Hazel Glen College Primary Years

In Our Classrooms

Every Day Counts at Hazel Glen College

At Hazel Glen College, we place a strong emphasis on the importance of attending school every day.  

 

Small Absences Add Up!

Missing just one day a week might not seem like much, but that quickly adds up to 40 days a year, or around 8 weeks of learning! Even occasional absences can interrupt a child’s progress, making it harder to keep up with new concepts, build confidence and feel connected to the daily routines of the classroom.

 

Regular attendance is one of the most important factors in supporting student achievement and wellbeing. Each day at school provides opportunities for learning, collaboration, and building friendships that can’t always be replicated at home. By being at school every day, students are giving themselves the best chance to succeed, both academically and socially.

 

We understand that sometimes absences are unavoidable due to illness or family circumstances, but we encourage families to make every effort to ensure their child attends school consistently. Every lesson, every experience, and every interaction contributes to your child’s growth and learning—because every day really does count!

 

Why Attendance Matters

Every day at our College plays a vital role in your child’s growth and success. Regular attendance helps your child to:

  • Build strong foundations by developing essential skills and knowledge across all learning areas
  • Grow socially and emotionally through friendships and daily interactions that boost confidence and a sense of belonging

  • Stay on track with their learning, reducing the risk of falling behind and feeling overwhelmed

     

Understanding Attendance Categories

To help families monitor attendance, we use the following categories:

  • Repeated Absences: 5–10 days absent per term
  • Ongoing At-Risk Absence: 11–15 days absent per term
  • Chronic Absence: 16–25 days absent per term

We understand there are times when absences are unavoidable, such as due to illness. However, regular attendance and punctuality are key to your child’s academic progress, social development, and overall wellbeing.

 

Supporting Your Child’s Attendance

Setting up positive routines and addressing attendance concerns early can help your child feel more engaged and connected at school. Here are some practical ways you can support regular attendance:

  • Talk to your child about school. Ask how they feel about school life, what they enjoy and whether anything is worrying them
  • Watch for common issues, such as:
    • Bullying or cyberbullying
    • Feeling isolated or disconnected
    • Struggles with schoolwork or feeling overwhelmed
    • Lack of engagement with subjects
    • Difficulties with friendships or teacher relationships
    • Competing commitments or lack of motivation
    • Feeling misunderstood or culturally excluded
  • Celebrate attendance milestones. Acknowledge and encourage consistency and punctuality
  • Model commitment by showing how you follow through with your own responsibilities
  • Encourage involvement in school activities, such as sports, clubs, or other interests. These can help build friendships and a stronger sense of belonging
  • Establish consistent routines, including:
    • Getting a good night’s sleep
    • Finishing homework
    • Packing school bags the night before
    • Having breakfast and getting ready on time

    • Organising travel arrangements, such as walking with a friend

       

Let’s Work Together

Remember every day counts. If you have concerns about your child’s attendance, please reach out to their classroom teacher to discuss a plan moving forward. Together, we can work towards a positive, consistent school experience for your child.

Chalk the Walk

Last week, 5A and 5B had the wonderful opportunity to collaborate with Year 12 students on their PDS project called “Chalk the Walk.” During this activity, students created colourful chalk drawings, wrote positive messages, and designed uplifting images on the College sidewalks. The project was designed to encourage kindness, inspire creativity, and promote a sense of community among students.

 

It was fantastic to see our Year 5 students engaging so enthusiastically, working alongside the older students, and taking pride in sharing their ideas and artistic talents. The bright and cheerful artwork has added a burst of colour to our College grounds and has been a reminder to everyone of the power of positivity. Activities like these not only allow students to express themselves creatively but also help strengthen connections across year levels while spreading joy throughout our College community.

Year 5 Sport

Each Wednesday afternoon, Year 5 students continue to take part in their weekly Sport program. Students have been actively engaging in a variety of games such as dodgeball, netball and soccer, which give them the opportunity to stay active, build teamwork skills and enjoy friendly competition against different house colour teams.

 

Throughout these sessions, students continue to earn points by demonstrating our College values of Respect, Resilience, Responsibility and Relationships, both on and off the field. These values guide how they play, communicate and encourage one another. To show their school spirit, students are encouraged to wear their HGC-approved sports tops on these afternoons.

Year 6 Camp

Our Year 6 students had a fantastic time at camp last week, filled with adventure, teamwork, and plenty of laughs.

 

Over the three days, students challenged themselves on the Giant Swing, soared through the air on the Flying Fox, worked together during the Rescue Mission, tested their balance and teamwork on the Low Ropes, and paddled their way across the lake during canoeing. A highlight for many was Bushman’s Cooking, where students cooked their own pancakes over the campfire—an activity that was as tasty as it was fun!

 

On the first night, students set off on a bush walk, enjoying the chance to explore the natural surroundings together. On the second night, everyone gathered to watch a movie, winding down after another big day of activities.

 

Throughout camp, Ms Davies did a wonderful job as MC for the meal times, with students sharing jokes and highlights of their day. Teachers also joined in the fun, with Ms Hayes bravely reaching the very top of the Giant Swing and Mr Jones making a big splash after falling into the water while canoeing!

 

We would like to congratulate all of our Year 6 students on the excellent behaviour and positive attitude they demonstrated throughout camp. They consistently displayed the College Values in every activity. Camp staff also commented on the wonderful manners and kindness of our students, which made us very proud.

 

A very big thank you goes to the Year 6 classroom teachers for attending camp and supporting students throughout the three days. Their energy, encouragement, and care made the experience a memorable one for all. A big thank you to Mr Palazollo and Mrs Tabain for their organisation of the Camp. 

 

Well done, Year 6! We are so impressed with the way you represented Hazel Glen College!

 

Hazel Glen College Shines at District Athletics Carnival

On Thursday 28th August, 50 enthusiastic Year 4, 5 and 6 students proudly represented Hazel Glen College at the District Athletics event. It was a day filled with great energy, determination, and exceptional sportsmanship, with all students showing immense respect for their peers and competitors alike.

 

Our students competed across a variety of track and field events, giving their absolute best in every race and competition. The effort and dedication displayed throughout the day were truly commendable, with many personal bests and outstanding performances.

 

We are thrilled to announce that 13 of our students performed so well that they qualified for the next round, an impressive achievement that highlights the talent and hard work within our school community. Additionally, the points earned from each event contributed significantly to the school’s overall standing.

 

Thanks to the remarkable commitment of all our athletes, Hazel Glen College proudly finished 4th overall out of all competing schools — a fantastic result that speaks volumes about the strength of our athletics program and the spirit of our students, as only 10 points separated 1st and 4th.

 

Congratulations to all participants, staff, and supporters for making the day such a success. We look forward to seeing our qualifiers compete with the same passion and determination in the upcoming rounds!