NESA has recently distributed materials to assist with the administration of NAPLAN Online to schools. Please contact the NESA NAPLAN team on 1300 119 556, 02 9367 8382 or [email protected] immediately if your school has not received the materials.

Key dates
NAPLAN 2020 test dates

Practice test window for NSW Catholic schools – key readiness activity for all online schools – Monday 23 March to Thursday 26 March 2020

Coordinated practice test (CPT) – participation by all NSW schools is strongly encouraged on – Monday 23 March 2020 at noon

 

NAPLAN Online tests – 12 – 22 May 2020

 

NAPLAN paper tests – 12 – 15 May 2020

Schools and students

The best way to ensure the smooth running of NAPLAN Online tests is to plan ahead and ensure staff and students feel prepared.

A number of training and practice opportunities are available to support schools participating in NAPLAN Online. Schools should contact their Diocesan office or Catholic Schools New South Wales for training details.

The following timeline outlines key activities schools should plan for and participate in to help prepare staff and students.

2020 NAPLAN Online Preparation Activities To assist schools in their transition to NAPLAN Online the following timeline of key activities provide schools with opportunities to help prepare both staff and students for NAPLAN 2020.
Timeline	Activity summary	Participants
17 February – 8 May 2020	Training School NAPLAN Online coordinator(s) and all test administrator(s) complete training applicable to their role.	NAPLAN Co-ordinator School Test Administrators Principals
February – April 2020	NAPLAN platform training environment Schools will receive log in details for the NAPLAN training environment for their school mid-February 2020. School NAPLAN coordinator(s) and test administrator(s) are able to use the platform training environment to practice administration tasks such as opening a test session, pausing and restarting a student/ test session, applying disability adjustment codes and finalising a test session https://www.assessform.edu.au	NAPLAN Co-ordinator School Test Administrators
February – May 2020	Public demonstration site ·        Students should be provided with opportunities to use the Public demonstration site and the practice tests to familiarise themselves with the test platform features and functionality and question types. ·        Parents can also access the public site to view the item types available in the online tests.	Teachers Students Parents
23 March – 26 March 2020	Practice Test All Catholic schools transitioning to NAPLAN Online are expected to participate in the practice test with all Years 5/7/9 NAPLAN cohort students sitting a writing and omnibus test. Note: year 3 students will only do an omnibus test. The practice tests are an important opportunity for students to familiarise themselves with the assessment platform, its features and any adjustments that have been applied to accommodate for individual student needs.	NAPLAN Co-ordinator School Test Administrators Students
23 March 2020 12pm	Coordinated Practice Test The coordinated practice test is run at a predetermined time on one day during the practice test window. The aim of the CPT is to load test the platform with a large number of students across Australia sitting an online practice test, preferably the writing test. Schools are strongly encouraged to schedule their school’s participation in the CPT as part of their participation in the practice test.	NAPLAN Co-ordinator School Test Administrators Students

 

More information contact Catholic Schools New South Wales

The Reserve Bank of Australia’s education program is designed to support the teaching and studying of economics. As part of the program, RBA economists travel to high schools to present to students in Years 11 and 12.

Talks are free of charge and cover ‘Monetary Policy and Current Economic Conditions’. The presentation lasts for one hour including time for Q&A at the end.    

Economists will be giving talks in the Sydney area during the weeks of 11 – 22 May. We are looking for several large-capacity schools to host the talks, which other schools can attend.

If you are interested in a talk for your students and if you are able to host students from other schools, please email the RBA at: [email protected]  or contact Christina You, Senior Public Education Officer on (02) 9551 9731 by Friday 6 March.

Amendments to the NSW Public Health Act 2010 that affect primary and secondary schools came into effect on 1 April 2018. The following resources from the NSW Government’s Health Department support compliance with these changes:

• Immunisation Enrolment Toolkit for Primary and Secondary Schools
• Primary and secondary school entry and immunisation brochure
• School immunisation register template (approved form)

The following questions and answers can help schools and parents understand these changes:

1. What are the changes?
2. Why have these changes been made?
3. How do parents get these immunisation certificates?
4. Which vaccines must a child have to be fully immunised?
5. How do I tell if a child is fully immunised?
6. What if an immunisation certificate is not provided at enrolment or if the child is listed on the certificate as not fully immunised?
7. Do schools need to transfer the immunisation certificate when a child moves to another school, including from primary to secondary school?
8. How long do schools need to retain immunisation certificates?
9. What if the parent provides the school with a record of vaccines given overseas?
10. When are children excluded from school?
11. Who can I contact for more information?

As the school year is progressing, this may be a good time to remind parents of the new regulations around mobile phone use.

The NSW Government’s world-first mobile phone detection cameras have been operating in warning mode since 1 December 2019, but from 1 March 2020 drivers caught doing the wrong thing will cop a $344 fine and five demerit points. Minister for Roads Andrew Constance said 9 million vehicles had been checked by the cameras during the three-month warning period, with more than 30,000 warning letters issued to offending drivers.

NSW Police continue to enforce illegal mobile phone use and issue infringements as part of regular operations.

Find more information about mobile phone rules and FAQs on the Transport for NSW Know the rules page.

We are pleased to advise that a new edition of this valuable safety resource is now available online. The current edition has been updated with digital/online safety, light rail safety, metro train safety, dental health, diabetes, etc. It is recommended that school principals bring this important information source to the attention of their school community.
The Child Safety Handbook App has also been produced by NSW Police Legacy and includes everything we need as a community to protect our most valuable and vulnerable resource – our children.  From preventative measures at home to safety outdoors, from cybersafety to dealing with peer pressures, this App is a resource for every family and school community. The app can be downloaded via the Apple store, Google Play or Amazon Kindle.
Link to the digital handbook – NSW Police Legacy Child Safety Handbook
Here is also a link to the childsafetyhub.com.au website with assets that can be used – http://nsw.childsafetyhub.com.au/downloads/

This year’s Harmony Day Poster and Song Writing Competition theme is ‘Picture a World in Harmony’. Prizes will be awarded in two categories:
1. Senior (year 7 – year 12)
2. Junior (K – year 6)

Poster Competition Prizes In each category the following prizes are awarded:
– State Winner $500
– Regional Winner $150
– State Winner’s School $500

Song Writing Competition Prizes

In each category the following prizes are awarded:
– First Prize $300
– Second Prize $150

Closing Date: 10 April 2020
Entry Forms and Competition Rules Are available at: www.movingforwardtogether.org.au

Prize Giving Function Will be held at the NSW Parliament House in June 2020
Every entrant will receive a Certificate of Participation
More information from:
– [email protected]
– [email protected]
– [email protected]

Applications are now open for the NSW Youth Advisory Council 2020.

Membership of the YAC is open to children and young people between 12-24 years of age residing in NSW. Applications are particularly sought from diverse locations, backgrounds and life experiences.

The 12 member YAC provides a direct avenue of communication between young people and the NSW Government. The YAC meets regularly throughout the year to discuss a range of topics and provide feedback on policies, procedures and resources affecting children and young people.

Members also provide feedback to community groups, government agencies and Departments and Ministers on issues concerning children and young people.

If you are 12 to 24, live in NSW, and want to represent your peers on subjects relevant to young people, then apply before 1 March, 2020 at: acyp.nsw.gov.au