Student led Learning Conferences, examinations, lifting covid restrictions, literacy/numeracy pilot and no NCEA Level 1 in Year 11 from 2024

Yesterday evening we conducted our Junior Student led Learning Conferences. It was wonderful to greet so many whānau into our College. 

 We are truly grateful for your active engagement in your daughter’s learning. A key philosophy behind the structure of these is that our ākonga are taking ownership of their learning. 

In my Ako, ākonga knew themselves well as learners, and were preemptive of what their teachers would say, who echoed almost exactly what the girls said about themselves. In using this structure, we support ākonga to reflect on their learning and to develop their next steps themselves. One parent and I laughed as we recounted parent-teacher interviews of the past, where as a student, I would sit at home nervously wondering what was said. In this old model teaching and learning was something ‘done’ to the student, it is wonderful to see our ākonga reflecting on their progress and articulating clearly what their next steps would be. I am sure you were as proud of your daughters, as I was of our students. Of course, you are welcome to contact us, or any individual teachers at any point throughout the year to discuss progress.

We begin the rounds of external examinations next week with the RECAA (Religious Education Common Assessment Activity) for Year 11 ākonga. For these ākonga it’s their first ‘taste’ of external examinations. Ms Craig (HOF Religious Education), Mrs Avery (SENCO) and I met with them on Wednesday to go through the regulations. Whānau will have received information about these, please carefully read this, and go through the requirements with your daughters as they will be new to the requirements surrounding NZQA examinations. 

 If you are a parent of a senior ākonga, you will also have received correspondence from me outlining the upcoming examinations. These are important measures of ākonga learning and progress, as well as familiarity with formal examinations for the end of the year. We also use these to collect unexpected event grades. One area we are challenged to fill is to provide support for students with special assessment conditions. If you had an hour or two to spare and could help with providing Reader Writers for our ākonga who need some support, please do contact Mrs Avery (aav@villa.school.nz). We would be very appreciative if you were able to help.

With the lifting of covid requirements, we return to our usual manner of granting extensions for internal assessments for seniors. All extensions for medical reasons will require a medical certificate or a picture of a covid test. Managing stress and balancing due dates is an important life skill we work to equip our ākonga with. Mrs Chapman, Principal’s Nominee, is available to help with extension requests. At times, demands for assessments can feel overwhelming, and we are here to support your daughter as she works through this. If the workload feels unreasonable, in the first instance, please encourage your daughter to talk to us about her workload.

Along with other kura across Aotearoa, we eagerly awaited the results of the first Literacy/Numeracy pilot from May. Approximately 40 girls sat each of the three assessments (Reading, Writing, Numeracy). Going forwards, these three assessments are required in order for our current junior students to gain any level of NCEA certificate. As a kura we have adopted a strength-based approach and assess-when-ready. I am delighted to share our results with you. No doubt, you will be aware of the low rates being talked about in the media, and we are proud of the mahi of our ākonga in achieving such strong results.

Reading 100%

Writing 95%

Numeracy 100%

Year 10 ākonga will have an opportunity to sit these assessments in Term Four.

Thank you to the parents and ākonga who braved a bitterly cold evening last week to attend the Year 11, 2024 evening. I outlined what Year 11 would look like at the kura from next year. 

In doing away with the full NCEA Level One in Year 11 and by increasing curriculum coverage, we aim to provide girls with more opportunities to learn in a variety of areas, reduce unnecessary assessment, spend more time spent in class, and an increased focus on mental and physical well-being with the introduction of compulsory Health and Physical Education. I include a link to my presentation here, Year 11 2024 Whanau Presentation.pptx. You are welcome to contact me at anytime to discuss your daughter’s learning.

Thank you to those whānau who joined us on Tuesday evening at the Hui Whānau. We spent some discussing how we could consult better, and what our priorities as a kura could be in the future. One main point of discussion was how we can work to ensure we are addressing our obligations under Te Tiriti for our rangatahi. I am meeting some of our kapahaka group next Tuesday to discuss ways they can be more involved in supporting the kura to become culturally responsive. The Senior Leadership Team welcomes your input into how we consult best and what our priorities should be in the future. 

We are a team in the support we give our young women to develop, and ensuring we are communicating transparently and clearly with all whānau and working together to address common goals is a key focus area for us.