1. There’s some new rules you need to know…….

2. To get an HSC…….
the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) has now said that you need a minimum of Band 8 for reading comprehension, writing and numeracy in your Year 9 NAPLAN tests.

3. In reading comprehension, you need to be able to…..
locate information;
scan for main topics;
decide what the writer is saying, and what the writer is meaning;
pick the methods the writer is using get his or her message across.

4. In writing, you need to be able to…..
spell and use a good range of words (vocabulary);
write in sentences, and pay attention to grammar and punctuation;
make your writing flow, and easy to read;
plan your writing, and use paragraphs, introductions and conclusions.

5. In numeracy, you need to be able to…
use scales on number-lines, graphs and charts;
use fractions, decimals and percentages;
measure different quantities, and use units of measurement;
do calculations, with or without a calculator;

6. also……. gather data into tables, and use the information from tables;
use statistics and probability;
use geometry to work out angles; and
do problems with number patterns and algebra.

7. In the Year 9 NAPLAN tests, 2018…..
achievement will be reported from Band 5 (lowest) to Band 10 (highest): 10 9
minimum to get an HSC 7 6 5

8. Students who don’t achieve at least a Band 8 for all three areas……..
can still move to Years 10, 11 and 12, but they have not reached the standard for an HSC at the end of Year 12. At the end of high school, they will get a Record of Achievement, but not an HSC.

9. In Years 10, 11 and 12…….
these students will need to do catch-up, and show that they can reach Band 8 standards by taking other on-line tests. It’s much like going for a driver’s licence.

10. Wherever possible……
it will be much better to achieve the Band 8 standard in the 2018 NAPLAN tests. Across the State, and in this school, there will be plenty of students who will have to work hard to get there.

11. To help you, this school will be…..
getting extra teachers to assist, especially in Year 8;
in all your classes, giving you more practice in reading comprehension, writing and numeracy;
including writing in Year 8 assessment tasks;
keeping close track of your progress in these areas.

12. and………
using Google Classroom to provide extra help in Year 8 (and Term 1, Year 9);
running Homework Help after school on three afternoons (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday) in the library.

13. All Year 8 classes….. will be logged on to Google Classroom.
You can access this through your student portal:
Google student portal login;
Enter user name and password;
Click on learning, then (+);
Click on Google ap. for education;
Click on literacy/numeracy classroom.
You have each been given a card with these instructions.

14. Each week, new practice exercises will be put on, for you to complete at home. Answers to these exercises, and other feedback, will be put up the following week.

15. Each week, new practice exercises will be put on, for you to complete at home. Answers to these exercises, and other feedback, will be put up the following week. You need to spend about an hour a week – doing the new exercises, and checking the answers from the week before.

16. Each week, new practice exercises will be put on, for you to complete at home. Answers to these exercises, and other feedback, will be put up the following week. You need to spend about an hour a week – doing the new exercises, and checking the answers from the week before. You will be able to ask questions, and have those questions answered by , or at Homework Help sessions.

17. Your parents….
will be able to get information about how you are using these programs. They will get text messages when the first Google Classroom exercises are put up. They will be asked to help, by encouraging you to make your schoolwork an absolute priority.

18. You can help yourselves by…….
paying close attention in every class you have, especially with reading comprehension, writing and numeracy;
doing your regular homework;
doing the exercises on Google Classroom each week, and using Homework Help in the library;
seeing Mr Bawden or Mr Creighton if you have problems with the technology.

19. If this were a driver’s licence test……
practically all of you would find a way to get to the standard needed, and get a licence.

20. Most of you also have the ability….
to get to the standard needed in your schooling. You just need to be ready to work to get there.