New Norfolk High is a respectful learning community with high expectations for all. One way in which we demonstrate that is by continuing to build on our provision for extra support in reading and in generating opportunities for our students to learn from other leaders in our community.

We had a special assembly recently when we were visited by Scott Roth, the Head Coach of the JackJumpers. It was great to get his insights as he spoke about the journey his club had been on to develop a culture of high expectations as well as their work to cultivate diversity and inclusion. He also delivered some key messages about the importance of discipline, even in small matters like making your bed or having breakfast in the morning, in paving the way for future success.

Scott responded to a number of questions from students as well as staying behind afterwards for signing & photos with some very keen JackJumper fans. As with last year’s visit from Jack Riewoldt, it is very inspiring to be able to expose students to successful leaders in our community & examples of just what we are capable of achieving.

While NAPLAN is about to start, we have already been running testing across the whole school using DIBELS to identify how we can best support student achievement in reading. We were one of the first schools in the start to trial this testing program and have now expanded it across the school. Based on the results, we will shortly begin our MacqLit intervention program for Year 7 and 8 students. This year, we are also providing extra support from 7-10 with reading fluency. Fluency is the ability to read a text with a natural sounding voice and it is the focus of work we are doing throughout the year with all our teachers and students.

Some of this work will be done with all students in the classroom. Some of it will be by way of additional support as I’ve referred to above. Building on the work we did with vocab last year, you can expect to hear more about this as we play our part in the task of Lifting Literacy across the state because meeting student need, and improving students outcomes, is the New Norfolk Way.

Stuart Lord, Principal