CAMBEWARRA Public School students Thomas Jenkinson, Jordan Ardler and Nate Thompson don’t mind admitting they found the idea of sitting the recent NAPLAN test a bit scary.
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Thomas, Jordan and Nate are all eight years of age and are in year 3 so sitting a NAPLAN test was always going to worry them.
Principal of Cambewarra Public School Mrs Susan Hilliar wanted to make her students feel better so she wrote an open letter to all the year 3 and year 5 students.
“It was the best letter ever,” Jordan said.
Mrs Hilliar’s letter put the students at ease and made them all feel special.
“What is very important to remember is that NAPLAN tests will not tell you how kind you are, how hard you try or what you can do besides reading, writing and maths,” Mrs Hilliar wrote.
“Some of you are very good at running, at painting beautiful pictures, dancing, being good sportsmen, making others feel included or helping others to be happy.
“The NAPLAN tests don’t tell your parents or teachers what a great kid you are growing into.”
It was the first time Mrs Hilliar wrote such a letter. She wanted all her students to know they all had many abilities.
Thomas and Nate said the letter made them feel better and helped settle their nerves.
“I was a bit nervous at first,” Thomas said.
All they had to do to stop being nervous was to remember Mrs Hilliar’s letter.
Jordan said she particularly liked the bit about beautiful paintings.
NAPLAN tests skills in literacy and numeracy that are developed over time through the school curriculum.
The tests started in 2008.
