MASTERING THE HSC - AVAILABLE AGAIN IN NOVEMBER 2008 - FOR 2009 YR 11& 12 STUDENTS

The School For Excellence is again offering a study skills lecture for students in Yr11 and 12 2009. The course is designed to motivate, empower and organise students and ensure they are provided with the necessary skills and information to maximise their HSC results.

The lectures are based on their highly popular study skills lectures and will run over two separate weekends in November at four separate locations:

• Session 1 : Sat 8 November, University of Sydney (Darlington)
• Session 2 : Sun 9 November, University of Western Sydney (Parramatta)
• Session 3 : Sat 15 November, University of New Sourth Wales (Kensington)
• Session 4 : Sun 16 November, Macquarie University (North Ryde)

NOTE: Students need only attend one session as sessions are identical in content.

Valued at over $150, this lecture is FREE OF CHARGE to students studying Yr 11 or 12 in 2009. They do, however, request that those students participating in this program make a paper note donation (minimum of $5 ) to the OXFAM AUSTRALIA representatives that will be in attendance on the day.

Students may obtain application forms and further information by calling The School of Excellence on 1300 364 173 of from their website at www.tsfx.com.au.

 NATIONAL TESTING TO REPLACE BASIC SKILLS TEST

From 2008 the standard tests undertaken by NSW students in primary and high school (BST, ELLA and SNAP) will be replaced with a national testing program. This means students from NSW will take the national tests at the same time as students from all other states and territories.

What will stay the same?

The national tests will assess similar literacy and numeracy skills in much the same way as the current NSW tests. The format of the national tests will be similar to the questions currently used in the NSW literacy and numeracy tests. There will continue to be supporting materials made available to schools including test practice materials, test booklets and any test aids such as rulers that may be required. The national tests are expected to align with the NSW curriculum. NSW has consistently stressed the need for high quality testing based on our rigorous curriculum.

What will change?

The tests will be undertaken in a single week of testing in mid May 2008. Now the NSW tests are run in different months of the year. All students in Australia will sit the same test. It is being developed in consultation with the NSW Department of Education and Training, education departments from all other states and territories, the Commonwealth Government and non-government schools. Students will no longer sit the follow-up tests in Year 8 in NSW. Instead high school students in NSW and across Australia will sit national tests in Year 9.

The 2008 Testing Schedule

Students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 will sit the following tests:

Tuesday 13 May – Spelling, Grammar and Punctuation, Writing

Wednesday 14 May – Reading

Thursday 15 May – Numeracy

There will be a “make up” day on Friday 16 May for any student who was unable to do their tests on the nominated day.

What will happen to the results?

The NSW Department of Education and Training will collect all of the results from the tests undertaken by students in NSW government schools. Parents will continue to receive feedback about their child’s performance, including individual reports for each child. Schools will continue to report the performance of the school in the school’s annual report. All students will be encouraged to take part in the new national tests. Special provisions will continue to be made available to meet the needs of individual students, such as alternative versions of the tests in large print or Braille.

What about the School Certificate or Higher School Certificate?

The introduction of national testing does not affect the School Certificate or Higher School Certificate (HSC). These assessments will continue to be undertaken in exactly the same way and at the same times as they currently are.

SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR STUDENTS SITTING FOR THE SCHOOL CERTIFICATE & HIGHER SCHOOL CERTIFICATE EXAMINATIONS

Special Examination Provisions are granted by the Board of Studies to students sitting the School Certificate tests and Higher School Certificate examinations in order to address the effects of a special condition or need on examination performance.

Students who are eligible for special provisions may have:

• Learning difficulties eg difficulty in reading & comprehending the written word, slow writing rate, severe spelling difficulty that impedes communication, illegible handwriting.
• Medical difficulties eg hand/arm difficulty, chronic fatigue/ME cases, head injury, diabetes, epilepsy, ADD/ADHD, back injury, pregnancy, anxiety, depression, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, medication, chronic physical difficulties, infectious diseases.
• Hearing difficulties
• Vision difficulties

Regardless of the nature of the special condition or need, the provisions granted are solely determined by the implications of that condition or need on examination performance. Provisions include Braille papers, large print papers, use of a reader and or writer, extra time, rest breaks, etc.

Applying for Special Examination Provisions

Special Examination Provision Application forms are available in the schools, for students who intend to sit for the School Certificate tests or Higher School Certificate examinations. Students who wish to apply for special examination provisions should see the Head Teacher Welfare or Year Adviser. The Head Teacher Welfare will complete the application form.

Students should be able to supply the following:

• Indication of the provisions for which the student is applying.
• Indication of how the special examination condition or need affects the student’s work in the classroom and in examination situations;
• Evidence of the student’s special examination condition or need. Eg doctor, psychologist report etc.

It is important that the school return the completed application form to the Board of Studies by the due date. The due date is always the last day of Term 1. If all the necessary information is not provided, the Board of Studies will need to contact the school to request this information. This will delay the process of considering the application and of advising the student of the approved special examination provisions.

Mrs Bain

LITERACY ENRICHMENT TO CONTINUE IN 2008

Mrs Harvey will continue to run the Literacy Enrichment program again next year for students in Years 8, 9 and 10. The focus in Literacy will be on spelling, grammar, punctuation and the writing of sophisticated extended responses. Lambton High School in conjunction with the Department of Education and Training is now part of the “Quality Writing Network”, which ensures programs delivered in every classroom will maximise student outcomes in writing.

MOBILE MUSTER

“Round ‘em up, hand ‘em in” – Lambton High is an official recycling point for this exciting new recycling program. All old mobile phones, mobile batteries, chargers and other accessories, can now be recycled by placing them in the green Mobile Muster box near the staff common room. Over ninety percent of the contents of a mobile phone can be recycled, and with over sixteen million unused phones sitting around Australian home and offices, this can mean a huge quantity of raw materials such as gold, silver and copper as well as plastics that can be extracted and reused.

Declan Clausen – Year 9

BLINKY BILL SPONSORS SCHOOL’S FOOTY TEAMS

Lambton High’s Under 13’s Rugby League team for 2008 will be sporting a brand new look, thanks to the generosity of Sue Huff, the Director of Blinky Bill Childcare Centre at new Lambton. Blinky Bill’s logo will appear on the the back of the jerseys that the Under 13’s will wear in the Newcastle Knights KO competition. Success at this level will see the logo travel further a field to competitions in Sydney. The school, and the team would like to thank Mrs Huff for her involvement in sponsoring the team jersey.