NAPLAN - Literacy & Numeracy

This week, I would like to share some infomation about the National Assessment Program (NAPLAN)– Literacy and Numeracy. This assessment is important for schools as it helps to improve teaching and learning for all students.

What is NAPLAN?

NAPLAN is a test that happens every year for students in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9 across Australia. It checks how well students are doing in reading, writing, language conventions, and numeracy.

In 2025, our NAPLAN testing window starts this Wednesday, 12 March and runs until Thursday 20 March

How NAPLAN Helps Our Schools and Students

1. Finding Strengths and areas for improvement: NAPLAN results help us see how students are doing in their learning. Schools use this information to understand what students are good at and where they may need more help.
2. Improving Teaching: Teachers look at NAPLAN data to change how they teach. By knowing where students struggle, they can provide the right support to help improve their learning.
3. Tracking Progress: NAPLAN allows us to see how students grow and learn over time. This information helps schools make decisions about resources and what to teach.
4. Improving School Performance: Schools use NAPLAN results to evaluate how well they are doing. This helps us create better plans for improvement and training for teachers.
5. Encouraging Student Involvement: NAPLAN also encourages students to take charge of their learning. When they understand the importance of these tests, they are more motivated to do their best.

How You Can Support Your Child During NAPLAN

As parents, you can help your child during the NAPLAN assessment period by:

• Staying Positive: Remind your child that NAPLAN is just one way to measure their learning. It’s important to try their best without feeling too much pressure.
• Keeping a Routine: Make sure your child gets enough rest, eats healthy meals, and continues their regular study habits before the tests.
• Talking About Learning: Discuss what they are learning in school to help them feel more confident and excited about their studies.

In summary, NAPLAN is a helpful tool that assists our schools in making teaching and learning better. We appreciate your support as we work together to help every child succeed.

Best wishes to our Year 3 and Year 5 students as they undertake NAPLAN testing over the next two weeks.

Kind regards,

Gillian Tegg

Awards Notice

Congratulations to Bastien, Chloe, Evie, Mika, Harper, Marcus and Walid for your efforts and success in practising respectful and respecful behaviour at school.  We hope you enjoy your well-deserved book award and thanks for being great role models to others.

In week 10 of this term (31/3-4/4), teachers will be available to have 10-minute meetings with all parents regarding student achievement and how students have settled in to 2025. This year parents have the option of attending the interviews in person or via Zoom. 

More information regarding how to book times, where the face-to-face interviews will be located and how to access the Zoom meeting option will be communicated in the weeks to come via School Zine and/or the Bulletin.  

With NAPLAN starting for all students in Year 3 and 5 on Wednesday, it is important that parents support their children in these grades with consistency of routines at home as far as possible. Ensuring a good sleep and minimal disruptions at home over the next week or two is very valuable to ensure children remain calm and are able to concentrate as well as possible for the morning assessments. 

Similarly, it is vital that students arrive at school on time to minimise any worry or a disrupted late start to the instructions or actual assessment. As such it is a good idea to aim for 5 minutes earlier than usual if you usually arrive close to the 9am bell.

It is NOT necessary nor advisable to make a big deal about the assessments, but instead to maintain 'normality' in these ways ensures kids are best placed to show what they know - which is the point of NAPLAN after all!

Before school French classes will remain in place for all grades on their regular scheduled days. These lessons finish at 8:45 and Teachers of French are well aware to minimise any stress or disruption over the next two weeks. Whether parents choose to send their child is entirely up to you at home.

As a reminder, the schedule for specific assessments is:

This Term at KHPS

Francophonie Week / Semaine de la Francophonie

This year’s annual celebration of Francophone language and cultures will be held from Monday 24 to Friday 28 March. The teachers of French prepared a daily schedule of fun activities to celebrate Francophonie Week, for the whole school to enjoy.

Every recess and lunch break, there will be indoor and outdoor activities for students, such as hockey, karaoke, the famous flag hunt (chasse aux drapeaux), pétanque and word games, and much more.

