School Attendance

The 2025 school has begun and we are well underway with many of our regular activities, both academic and extra curricular. I would like to point out the crucial role that consistent school attendance plays in your child's academic success and overall development throughout their schooling life.

Why Attendance Matters:

Academic Achievement: Regular attendance directly correlates with higher academic achievement. Each day a student misses means valuable learning opportunities are lost, impacting their understanding of key concepts and ability to keep up with their peers.
Skill Development: School is not just about academics; it's also where children learn essential life skills such as time management, collaboration, and problem-solving. Consistent attendance fosters these skills by allowing students to engage fully in classroom activities and group projects.
Building Relationships: Being present in school helps children form meaningful relationships with teachers and peers. These connections provide emotional support and encouragement, which are crucial for their social and emotional development.
Preparation for the Future: Regular attendance instills discipline and responsibility—qualities that are indispensable as students progress through their educational journey and prepare for higher education or the workforce.

Tips for Promoting Good Attendance:

Establish a Routine: Set regular bedtimes and morning routines to ensure your child is well-rested and ready for the school day.
Communicate Early: Notify the school promptly if your child is unable to attend due to illness or other unavoidable circumstances.
Allow enough time to arrive at school: Our school day begins at 9:00am and students can be on the school grounds from 8:30 am onwards. It’s important to allow enough time to get your child to school prior to the beginning of the day. Late arrivals have impacts on a child’s social and emotional learning time.
Encourage Engagement: Take an interest in your child's school activities and encourage their participation in extracurriculars that enhance their overall school experience. Jells Park has an extensive extracurricular program, far beyond other schools in our area. It is important that your child is present at school to ensure they can participate in these programs.

In addition to regular school attendance, being at school on time is just as important. One of the important decisions our school made to our curriculum a few years ago, was to implement a 25 minute Social and Emotional Learning Lesson at the beginning of every day. Not many other schools do this however we have seen the benefit of this over the years it has been implemented. Constant late arrivals to school impacts your child’s learning of these skills so arriving at school on time is extremely important.

If families are experiencing difficulties in regular school attendance for their child, please reach out to your classroom teacher or myself for support or advice.

If your child is away from school for any reason, can families please use the Parent Portal App to input any reasons for their absences. It is important for our school records that all absences are explained and documented.

Thank you for your commitment and support with this and please contact us if you require extra assistance.

Scott Zachariassen

Assistant Principal