News from our APC

Homework 

This week, our teachers revisited the St Mary’s Homework Guidelines.  Through our discussions, we reaffirmed the value of homework in helping students develop early study habits, establish routines, and consolidate their classroom learning.

To further support our students, we’ve introduced a Homework Support Club, held every Thursday at lunchtime. This is a voluntary opportunity for students to complete homework or catch up on missed assessment tasks in a supportive environment.

Please see the updated St Mary’s Homework Guidelines below. If you have any questions about your child’s homework, feel free to reach out.

HOMEWORK GUIDELINES

Homework is set to:

  • Encourage good work habits
  • Revise work done in class
  • Complete work
  • Develop research skills

It should not be set over holiday periods.  Homework tasks, including set reading, should not occupy more than 20 minutes per weekday in years P-2, 30 minutes in years 3-6.  Where agreed, parents could be asked to sign homework books, listen to reading, hear spelling, read to the child, assist the child to find resources etc.

Points to consider:

  1. Homework should be meaningful and relevant to the curriculum.
  2. If homework is set, then students should have a basic knowledge of the topic in order to be able to complete it.  Uncovered work should NEVER be set.
  3. Work should be set at a level of suitability so that students can complete it rather than the parents.
  4. Give students enough time to complete homework, considering home obligations and extracurricular activities.  Ensure that what you set matches the time allotted to homework.
  5. If work is set it must be marked.  If it isn’t going to be marked then it shouldn’t be set.  Commitment has to work both ways.
  6. Ensure parents and carers are aware of the school’s homework policy.
  7. It would be beneficial for class teachers to collaborate when planning homework to ensure that there is a level of consistency between classes.

What should homework include?

There is enough time at school to cover all the relevant work.  However, the following should be encouraged:

  1. Literacy 
  2. Mathematics
  3. Online tasks 

What to do if a student fails to do their homework?

  1. Establish the expectations at the start of the year with both students and parents (e.g. through your class newsletter).  Encourage parents to communicate with you (eg via the child’s homework book/email), and inform you if their child could not complete their homework for a valid reason.  Be understanding!
  2. If the student fails to bring their homework in once, discuss the reasons with them and request that it is brought in on the next school day.  The student may also be offered Homework club as a support to complete their homework in the given time. 
  3. If the student fails to bring in their homework there will be consequences based on year level behaviour management expectations.
  4. If this problem persists, it needs to be discussed with the parents.

Belinda Battaia
Assistant Principal - Curriculum