Category: Secondary

SEQTA – what to expect and some guidelines

November 23, 2017

 

Dear Parents

SEQTA is an amazing tool for schools and I would encourage both students and parents to check it regularly.

Please note that SEQTA is a resource to supplement teaching NOT an online substitute for the relationship between a teacher and student. Your child spends 320 minutes a day in personal contact with their teachers – and your child has every opportunity to receive help, ask questions and take ownership of their work. I would encourage parents to  grow the independence of their children rather than to expect SEQTA to be the prime source of information.

SEQTA is a great insight for parents – but again, the conversations that are then initiated between parents, teacher and student are of the most value.

I would encourage parents and students to ensure that they are aware of the documents attached to each course: course outlines, assessment schedules and other resources are available in SEQTA for reference, saving or printing at any time. I would also encourage parents to ask for help and to keep an eye out for the SEQTA information evenings which are often run at the start of each year.

Teachers will on occasion deviate from their teaching plan because students may require extra time for understanding and consolidation. That is part of good teaching and might disrupt a plan previously put in place.  We all know that parents and teachers constantly adapt as the needs of children evolve. Individual teachers will decide the format or formats for the submission of work – sometime these may be in hard copy, sometimes they might be uploaded to SEQTA, emailed or handed in on USB. This will depend on the nature of the task and the format the teacher feels is best. Teachers are striving to meet the expectations below. Some teachers already exceed these and use SEQTA very extensively. The expectations below are our target and while many staff will go beyond these, staff are not expected to.

 

The SEQTA experience for parents

Duncraig and Carramar Secondary

 

Cover Page

The purpose of the cover page is to contain an overview of the course. It should be an easy reference for information about the entire year of work.

It contains a copy (or a link) to the assessment schedule, program and syllabus.

 

Assessments

  • The assessment schedule should be developed at the start of the year. Lower school students are to have the entire semester of assessments visible to parents and students. Year 11 and 12 are to have the entire year’s assessments visible
  • Assessment titles should include the weighting and clear labels that are succinct.
  • Task sheet/assessment description and marking guide/rubric are to be added at an appropriate time.
  • Marks for summative assessments should be made visible, within three weeks of the assessment being finalised.
  • If there is more than one class, all marks are to be made visible at the same time.
  • Exam marks are to be released at the end of the exam period.
  • Formative assessments can be visible with a weighting of zero.
  • Assessment feedback will be placed in the Marks Book on a regular basis.

 

(Lesson) Planning

Students, parents/carers and other staff should be able to see what has been planned on a week-by-week basis (as a minimum). Clarity in lesson naming is essential.

 

Lesson Resources

It should be clear where students can access resources and links. Students may be required to enter homework themselves on occasion.

 

Documents Section

This is used to store documents that parents/carers might need to access at any point of the year.

Documents include anything from a Parent Information Night slide show, Curriculum Handbooks, and the Assessment Policy.

Bruce Titlestad

Head of Secondary

Murdoch Mail

November 23, 2017

Featured in this volume is:

  • Murdoch Year 12 Horizons Summer School – A new three week university experience designed especially for students transitioning between Years 11 and 12 to complete a university-level subject at Murdoch while they’re still at school.
  • Save the date for Careers Masterclass 2018 – Careers Masterclass is Murdoch’s annual careers teachers professional development day and will be held on Thursday 29th March in 2018.
  • Carols at Murdoch – Bush Court provides an intimate, beautiful grassed setting for a picnic with family and friends under the trees. This is a free family friendly event for all of the community to enjoy and will feature free face painting, balloon twisting, “snow” ball pit for the children to play in and of course a visit from Santa!
  • Telethon Community Cinemas – Murdoch’s beautiful Lower Bush Court will proudly host the Telethon Community Cinemas until the 3rd February 2018. We invite you to enjoy an outdoor movie under the stars this summer.

Stephen Kernutt

Careers Advisor

Costume Challenge

November 23, 2017

Carana Costume Challenge had students channelling their inner fashion designer last week, creating a costume that best resembled their favourite Disney star.  Can pick the characters?

Looks fun!

 

“So I recommend having fun, because there is nothing better for people in this world than to eat, drink, and enjoy life. That way they will experience some happiness along with all the hard work God gives them under the sun.” – Ecclesiastes 8:15

Food Rescue – T6 Service Learning

November 17, 2017

Mrs. Billingsley plus two Year 8 students,  Emma Baker and Amy Harrison, went to the CBD, St George’s Terrace on Wednesday. They participated in a ‘food rescue’ program run by Uniting Care West. They picked up a food cart, going from café to café collecting up leftover food.

Food Rescue saves surplus perishable, nutritious food that would otherwise find its way into landfill and redistribute to those in need.

“Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.” – Proverbs 3:27

 

 

Important Notice

November 17, 2017

Duncraig Secondary will be closing at 12pm on the last day of term, Wednesday 6th December, in alignment with the Primary School.

Please contact the school if you would like further clarification.

Ph: (618) 9243 2100.

 

 

Blessings from God

November 17, 2017

The school grounds are beautiful and often overlooked on a busy school day. School grounds are probably more important than you think. Students spend up to a quarter of the day in the surrounding grounds.

Please take a moment to appreciate the beautiful environment.

The grounds are tended and maintained by our Property Services team.

“The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.” – Isaiah 40:8

C7 Service Learning Excursion to CATA – Creative and Therapy Activities

November 16, 2017

As part of their Service Learning C7 visited CATA today. CATA provides innovative services and creative opportunities that promote people’s lifelong wellbeing in a safe, enjoyable and supportive environment.

Students talked to clients who were busy engaged in pottery, arts and crafts.

It was a fun time for all.

“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” – Philippians 2:4

 

Vanessa Liebenberg Incursion Year 12

November 16, 2017

This week the Year 11 & 12 Visual Art Students attended a Mixed Media Incursion with South African Artist Vanessa Lienbenberg. 

Students were shown a range of different media, techniques and processes. They got very creative and worked on their own wooden panels with a mix of inks, oil paint and used wood burning techniques to draw on to the surface. 

To find out more about the artist click here: Vanessa Liebenberg

 

“Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.” – Proverbs 22:29

 

The 2017 Black Swan Prize

November 16, 2017

Year 11 &12 Visual Art Students attended an excursion to ‘The 2017 Black Swan Prize’ at the Art Gallery of West Australia last week. The Black Swan Prize is one of Australia’s Richest Portraiture Prize and promotes Australia’s Top Artists. Students got to meet and talk with Artists Guy Morgan and David Wells to learn about the story behind each piece. Well done to Winner Jana Vodesil-Baruffi who won the $50,000 Lester Group Prize with her piece ‘Black Swan’.

Black Swan Prize 2017

“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.” – Ecclesiastes 9:10-11