June 22, 2022
FROM THE ACTING PRINCIPAL – DEANNE SENINI
ICAS
St Joseph’s is offering ICAS assessments again this year.
ICAS Assessments are online assessments, designed to recognise and reward academic excellence. Students are assessed on their ability to apply classroom learning to new contexts, using higher-order thinking and problem-solving skills.
The assessments are based on the curricula for the relevant year. Students are asked to demonstrate a deeper, integrated, and thorough level of knowledge. Our team of expert academics develops new ICAS Assessments annually for each subject in every year level to ensure an engaging and beneficial experience for all students.
Benefits of ICAS:
Provide objective ranking of performance
Encourage students to attain greater academic success
Require students to think beyond the classroom
Recognise student success through medals and certificates
If you would like your child to participate in ICAS this year, please see the table below for prices and the year levels eligible for each assessment. You will then need to log into the ICAS Parent Portal through the link below to make your order. The school will receive notification when an assessment is ordered by a Joey’s parent. Orders close on 1st August.
Your school access code is: ZOV299
Your parent page link is: https://shop.icasassessments.com/pages/pps
ASSESSMENT | COST | YEAR LEVEL | DATE OF ASSESSMENT |
Digital Technologies | $19.25 | Years 2-6 | 9th August |
English | $19.25 | Years 2-6 | 16th August |
Mathematics | $19.25 | Years 2-6 | 30th August |
Science | $19.25 | Years 2-6 | 25th August |
Spelling | $19.25 | Years 2-6 | 25th August |
Writing | $23.65 | Years 3-6 | 10th August |
If your child is away on the testing day, there is some flexibility for them to sit the assessment, but it must be in the same week as the scheduled date and fit in with the availability of staff trained in the implementation of ICAS assessments.
Premier’s Reading Challenge
The Premier’s Reading Challenge (PRC) is an annual state-wide initiative for state and non-state schools and home-educated students up to Year 9, as well as children attending early childhood centres. Since the program’s inception in 2006, more than 20 million books have been read, and in 2021 alone, 168,000 school, early childhood and individual readers participated in the challenge reading more than 2.39 million books throughout the PRC reading period.
The challenge is not a competition but aims to improve literacy and encourage children to read widely for pleasure and learning. Students can participate in the challenge within their school or as individual readers (home-educated students or students whose schools are not participating in the program).
For a student to successfully complete the challenge they must read or experience the allocated number of books for their year level during the reading period. Students who complete the challenge have their efforts recognised through the receipt of a Certificate of Achievement signed by the Premier of Queensland.
Why read? Literacy skills are vital to ensuring children have the best chance to succeed in their schooling and life. The PRC is an opportunity for students to be enthusiastic about reading, writing, authors and illustrators. Reading a variety of books builds vocabulary and knowledge, improves spelling and comprehension, can improve confidence and is also a great way to relax.
To successfully complete the PRC, students must read or experience the number of books indicated in the table below in English or additional languages.
Year Level | Number of Books |
Prep – Year 2 | Read or experience 20 books |
Years 3-4 | Read 20 books |
Years 5-6 | Read 15 books |
The requirement for Year 5 through to Year 6 students to read 15 books acknowledges that older students are likely to select longer, more complex books that may take them longer to read.
Please see the link attached to this newsletter for the reading record form if your child is interested in participating. All forms need to be returned to the office by 26th August to be eligible for a certificate.
Under 8s Day
Our annual Under 8s Day will be celebrated on Thursday, 23rd June. Prep – Year 3 students are invited to wear free dress that day. Please ensure the clothes they wear are sun safe with fully enclosed shoes. Please also send a shopping bag with them to keep the things they make on that day. Students will be provided with a sausage on bread for first lunch. They will still require their own food for second break.
Self Defence Lessons
Next term as part of PE, students in years 4-6 have the opportunity to participate in a 4 week self defence program where they will learn basic skills to assist them to escape from various holds. These students should have received a note regarding this which included a double sided permission note. This double sided sheet needs to be completed and returned to school by the end of this term please. Without this permission, the students won’t be able to participate in the course.
Academic Awards
Congratulations to all the students who received academic awards for Semester One. Keep working hard.
Report Cards
Reports can be accessed through parent lounge from today.
I’d like to wish all our school community a safe and happy holiday break.
Don’t forget:
Regards,
Deanne Senini
Assistant Principal Curriculum
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