Spelling Bee and Maths Bee

The Maitland-Newcastle Diocesan Spelling Bee and Maths Bee are again being conducted during 2025. Over the coming weeks, class teachers select finalists who will participate in the school finals.

Dates for St. Benedict’s finals are:

Spelling Bee – Thursday 29th May

Maths Bee – Friday 30th May

Parents of class finalists will be informed by Tuesday, 20th May. From the school finals, students per stage will be selected to represent St. Benedict’s at the Lakes Regional Finals being Friday 13th June.

CogAT

In Term 2, students in Years 2 and 4 will participate in the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT). This test evaluates students' reasoning abilities in three key areas essential for success in school:

1. Verbal Battery: Assesses students' ability to reason with words and concepts, crucial for reading comprehension, critical thinking, writing, and verbal learning tasks.

2. Quantitative Battery: Measures students' ability to reason with quantitative symbols and concepts, which are vital for problem-solving in mathematics and other disciplines.

3. Nonverbal Battery: Evaluates students' ability to reason with geometric shapes and figures, requiring them to implement strategies for solving novel problems.

These batteries provide a comprehensive view of each student's learned reasoning abilities, identifying both strengths and areas for improvement. CogAT aims to support differentiated practice in education by helping teachers adapt instruction to meet the unique needs and abilities of each student.

It's important to note that CogAT scores are not integrated into report grades or other conventional measures of school achievement. The focus is on tailoring instruction and fostering a supportive, inclusive learning environment based on each child's ability.

If you have any concerns or questions about your child's academic progress or specific educational needs, please schedule a meeting with your child's teacher. They will discuss your child's strengths and areas for growth based on various assessments. Additionally, you can contact our Gifted Education Mentor (GEM), Mrs Leah Killen (leah.killen@mn.catholic.edu.au) or Leader of High Potential and Gifted Education, Maree Karaka (maree.karaka@mn.catholic.edu.au), for further assistance.

Thank you for your continued support in ensuring the best educational outcomes for our students.