From the Principal's Desk

Dear Lord, We thank you for every new school day and everything it has to offer. We ask that you give us the strength and courage to do our daily tasks with a positive attitude and an eagerness to learn.

Guide us through each lesson and help us understand challenging topics that may come our way by helping us to remember the knowledge.

As we come together from different backgrounds, please help us to respect each other’s differences and work as a team towards success.

Give us patience when we face challenges in class and give us the tools needed to find solutions. Let us be united no matter the situation and never fear learning from our mistakes. Amen.

EVERY DAY OF EVERY YEAR COUNTS

Term 4 is a very busy time in schools. Apart from the social, fun activities, it is a time to complete the year's learning and for teachers to analyse students' progress in all areas through formal assessments. This process will result in the sharing of the Semester 2 Student Progress Reports at the end of Week 10. Student absence (number of days) is noted on these Reports due to the significant impact it has on learning, socialising and school experiences. Teachers must provide a statement in the Report's General Comment section to outline the impact that a student's absence has had. Any Learning Area Key Skills may be marked as 'Insufficient Evidence' if a student has not had the opportunity to engage with the learning due to absence. The Government does not allow schools to provide permission for students to be absent from school; illness or family emergencies are the only exception.

Going to school every day is the most important part of your child’s education. There are no safe number of days for missing school – each day students miss puts them behind and can affect their educational outcomes and their social connectedness. The best thing parents can do is to support their child to get to school every day. A positive attitude towards school, healthy habits and routines, and parental involvement can support a child’s regular school attendance and prevent absence patterns.

Establish positive habits to promote attendance:

Set good bedtime and morning routines to make the process of getting to school smoother for everyone.
Try to prepare as much as possible the night before, e.g. school uniform, school bag packed. Ensure your child gets enough sleep and exercise to support their physical and mental health. Talk positively about the importance of school attendance with your child. Explain that it is an important part of growing up, a legal obligation and that you expect them to attend every day.
Show an interest in your child’s school and become involved where possible. Keep notes, newsletters, etc. in a place where they are visible reminders of school news for the whole family. Talk about school activities in a positive manner.
Discuss any changes to usual routines in advance with your child, such as alternative drop-off and pick-up arrangements, to ensure clarity and minimise anxiety.

In accordance with the Education and Training Reform Act 2006, schooling is compulsory for children and young people aged from 6 – 17 years unless an exemption has been granted.

Parents/guardians must enrol a child of compulsory school age and ensure the child attends school at all times when the school is open for instruction.

Thank you for ensuring that your child is at school every day, ready to learn and play.

All the best,

Jane Dunstone

PRINCIPAL