Whole School News

MCS Communication Methods

In an age of information overload, it can be hard to get the balance right in ensuring our families know what is happening in our school community without sending out too many types of communication or getting ‘lost in the noise’.

This year we are aiming to streamline our communication so parents know where to find all the information you need to know.

For our whole school we use:

• this School Newsletter for information that is relevant to all of our families,

• the Sentral Parent Portal App for excursions, permission notes, absences and other useful and time sensitive information,

• Facebook to celebrate the wonderful achievements of our students and share photos of excursions and sports activities they have been involved in, and

• email when there is a message that needs to be communicated immediately or directly to parents.

For communication specific to Primary:

• Prep - Yr 2 use SeeSaw to communicate with families, as well as a weekly email with an update of the learnings and activities for the week ahead,

• Yr 3 - 6 teachers send out a weekly email with an update of the learnings and activities for the week ahead.

For communication specific to Secondary:

• Direct emails to families. This year, so far, we have emailed:

  • Assessment Schedules for each Year level shared in Week 3, to enable parents to help their children plan their workload and manage their time,

  • Information from our Stage Coordinators, Mrs Lindy Martens and Mr Ben Keith,

  • A welcome email from our Care Group Teachers working with your children in pastoral care lessons this year.

If you are not receiving any of the communication methods you should be, please let our team know via email.

NAPLAN 2023

The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is a point in time assessment of literacy and numeracy skills. Each year students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 participate in tests for writing, reading, conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy.

From 2023, NAPLAN is moving to Term 1 and will take place from Wednesday 15 March to Monday 27 March. The reason for this change is so that results can be returned to schools earlier in the year which will support teachers to understand the learning needs of their students and plan accordingly.

More information will be forthcoming, but our school’s intention is to run the testing across the first four days and then any required catch-ups early in the second week. This is intended to minimise any disruption to our school’s learning sequences.

NAPLAN tests are just one part of our school learning assessment program and questions are primarily based on knowledge, understanding and skills gained from the prior year of schooling.

In preparation for NAPLAN 2023, our school will undertake activities to help students to become familiar with the format and functionality of the online tests. These activities are not an assessment of student ability and will not be marked.

Students and parents can access the public demonstration site to familiarise themselves with NAPLAN and the types of questions and tools available. Excessive preparation for NAPLAN is not required nor recommended.

If you have any questions about NAPLAN, please contact Mr Mark Walter.

Uniform Shop

From Monday April 3rd Alinta will be moving to online ordering at www.alintaapparel.com.au , with all orders dispatched daily via Australia Post. Standard and express delivery will be available.

The outlet at 26 Ferodale Road will cease trading on Friday 31st March. Until then normal opening hours will apply, with extended opening hours for winter uniform fittings as follows (no appointment required):

• Monday 27th March 8am - 1pm

• Wednesday 29th March 1pm - 4pm

• Friday 31st March 8am - 1pm

If you have any questions, please contact Alinta on 0435 861 748.

Click the links below to navigate the newsletter:

• Primary News

• Secondary News