Stages 2 & 3 Homework – Presentation of a Francophone Country

Francophone stream students in Stages 2 & 3 have begun researching and creating a presentation about a Francophone country from a list of options provided in their homework booklets. This presentation is due in Week 9 for Francophonie Week.

Apologies to Stage 2 families, as the Week 6 homework page was unclear regarding the presentation’s due date. More details about the presentation can be found at the front of the homework booklet.

Second-hand French language book sale

Stock up on French books for children & adults at the upcoming Francophonie Week second-hand book sales! Look for the book stand beside the Red Gate mural at the following dates and times below. 

Art exhibition: « Le Monde Sans Fin »

Join FANS (French-speaking Association of the North Shore) and KHPS as we unveil an inspiring exhibition based on the bestselling graphic novel "Le Monde sans fin" (World without end) by Jean-Marc Jancovici and Christophe Blain.

The exhibition sheds light on key sustainability challenges and offers practical solutions in renewable energy, transportation, urban planning, and responsible consumption.

Where: FANS Office (Blue Gate, Tralee Ave entrance)

When: During Francophonie Week, Monday 24 March – Friday 28 March

Who: All students will enjoy the exhibit during school hours

Parents are invited to view the exhibition on its last day, on Friday 28 March from 2:30pm to 3:30pm (during the second-hand French book sale).

Francophonie Week - Canteen Special

FANS will be offering a canteen special to help celebrate Francophonie Week! Parents will be able to pre-order mini croissants for their child’s morning tea (recess) for Friday 28 March.

Three options:

• 2 x mini croissants
• 2 x mini pains au chocolat
• Mixed pack: 1 of each
  
  
• Price: $3.00 for a pack of 2
• Sales open on Flexischools from Monday 17th March until Wednesday 26th March (11:59pm)

Programs

Intensive French Before School & NAPLAN assessments

The annual National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) assessments will begin on Wednesday 12 March for all students in Years 3 & 5.

Intensive French Before School (IBFS) for Anglophone and Francophone stream students will be going ahead as usual. As students are in class from 8:00am-8:45am, there is a 15-minute break before class time and the start of morning NAPLAN assessments.

There will be some Intensive French classroom changes for some students. These changes will be communicated asap via a separate Schoolzine message to impacted classes.

Bilingual Program Invoices

All invoices for the bilingual program are now overdue and reminder emails have been sent. Please check your various inboxes and thank you for your prompt payment.

If you need to discuss payment options, please contact Aurelie at the FANS office for a confidential conversation: 02 9975 5038

L’Etude Homework Club for Anglophone stream students

Hurry in! Three spots remain before we can launch the Etude Homework Club for Anglophone stream students for Term 2. Please send your expression of interest to join the group, Monday 3:00pm - 4:00pm, for students from Years 3 to 6.

This group is available as a separate enrolment at a cost of $25 per session and are invoiced per term.

Interested? Please write us with your child’s details to admin@fanssydney.org

Social

French Market 2025 – Sunday 16 November

Save the date! This year’s FANS French Market, the massive annual fundraiser and highlight of the event calendar, will be held on Sunday 16 November.

Alliance Française French Film Festival at Roseville Cinemas | FANS member rate

Join fellow FANS parents, students and alumni at the Alliance Française French Film Festival with discounted tickets of $17 per person at selected screenings at Roseville Cinemas.

Tickets are still available to see:

The Count of Monte Cristo
Saturday 22 March, 6:30pm

The Story of Souleymane / L’histoire de Souleymane
Sunday 23 March, 7:00pm

My Brother’s Band / En fanfare
Sunday 30 March, 2:15pm

Get tickets

Best regards,

Anne Bentley
GM FANS

The Year 6 to 7 transition process is now open and can be completed by parents and carers online through the following link: Transition to high school

When completing the Expression of Interest, you'll need to supply the student details, parent carer details, and list your intended high school. By entering your home address, the details of your local high school will appear there is also options for out of area high schools.

