Improve your SELF DIRECTION St John Paul II College Improve your SELF DIRECTION Take responsibility for your learning Access a range of sources Find your optimal study time Find your optimal study techniques

Why embrace Self Directed Learning? St John Paul II College Why embrace Self Directed Learning? Students demonstrate a greater awareness of their responsibility in making learning meaningful and monitoring themselves Students are more motivated, persistent, independent, self-disciplined, self confident and goal orientated

Set goals with others – parents, teachers St John Paul II College Set goals with others – parents, teachers Work with your Mentor teacher to set learning goals Monitor your progress Celebrate your successes!

How can PARENTS support their child? St John Paul II College How can PARENTS support their child? Set up routines/study time Set up a quiet study area Monitor, supervise and limit internet and social media Know what is happening at school – Semester Assessment Schedules, weekly ILT timetable etc Make contact with your child’s teachers Make school and learning a family priority Be interested in what your child has to say

PARENTS - supporting your child St John Paul II College PARENTS - supporting your child Ask questions that require more than yes/no/grunt! Don’t nag – keep the communication channels open Ensure student has all school requirements Expect them to be self disciplined and follow through with expectations and consequences Reward and allow for treats Join (and visit) the library with them

St John Paul II College Make your family’s Life Balance a priority Healthy diet Build resilience Encourage gratitude and a positive attitude Build self confidence & self esteem Celebrate achievements Let them know you love them and are proud of them Avoid comparison to other siblings or friends Laugh together a lot and enjoy life!