Student Wellbeing

Social Media Ban for young people under the age of 16

Some information for parents from the Federal Government’s eSafety Commissioner can be found on the website at:

https://www.esafety.gov.au/about-us/industry-regulation/social-media-age-restrictions/faqs

Attendance Matters:

Good attendance at school is vital for a student's academic success, social and emotional development, and long-term future opportunities, including higher education and employment. Regular attendance ensures students receive the necessary instruction to perform well in school and build crucial social skills

Here are five key benefits of good attendance:

1. Improved Academic Performance:

Regular attendance is essential for students to grasp the curriculum, participate in lessons, and be well-prepared for exams and assessments. Consistently missing school can lead to students falling behind and struggling academically.

2. Enhanced Social Development:

Attending school regularly allows students to build connections with peers and teachers, develop a sense of belonging within the school community, and fully engage in school activities. This participation is vital for their social and emotional growth.

3. Better Long-Term Life Outcomes:

Students who attend school regularly are more likely to achieve higher levels of education, such as graduating from university of TAFE, and secure higher-paying careers in the future.

4. Development of Important Life Skills:

School attendance provides a structured environment where students learn valuable life skills and habits, including punctuality, responsibility, and the understanding that showing up consistently is a fundamental aspect of success.

5. Prevention of Falling Behind:

Regular attendance ensures students are present for crucial lessons and early interventions, preventing them from disengaging or becoming isolated. Early recognition of potential issues related to attendance also helps schools and families address problems before they become more significant

What you can do to build positive attendance habits:

You can help build positive attendance habits by: 

helping your child learn the importance of punctuality and routine
making sure your child arrives on time from the start of the school day, ready to take part 
reducing disruption to learning where you can, by planning any necessary appointments outside of school time 
contacting your school to explain any absences (within 7 days of the first day of any absence) 
making sure any holidays or medical appointments are taken outside school hours
working with the school to encourage and support regular attendance.

Reasons for missing school:

Being absent, late or leaving early

If your child misses school for any reason, please go onto Compass and add an attendance note explaining why or contact the college within 7 days.
If your child needs to arrive late or leave early, please notify the college.
If you have difficulty getting your child to school on time every day, please also contact the college. College staff are here to support you and your child to help them come to school.

If you are concerned about your child's attendance or any other issues that may affect their attendance please speak with the college. The first point of contact should be with your child’s Leader of Student Care. They can be contacted by phoning 67 610800 or emailing. Email addresses are provided later in this newsletter. It is important that schools and families work together to find solutions to improve attendance.

Resources from the eSafety Commissioner:

The eSafety Commissioner acts on behalf of the federal government in keeping our young people safe online. The links below provide many of the answers that parents/guardians may have in regards to the social media delay for under 16 year olds, safer internet ideas and how to place parental controls on devices when young people are online gaming, browsing, streaming or on chat groups.

https://www.esafety.gov.au/about-us/industry-regulation/social-media-age-restrictions/faqs

https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/issues-and-advice/parental-controls

Headspace resources for parents and carers:

https://headspace.org.au/services/family/mental-health-workshops-for-parents/

Webinars aim to:

Strengthen your understanding of mental health and the factors that can influence your young person’s mental health
Strengthen your understanding and skills in how to cope and where to find help
Build awareness of local, state and national support services available

Black Dog Institute

Free Webinars for parents:

Teen Mental Health Matters Webinar

A free webinar for parents and carers to learn how to support their teen’s mental health.

Dates and registration details can be found at:

https://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/education-services/schools/parents/

Sharon Stuart

Leader of Student Wellbeing

sstuart@arm.catholic.edu.au