Assistant Principal - Sally Cheah-Johnson
Year 10 Orientation Camp
I would like to extend a very warm welcome to all students for the new school year. I would also like to congratulate all our new students on how well they have settled into their new environment at JMSS.
Our new cohort of students commenced their schooling at JMSS with the Orientation Camp at Monash University Residential Halls. There were many different programs run over the 2 days – motivation speakers, sports activities, introduction of ‘Magic Maths’ by Dr Burkard Polster from Monash University, House activities, ‘Getting to Know You’ activities, the introduction of our JMSS Four Pillars of Learning, learning of our school song, introduction to e-learning and use of e-resources at JMSS, Bush Dance and Talent Show.
All students participated fully in all the activities which were organised to assist our new students to get to know each other and their teachers, and build House Teams. Our teachers who were at the Camp were most impressed with the conduct of our Year 10 students and how well they embraced the whole Camp Program with energy and enthusiasm. My congratulations to our Year 10 students for a great start to the year.
Student Details
Students and parents are required to check on all the details on the Student Details Form and return to their Mentors as soon as possible. This is important as all school communications to parents and students will be based on the entries on this required form.
Communication
Parents are urged to access the JMSS Compass Portal for communication on Newsfeed. New parents will be provided with login details for the JMSS Compass Portal when they attend the "Meet the Mentor" Night on Tuesday 17th February at 7pm. If any parent has difficulties with the Compass portal, please contact the school on 9905 1002.
Student Attendance
As Term 1 of schooling progresses to Week 4, it is important to reflect on your child’s school attendance and their academic progress. When you receive your child’s Interim Report (Week 7 of the school year) or feedback at the Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences (Wednesday 23rd March) and there are areas highlighted as needing improvement, please reflect on how absences may have contributed to the situation. Absences from school do affect the continuity of your student’s education, and may have an adverse effect on their progress. When a student misses a class lesson, they lose the thread of the subject material.
Subject development is a sequential building process that relies heavily on a firm grasp of each section of material. When a part is missing the student may find it immensely difficult in learning the work and frustration can set in. This can make school life a genuine chore.
To fill in missed lessons, both teachers and students have to set aside time outside the classroom to work together. Despite the best of intentions this does not always happen and the learning process is interrupted.
Continuity of education class by class is all too important.
Should you require support regarding your student’s attendance or with regard to any other issue, please contact your student’s House Mentor immediately.
Lateness to School
If parents know in advance of any appointments that may cause their child to be late or require them to leave early, the following communication options are available:
- Phone Trudy Braden’s (Attendance Officer) direct line 03 9902 9712 (details can be left at anytime of the day or night and the messages are checked regularly throughout the day)
- Email absences@jmss.vic.edu.au