Connect Finigan School of Distance Education Term 1 Week 6

Welcome to Term 1 Week 6

What's in this week's Connect

• Timetable Changes: Years 7, 8, 9 & 10
• NAPLAN: Timetable, forms, & documentation
• eSafety Parent & Carer Webinars: Term 1, 2025
• Student Work: Yr 11 English; Year 11 Visual Arts
• Think about signing up for Q-PAF!
• Shoalhaven Youth Music Festival: 15 March
• Australian Geography Competition
• Careers
• Learning & Wellbeing Coaches 2025: Yr 9 Wellbeing Coaches updated
• Wellbeing: General links

We would love to hear from you. If have something to share in our school newsletter please email it to: finigansde@det.nsw.edu.au

Timetable Changes

I hope everyone is enjoying a fabulous start to 2025!

There have been some timetable changes for students in Years 7, 8, 9 and 10 and there are likely to be more changes this week. Please make sure you check your timetable in the DEMS Student Portal as this will reflect all changes.

If you have a clash in your live lessons, please contact your Wellbeing Coach. I am reviewing clashes this week and hope to resolve them ASAP.

Best wishes for a great term and an even better year.

Penelope Field

NAPLAN at Finigan SDE

The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is an annual assessment for students in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9. It is the only national assessment that all Australian students have the opportunity to complete. NAPLAN measures the literacy and numeracy skills students develop through the school curriculum and provides parents, carers, and teachers with insight into the child’s progress against national standards.

The NAPLAN test window spans nine days, from Wednesday, 12 March 2025, to Monday, 24 March 2025. Students will complete four tests. Catch-up days will be scheduled within this period; however, no additional catch-up days will be available after the 24th of March.

All relevant forms and documentation are below:

• Parent Acting as a Test Supervisor Agreement - DUE MONDAY 3rd MARCH 2025. Please return to finigansde@det.nsw.edu.au
• NAPLAN Brochure
• NAPLAN website
• Lock down browser
• Practice tests
• Inclusive testing options
• Handbook: Years 3 & 5; Years 7 & 9
• A guide for parents & carers administering NAPLAN tests

If you have any questions, please contact Michelle Grasso 0439383040, Michelle.grasso2@det.nsw.edu.au

eSafety Parent & Carer Webinars

Algorithms and adolescents: the rewards & risks of recommender systems for young people

Are you curious about how digital platforms are influencing your children’s online experiences?

This 30-minute webinar explores the role algorithms and AI and how parents and carers can support safer and more positive interactions in the digital world.

This session will:

• highlight how young people are using some of the popular social networking apps and games
• discuss the role of algorithms and recommender systems in influencing how children and young people experience the online world, including potential harms and impacts
• provide strategies to have better conversations with your children about social media use, managing content and reporting negative online experiences.

It's suitable for parents and carers of young people in upper primary and secondary school.

Term 1 dates (Australian Eastern Daylight Time):

• 19 March, 12.30pm

Go to the eSafety Commissioner website to find out more or register for a free webinar.

Tips from the eSafety Commissioner

This week we bring you another from the eSafety Commissioner on staying safe online.

eSafety tip#3: Cyberbullying

Student Work

Year 11 English

Year 11 students in the Standard English course were asked to compose the opening paragraphs of a story for an imaginative writing task. They had to choose one of two photographs as their inspiration. Ella chose the photo of a city streetscape for her inspiration.

I step out of my bedroom door; I was immediately struck by a city train station's deafening noise and buzzing vibe. The diesel smell made my nose cringe and the harsh, fluoro lights of the city made my eyes blind. I blinked, trying to make sense of my surroundings. This was not my house. People hurried past, their footsteps and oncoming trains shook the concrete floor. The mumbled words of people made my ears shrink. I glanced around, noticing a large clock, which stood in the middle of the station. It read 08:42. Approximately 18 minutes before I had to be at school, I was hours away from where I called home.

To my left, men and women were dressed in their best business clothes, to my right, there was only more of them. What looked like for hundreds of metres, the station was flooded with suits and expensive-looking dresses. I took a deep breath and thought to myself, ‘There’s no way I’m getting back home to get to school in time.’ So, I thought what better was there to do than to explore? The station was a sea of platforms, where they each displayed places not even the smartest person in the world could pronounce. I walked towards the nearest one, sceptical of what I was getting myself into. As I boarded the train, the announcer spoke “Next stop, the underworld.” I froze with fear, and a little bit of excitement. I realized that stepping out of my bedroom door had transported me to a world of adventure any kid like me could ever dream of.

Year 11 Visual Arts

Year 11 Visual Arts students have been experimenting with different techniques to create their self-portrait. Here is a sample. I love what they have come up with.