You can generally expect to receive an enrolment offer between June and September. The second step you have to take, is to accept the enrolment offer. You do this by submitting an online enrolment application. This needs to be done within 14 days of receiving the offer.

If you are planning on sending your child to a non-government school, you will still need to complete the form selecting placement at a non-government is not required.

The expression of interest form will close on the 28th March 2025.

KHPS Administration Team

I note some parents/carers have CREDIT in their School Bytes account.

To use your credit against any school fee you will need to please contact me either vis email killarneyh-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au or by phone 9451 9547.

You are very welcome to contact me at any time and use your CREDIT against any fee. I will happily process it for you immediately.

Any questions, please contact me at the above mentioned channels.

Warm Regards,

Liz Bowland
KHPS Business Manager

"Year 5 and Year 6 found it unusual to have composite classes, bringing confusing changes. However the youths have shown great resilience adjusting to the new times. Year 6 have had a great time helping their buddies and playing with them everyday. The classes are often paired, splitting into Year 5 and 6 for maths. New classes bring new expectations, and while not everyone is with their friends, they try as much as they can to show good attitude towards their peers." 

By Elise, Noah, Jonah and Edward

"In the last few weeks our school has visited Healthy Harold. We have learnt how to manage our emotions, make new friends and being a good friend. We loved that he told us about lots of things. We got to do a few games and he gave us a sticker."

By Amelie T, Elodie S, Helenka NK, Juliette C and Kyan B

Dear Parents and Caregivers,  

We are excited to inform you that our school will be celebrating Harmony Day on Wednesday, 26th  March (Week 9). Harmony Day is an important occasion where we come together to celebrate Australia's cultural diversity and promote the values of inclusiveness, respect, and belonging for all. 

Harmony Day is a time to celebrate Australian multiculturalism, and the successful integration of migrants into our community. The message of Harmony Day is everyone belongs. It is about inclusiveness, respect and belonging for all Australians, regardless of cultural or linguistic background, united by a set of core Australian values. 

Key Details: 

• Date: Wednesday, 26th March (Week 9) 
  
  
• Theme: "Everyone Belongs" 
  
  
• What to wear: We would love for everyone to take part in the celebrations by wearing orange on this day – the official colour of Harmony Day – or by showcasing elements that highlight cultural diversity. Whether it’s through traditional clothing, cultural accessories, or simply wearing orange, every gesture counts in showing our support for this important day. No gold coin donation is needed. 
  
  
• Activities: A variety of classroom activities will take place during the day, as well as classroom discussions about the significance of diversity. 

Did you know?  

• Nearly half (49 per cent) of Australians were born overseas or have at least one parent who was.  

• We identify with over 300 ancestries.  

• Since 1945, more than 7.5 million people have migrated to Australia.  

• 85 per cent of Australians agree multiculturalism has been good for Australia.  

• Apart from English, the most common languages spoken in Australia are Mandarin, Arabic, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Italian, Greek, Tagalog/Filipino, Hindi, Spanish and Punjabi.  

• More than 70 Indigenous languages are spoken in Australia.  
  
  

These facts are taken from ABS 2016 Census Data. 

Together, we can promote a culture of understanding and respect.  
#harmonyweek #everyonebelongs

Please note that we are no longer accepting batteries for recycling at the Office. 

Frenchs Forest Catholic Parish - St Patrick's Day Trivia Night

It’s that time year again - Saturday 15 March at 6:30 PM at OLGC School Hall

Join us for a fun-filled evening with Irish stew, BBQ, dessert, tea & coffee, plus trivia, raffles, music, and jokes!

Organise your own team of up to eight or join one on the night.

RSVP  for catering purposes via the link https://forms.office.com/r/uaKb7dMCuY  or QR code in this invite.

Adults: $30.00 | Kids: $5.00

You are welcome to buy tickets from the Youth Group after Mass this weekend or contact the Parish Office or  RSVP and pay and collect tickets on the night.

All proceeds support our Parish Youth Groups. 

Wear your best Irish green, BYO drinks, and enjoy a great night of fun, friendship, and prizes!