TAS News
Learning. Believing. Achieving – Term 1 Week 8
Date: March 17, 2017 Posted by: Sue Wicks
Assessment News – 2016 NAPLAN
We have had the opportunity to analyse the most recent NAPLAN results. Whilst many of the cohorts have performed admirably (for example, TAS were ranked first in Numeracy across 3 of the 4 years levels assessed, finishing a close second in the fourth, whilst Year 3 were the highest scoring in all strands across all schools in Cairns), we are more interested in the improvement of TAS students across the two-year period.
We start by looking at comparisons with students starting at the same score as students from other schools to measure our improvement, as this reduces some of the variability that can effect improvement analysis (i.e. it is harder to show improvement from a previously high-assessed cohort, and vice-versa).
For example, Numeracy gain for our students is very strong between Year 3 and 5:
And between Year 7 and 9:
It was about comparable between Year 5 and 7 – the results are still good, but how can we improve them? We do the same analysis of Reading and Writing.
The next step is to undertake a question-by-question analysis as we look for those areas in which our students are not excelling. If you see below, TAS Year 7 students didn’t do as well in Question NC05. We then review the question, the curriculum material and the pedagogy surrounding that particular concept to see how we can do better.
When NAPLAN results are combined with the PAT testing program, we have a rich source of data which can identify individual strengths and weaknesses for each student and look at strategies to improve understanding within that concept.
Assessment news – 2016 OPs
I was looking over some data recently regarding the success of our Year 12 graduates moving into the next stage of their education and careers. This raised the question of the value of enrolling your student in TAS as early as possible. When we dig down a bit deeper into our graduate data:
- Of our top 5 OP graduates in 2016, 4 of them (80%) were Trinitarians (commencing at TAS in Prep).
- Of the 18 students who achieved an OP1-5, 61% joined us in the primary years whilst 28% commenced at the beginning of the secondary years. 39% of our TAS OP1-15 students were Trinatarians.
- Overall, 28% of our 2016 Year 12 graduates were Trinitarians.
- The average starting year for our 18 OP1-5 graduates was Year 4.
Griffith University State Honours Wind Ensemble
Congratulations to our musicians who were selected into the State Honours Ensemble Program recently (SHEP). This is a highly regarded program for high-level emerging instrumental musicians overseen by the Griffith University Conservatorium.
Our musicians were:
Sarah Kerr – Year 12 – violin
Connie Deng – Year 11 – oboe
Tessa Scott – Year 11 – tenor saxophone
India Rowbottom – Year 9 – flute
Hannah Seigmann – Year 8 – soprano
Congratulations to these outstanding musicians.
The Chapel of St Francis
Each Sunday, a dedicated band of Anglicans meet for worship in our own Chapel at TAS White Rock. I was lucky enough to spend time last Sunday with our congregation at the Chapel of St Francis. They meet at 7:00am on Sunday mornings. Thanks to Val, Elaine, Greg and Lorraine for a lovely service.
WRJ Disco
Thanks to all involved in the WRJ disco last Friday. It was a terrific night with lots of fun and dancing. Particular thanks to the students who hosted the disco and the wonderful parents who organised and ran the food and entertainment. Roxy made a wonderful hat for me with hanging glowing baubles – I’m still recovering from the mild concussion I received every time I moved my head.
