Hi Year 7 families,

Our Year 7s are off to a great start in their high school journey at Foxwell. I've loved popping in and out of classrooms, seeing students working together, unpacking examples, forming relationships with each other and their teachers, discussing work with learning partners, asking questions and supporting one another. I'm so enjoying getting to know this wonderful group of students!

This is my second year as a Deputy Principal in the Foxwell family. My teaching background is in the subject areas of English and History, and I have previously been a Careers Co-ordinator and English Head of Department. This year, a former student of mine is actually one of our beginning teachers in the English faculty. How time flies! I absolutely love teaching and learning, and am always so excited to see student success and improvement. 

Our Year 7 team at Foxwell is fully committed to supporting the success of every student. Mr Jack Porter is our SWEL Head of Department for Year 7, Ms Tara Goldhardt is our Year 7 Head of Year and Mr Sean Atiifale is our Guidance Officer. They will introduce themselves a little later in this Bulletin. Our vision is to support the individual success of every Foxwell learner and ensure they have a strong start in their foundation years of high school.

Now that students are settling into classes and their new environment, there will be an increased focus on goal setting and effort for learning. You may find that assessment demands start to increase at this point in the term. Please refer to the Assessment Calendar (included with this update) to check in with your student and ensure they have planned their due dates and study load. Students can always seek additional assistance from their classroom teachers or utilise WIN time in the Learning Hub before school.

Please don't hesitate to reach out to myself or another member of the Year 7 team if we can be of assistance or support. I can be contacted via email at lrobe305@eq.edu.au. We hope to meet as many families as possible next Tuesday at our Meet the Teacher evening also, and encourage you to RSVP if you haven't already done so. 

I'm really proud of the way our Year 7s are embracing their high schooling, and am looking forward to working alongside them throughout the year. 

My name is Jack Porter, and I am the Head of Department for Student Wellbeing, Engagement and Learning for Year 7. I am new to the College, having worked at Springwood and Laidley State High Schools before joining the SWEL Team here at Foxwell. I have a passion for teaching and working with students of all ages to help provide them with opportunities to grow and develop as young people.

In my role as SWEL Head of Department for Year 7, I am privileged to work with all our Year 7s to support them to meet the College’s high expectations in all facets of school life – from the classroom to the playground.

If students need support with their transition to high school life, or any other issues that may arise they can find me in the SWEL HUB on Level Two of E Block. And for parents – I always appreciate proactive communication, please don’t hesitate to get in touch via email at jepor0@eq.edu.au or by phoning the school.

My name is Tara Goldhardt and I am the Head of Year 7 for 2024.

I am passionate about the success of young people, both in and out of the classroom. Whether their passions lie in the classroom, on the sporting field, the stage or elsewhere beyond our school, I look forward to sharing this journey with your student.  

As Head of Year 7, my role is to support the wellbeing and school engagement of your student as they work towards their goals. I look forward to working with you and your student on this journey toward success throughout this year.

My name is Sean Atiifale and I am the Guidance Officer for Years 7-9 at Foxwell SSC. I work with students, families, school staff, and external support providers to ensure students are supported at school.

 I provide advice and support around educational, behavioural, vocational, personal, social, family, and mental health and wellbeing issues. I also work alongside a team of support services based at Foxwell SSC including our Social Worker, School Chaplain, and School Based Youth Health Nurse who are also available to provide assistance to students.

Students can self-refer to the Guidance Officer, or they can be referred by their families and other staff within the school. Please touch base with the Year 7 SWEL HoD, Mr Jack Porter, if you feel your child may benefit from a Guidance referral. 

NAPLAN ONLINE 2024

This year between Wednesday 13 and Monday 18 March, students in Years 7 and 9 will be participating in NAPLAN Online. NAPLAN is a national assessment that assesses the literacy and numeracy skills that students are learning through the school curriculum, and allows parents/carers to see how their child is progressing against national standards and over time. NAPLAN also provides schools, education authorities and governments with information about how education programs are working and whether young Australians are achieving important educational outcomes in literacy and numeracy.

Next Tuesday (27 February), we will be providing students with the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the NAPLAN Online Portal by participating in an Omnibus practice test in the NAPLAN Online platform. This test is a combination of Reading, Numeracy, and Conventions of Language. This is an excellent opportunity to familiarise students and teachers with the online testing process. Please be assured that there is no marking and no data recorded for this practice test. 

As Foxwell State Secondary College operates a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Program, students will use their iPad. All students will require wired headphones (no Bluetooth or earbud style headphones) for some NAPLAN tests. We require students to bring their own device-compatible, wired headphones (including any required headphone jacks). Please ensure your child also brings their fully charged iPad to school on the practice test and test days. 

During the NAPLAN testing window (13-18 March), students will be involved in four tests sessions in classrooms with trained Test Administrators. Our goal is to conduct the tests with minimal disruption to our regular timetabled classes. Further timetable information will be sent to students and families closer to the testing window.

Parents and carers of children in Years 7 and 9 also need to be aware of other key important information. Please find attached to this email two documents which contain important information about NAPLAN, privacy and the use of personal devices. We encourage you to read the documents which should provide clarity around NAPLAN testing.

NAPLAN is for all students in Years 7 and 9. ACARA supports inclusive testing and adjustments are available for students with disability. The school will work with parents/carers and students to identify, on a case-by-case basis, reasonable adjustments required for individual students with disability to access NAPLAN. For further information on adjustments for students with disability or the process required to gain formal exemption, please contact HOD Inclusion, Tracey Robb, trobb18@eq.edu.au. If for any reason your child will be unable to participate in any of the NAPLAN tests, please contact Deputy Principal and NAPLAN Coordinator, Lynda Robertson, lrobe305@eq.edu.au. 

Further information regarding NAPLAN can be found on the NAPLAN Online website’s https://www.nap.edu.au/naplan/parent-carer-support. 

ACARA have also provided a Public Demonstration site which parents, carers and students are able to access to see what is involved in the tests (https://nap.edu.au/online-assessment/public-demonstration-site).

We will keep you up-to-date in the lead-up to NAPLAN Online, however if you require further information you can contact the school at admin@foxwellssc.eq.edu.au

We thank you in advance for supporting our students during 2024 NAPLAN Online.

On Tuesday 27th February 2024, we invite parents and carers to our inaugral Meet the Teacher Evening. This will be held in the A Block Undercroft (outside the canteen and uniform shop), and parents and carers will have the opportunity to enjoy a BBQ hosted by our College Executive, as well as meet classroom subject teachers.

The event will commence at 5.30pm and conclude by 7.00pm. 

Students are welcomed and recommended to attend with their parents/carers. 

Please RSVP for the event by 4pm Monday 26th February here.