Senior Assessment Week begins on Monday 11 June and concludes on Monday 18 June

Dear Parents/Caregivers/Students

Senior Assessment Week begins on Monday 11 June and concludes on Monday 18 June for all senior students. All junior classes will run as per normal. This week is important because it allows students to:

· Sit assessments under NCEA conditions and then to receive feedback on academic progress

· Revise previously taught work

· Study for NCEA external examinations

· Complete work for internal assessments

· Attend supervised blocked teaching sessions

· Work for extended periods of time in practical subjects

Please click this link for the Assessment Timetable. All assessments are compulsory to attend.

If you have a clash, please click this link for the notification form. All assessment clashes are to be completed as soon as possible but no later than 12.00noon on Thursday 7 June. Mr Johnston will respond to your clash with an alternative assessment time to the students Roncalli email address.

It is our expectation that all students will be fully engaged in school work at home, school based activities or assessments during the entirety of this week. Students travelling to and from school are expected to follow school procedures. This includes the use of vehicles; if students are going to transport other passengers, they need to get permission through the usual channels.

An overview of assessment rules are below but parents and students should also consult the NCEA Handbook that is available on the College website - www.roncalli.school.nz/Academic. All students will be reminded of assessment expectations at school this week. The important aspects of this are:

· If a student is unable to make it to an assessment for any reason, a phone call needs to be made to the College Office as early as possible before the assessment is due to start.

· All students should be at school at least 20 minutes before the start of any formal assessment.

· All students, regardless of what they have come to school for, are expected to attend in full and correct College uniform.

These assessments are critical because if a student is not able to sit the end of year NCEA examinations, the grade obtained may potentially be used towards a possible derived grade. For this set of assessments the length of each assessment is determined by the Curriculum Leader. These range from 1-3 hours.

Regular classes for Year 12 and 13 students commence again on Monday 18 June - Day 1 of the timetable.Year 11 Students have their Science exam on this day and will resume normal classes on Tuesday 19 June - Day 2 of the timetable for year 11.

All students are encouraged to ensure they are well prepared for assessments. The feedback and feed forward obtained from these assessments will form the basis of Senior Conferencing interviews which will be held on Monday 25 June.

Rules For Assessments in the Hall

Before the assessment

• Arrive 20 minutes early

• It is highly recommended that all cellphones are left at home. It it is essential that you have a cellphone on the day of the assessment, it must be switched off, in a named plastic bag and taken to the office prior to students lining up for the assessment. Whilst all care is used, no responsibility is able to be taken for students’ cellphones during the assessment period.

In the assessment room

• At all times, listen to and follow the instructions of the supervisor.

• Sit at the desk where you are directed. The assessment booklets at this desk will have been selected and coded specifically for you.

• When you are told, check that all pages in each booklet are printed correctly.

• If you have any problems put up your hand.

• You cannot leave in the first 45 minutes or the last 15 minutes of the assessment, even to use the toilet.

During the assessment

• Do not borrow equipment from someone else.

• Do not talk to, communicate with, or do anything to disturb other candidates.

• Do not read or copy another candidate's work.

Writing your answers

• Follow all the instructions on the front cover of the assessment booklet.

• Use only black or blue pen. Do not write in pencil unless instructed to do so.

• Write neatly, so the marker can read your answers.

• Cross out any work you do not want marked.

• Do not write or draw anything that may be regarded as offensive.

• Do not write to the marker or write in the part of the answer booklet 'For assessor's use only'.

• Do not write your answers for one standard in the answer booklet for another. If you have filled up your answer booklet, you may request extra paper.

• Fill in your details at the top of any additional sheets of paper provided and put them inside the answer booklet.

At the end of the assessment

• Stop writing when the supervisor tells you to do so. Hand all material to be marked to the supervisor before you leave. If you take any work outside the assessment room, it will not be marked.

Excluded items

Do not bring the following items into the assessment room or to the College Office:

• Cellphones, ipads or ipods

• Blank paper or refill paper

• Correcting fluid

• Books, written notes or electronic notes

• English dictionaries, foreign language dictionaries, or te reo Māori dictionaries or translators

• Any electronic devices except approved calculators

Rules For Internal Assessments

Students will have been notified of the conditions of assessment for internally assessed standards. If a student is unsure of these conditions they should clarify these with their classroom teacher prior to the assessment deadline.

A reminder that if a student is absent from an internal assessment opportunity and/or is unable to meet the deadline, then a medical certificate MUST be provided to the College on the next day they attend school.

Micheal Johnston

Academic Advisor