PISA and the Importance of Reading

Later this year Magdalene students in Years 9 and 10 will participate in the OECD’s Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA).

PISA is one of the international assessments of the National Assessment Program (NAP). The NAP is part of a national strategy to monitor and report on student achievement, in a comparable and consistent way. This allows Australian governments (Federal and State) to monitor progress against the Melbourne Declaration Goals for Young Australians.

More details about this assessment will be provided to students involved in the coming weeks.

It is useful to note that PISA data can tell us much about student progress across multiple subject areas and it can show factors that impact individual achievement.

One common finding in PISA tests in recent years is the exceptional importance of reading and how, if regular, it can enhance student learning outcomes.

Daily Reading

While there is a multitude of factors that can impact achievement (e.g. the quality of instruction, access to learning resources and contextual family information), there is an extremely strong correlation between the time spent reading each day and learning growth and achievement.

In the most recent PISA test data, an analysis of close to 200,000 students, revealed that there was a very strong connection between reading engagement and reading performance in all 32 countries examined.

Students who were in the habit of reading regularly, read diverse texts and regarded reading as valuable, scored higher on PISA’s combined reading literacy scale.

Of particular interest was that a student’s ‘level of reading engagement’ was found to be a more significant factor than gender or socioeconomic status. Students with high reading engagement scored significantly above the international average on the ‘combined reading literacy scale’. Therefore, students by taking the initiative with reading, could and can overcome traditional barriers to achievement.

So, what does this mean for us?

Students at Magdalene read regularly in their English classes BUT we know that if students read every day for at least 20 minutes SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT can result.

Reading is enjoyable. Reading widely ensures that balance exists in a person’s life and that we don’t miss out on gaining greater general knowledge required in our lives.

I have written in previous Newsletters about how 20 minutes of reading every day can extend a student’s vocabulary considerably, but it can also enhance learning engagement, literacy skills and positively impact on a student’s capacity for critical thinking.

Students have access to many physical books from our College Library and they also have access to a broad array of digital texts. Of note, all students have access to the “Student reading app for OverDrive” (SORA); an online reading platform accessible on student MacBooks, or as an app. SORA provides access to ebooks, audiobooks and a large range of commercial magazines from our College and the National Catholic library. Students have been sent details about how to access this. While personally, I prefer an actual book that I can take around with me, this is a personal choice and SORA has a broad and diverse range of material. So, regardless of the format, let's encourage reading!

What is your favourite book?

Following recent conversations about students’ favourite novels, I started to wonder if my own children knew what my favourite book was and why.

I will be speaking about my favourite book and the importance of reading at the next College Assembly – so be fair warned – your children may be asking you (if they don’t know already) what your favourite book is and why you like it so much.

PRAYER

While it seems sometimes that the media can ‘get bored’ by ongoing issues, and therefore report less and less on critical issues, let us continue to pray for the people of Ukraine as they faced prolonged warfare, destruction and hardship.

Prayer for Peace and Justice in Ukraine

God of peace and justice,
who change the hardened heart
and break the power of violence,
we entrust the people of Ukraine to you.

Protect them in this time of mortal peril;
let them know not death but life,
not slavery but freedom.

You are Father of all;
we are brothers and sisters.

Give us the strength
to live that truth in love,
choosing peace not war.
Through Christ our Lord.

                                                    – Amen.

[Prayer courtesy of The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference.]

On May 20th, the Year 10 History elective class went on an excursion to the Chau Chak Wing Museum in Camperdown. This excursion goes along with the content that we are learning about this term which is museum studies. This excursion was a perfect opportunity for us to get an in person experience and understanding into how museums store their artefacts. 

During this excursion we were able to learn about different aspects of history such as Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, Pompeii and Herculaneum from a museum guide. As well as this we were able to enjoy a hands-on experience where we held artefacts and drew them, also being able to write down what understanding we could gain from the artefact. After this we were able to walk around the museum reading more about the artefacts, seeing more areas in the museum such as stuffed animals and artworks and taking photos of them. 

Amara Snowden - Year 10

Year 11 Earth and Environmental Science WB Clarke Geoscience Centre and Core Library Excursion

Year 11 Earth and Environmental Science students toured the Core Library on Thursday 26th May, learning about the role of this facility in resource exploration. Students completed activities that included a simulation of geophysical sensing, and mapping drill cores to determine what is underground and also used fossils to determine the age of rock layers. 

