Importance of Celebrating Student Success
Cape York Aboriginal Australian Academy (CYAAA) teaching teams document the many successes of their hardworking students throughout the year, as celebrating student success is key to motivating students, building self-esteem and creating a positive school culture.
Here are some of the most memorable student success stories from 2023 from the Coen and Hope Vale campuses.
Dudley is catch up in literacy and numeracy
Coen student Dudley’s hard work and great attitude enabled him to catch up in language, reading and spelling and progress to the next group in maths.
Dudley’s teaching assistant Sydonie said Dudley is so proud of himself every time he progresses to the next level of curriculum programs.
“Dudley catching up to the other groups in three subjects is something that should be celebrated; he worked extremely hard, always had an amazing attitude and did a wonderful job in catching up on Language, Reading and Spelling,” said Sydonie.
“Not only that, he has moved up to the next group in maths,” she continued.
Dudley caught up to his year level in English and progressed well in maths.
Year 1 student Donna is up to Year 4 level in reading
Coen student Donna is in Year 1 but has progressed to Year 3 and 4 level in some subjects.
Donna’s teaching assistant Dandara said Donna is an excellent student who has made almost triple the average rate of progress in English lessons.
“Due to her parents’ hard work at home to support her education, and her own efforts in class, Donna has now progressed to the Year 4 Reading, Year 3 Spelling, and Year 3 Language Arts programs,” said Dandara.
“This is a massive achievement to be celebrated; after all, Donna is still in year 1,” she continued.
Donna is excelling at school.
Reon progressed through five years' of reading programs in half the time
Coen student Roen progressed through five year’s of reading programs in two-and-a-half years.
Dandara said his success is due to his dedication to learning.
“He is a student that holds high expectations for his own learning, requests homework in advance when he knows he will be absent from school and is an example of behaviour expectations during Reading classes,” said Dandara.
In a wonderful sign of his development since arriving at Coen Campus in mid-2021, Reon is on the 2024 school leadership team as Cassowary House Captain.
Direct Instruction programs have helped Reon get to grade level.
Hope Vale students are also progressing faster than expected
Students at Hope Vale have also been progressing faster than expected through their literacy and numeracy programs.
Hope Vale’s Koala Reading group progressed through a year’s worth of reading lessons in 10-and-a-half months.
The Barra Reading Group completed a reading program in just one term and in Term 3 they were completing a lesson a day.
A group of Hope Vale Prep students mastered their maths program in three terms, starting on the Year 1 program in the fourth term of their Prep year.
These are just some of the 2023 student success stories that demonstrate the goals of CYAAA students to Get Ready, Work Hard and Be Good.
