From the Prin and the AP
2027 Prep Information Session
We had a great turnout at our 2027 Prep Information Session last night. It was lovely to welcome so many new families, along with some familiar faces returning with younger siblings!
A big thank you to our amazing Jess for presenting on the night and for all the work she's putting into organising our Prep transition program.
We look forward to seeing everyone over the next three Tuesdays as we continue our transition program and help our newest students get ready for school.
If you're a new family and have any questions, our friendly office staff are always happy to help, or you can contact Jess directly at jessica.tomlinson@education.vic.gov.au.
Every Day at School Matters
Regular school attendance makes a real difference to children's learning, friendships and sense of belonging. Each day builds on the learning that came before, and frequent absences can make it harder for children to keep up, feel confident and stay connected with their classmates.
It can be surprising how quickly occasional absences add up. The graph above below shows the impact missed school days can have over the course of a year.
This term, we're continuing our HERO attendance program, which recognises and celebrates regular attendance across the school. Classes with 90% or higher attendance for the week earn a letter towards spelling HERO. Once they've collected all four letters, the class earns a special reward: a sausage cooked by us! Judging by the number of sausages we're going to be cooking, our classes have been doing a fantastic job! It's been great to see so many classes reaching their attendance goals.
We completely understand that children get sick and that families sometimes face challenges that make regular attendance difficult. We don't expect children to attend when they are unwell. If your child is having difficulty attending regularly, please talk with us. We're here to work together to support your child.
Keeping in Touch About Unexplained Absences
This term, we're making some changes to how we follow up on unexplained student absences.
When a child is away from school and we haven't received a reason, it's important that we follow up to make sure they're safe and accounted for.
Families will continue to receive a text message through Compass when an absence is unexplained. If we still haven't received a reason, your child's classroom teacher will follow up with a phone call on the second day, and again on the third day if needed.
We believe it's important that these conversations happen with someone you know. Classroom teachers have an established relationship with your child and family, and a quick phone call is an opportunity to check that everything is okay, keep communication open and offer support where needed.
You can explain an absence directly through Compass, or simply contact the school and we can update it for you. Paper absence notes will be sent home for absences that remain unexplained.
We want to make sure every child is safe and accounted for, while maintaining positive communication between home and school.