Activities and talks from Core Library staff helped students to understand the role of geological exploration and the Geological Survey of NSW. They learned about the different scientific specialties involved in collecting and interpreting information, as well as the uses of a library containing representative geological samples from across the state. AusEarthEd facilitated the excursion on behalf of the NSW Geoscience centre. I think the highlight for many students was seeing gold samples and the forklift squeezing through and up and down the aisles at the library.

Some thoughts from the students:

Holly Lollback

The core library is a bank of rock samples from all over New South Wales and the library provides a facility for the analysis and collation of the geology of this vast region. On the excursion we were able to see the significance of mining to the economy and to an understanding of Australia's geology of Australia. We were able to experience the processes and equipment used by professional geologists in analysing rock samples.

The most interesting thing about the core library was being able to talk to professional geologists and hear about their experiences. This was because it allowed me to understand the sheer scale of mining in Australia and the significance of the library to obtaining a near-complete knowledge of Australia's geology.

The activities were helpful as they provided a visual and literal model to cement our understanding of the concepts. The excursion is a useful learning experience because it allowed me to consolidate my understanding and provided an interesting experience.

Layla Elphinstone

“The most interesting thing about the core library was the forklift. This was because it was very cool.

The activities (finding resources using gravity and magnetic properties, relative dating of fossils) were helpful because they gave us first-hand experience in their everyday jobs and the processes of receiving, studying and storing the samples from different depths and locations. The excursion is a useful learning experience because it exposed us to a new/ unknown learning environment, with a range of new opportunities”

Other comments:

“The excursion is a useful learning experience because it gave insight into how they operate and how they find minerals or ores in Australia today including the range of careers you can go into if you find this path of work interesting.”

Yr 11 Investigating Science: Leaching of 'Toxins'

Students in Year 11 Investigating Science were tasked with investigating the practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples that relate to observations and inferences, including leaching of toxins in bush tucker. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people used inferences when collecting and preparing foods and found that some required leaching to be edible.

To model this students attempted to use the principles of leaching using water. Instead of leaching toxins from bush food, the students leached acid from limes by placing the limes in water for short periods of time and observing the dwindling amount of acid released into the water. Using universal indicator, they were able to show the pH of the solutions after the lime had been leached. 

Mr Chris Ferry 

Earth and Environmental Science Teacher

Year 10 Design and Technology have been getting creative with their Australiana Confectionary Tasks. They have used Native Australian Bush Foods to design and create their own unique lolly flavours. They have also thermo-formed their individual 3D printed lolly shapes, along with the development and creation of their own company logos and packaging! Well done Year 10!

Year 11 Food Technology has been busy studying digestion in their Nutrition unit, experiments are underway to help the students really see the ins and outs of how our body works to digest food!

The date is fast approaching! Keep Thursday June 23 free in your calendar. Magdalene Shines is a variety performance brought to you by the Performing Arts Faculty. Come along and enjoy an evening of dance, drama and music.

Tickets are on sale at lunchtime outside the Learning Resource Centre. Prices are $15 Adult, $5 child, $10 Senior, $30 Family.

Now over 100 Virtual Reality 3D Career video options on then CareerVR menu .

Here is a one minute video to show you what to do:

https://jobjump.com.au/helpVideo?video=careervr

They have been sourced from across Australia and world-wide! 

When you watch the videos, remember to keep your left click finger continually down on your mouse and while you do, move your mouse around. It will feel like you are actually in the scene moving your head in the actual movie. If you have 3D goggles, (or phone capability) you can watch the virtual reality video in full 3D as you move your head around for different viewpoints. Here's a couple to try out now!

Be on the movie set with the actors and the film crew here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nH1xJox61z4

Stand alongside a surgeon during the operation here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtaUCtNGi5k

Be a top gun ace pilot in a crack jet team

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6SsB3JYqQg

Explore the structure of the Harbour Bridge here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8J3_p2TqGA4

Enjoy!

Our College canteen cannot function without the valuable help of parent/carer volunteers daily. 

It would be greatly appreciated if you could assist in any way - once a week, once a month, once a Term or any other time that you specify. 

Each day, volunteers are required at the following times, you can do one session or two totally your choice:

Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday

9.30am to 10.30am

12.30pm to 1.30pm

Tuesday

10.30am to 11.30am

12pm - 1pm

If you are able to assist, please contact the College office on (02) 4631 3300 or email us at info@mccdow.catholic.edu.au.

Please note that all volunteers to the College will require to be double vaccinated as per the CEDoW Covid-19 Guidelines.