Dear Parents & Carers,

Welcome to Week 3 of Term 3 which focuses on our celebration of NAIDOC Week: Heal Country. Although not how we intended to celebrate this important cultural event (due to current COVID-19 restrictions on schools), our staff and students have been engaged and involved in a number of culturally rich activities that centre around the national theme of Heal Country. A special thank you to our St Philomena's ATSI Team for their tireless planning and coordination of the events for our staff and students. Thank you also to our ATSI school community for their collaboration in the early planning of this week.

Kindergarten 2022 Orientation

Last Wednesday and Thursday we commenced our 2022 Kindergarten Orientation Programme with an information session for prospective families. Although operating under strict COVID-19 conditions, both sessions were well attended. All kindergarten enrolment applications for 2022 were due on Wednesday. If you have not yet handed in your application form (or know of someone who hasn't) please do so at your earliest convenience. Dropping off these forms is considered "Essential School Business" and thus allowing parents to come onto the school grounds. Please remember to check in using the QR code located in the school office at the time of dropping off your forms. Kindergarten 2022 enrolment interviews will commence over the coming weeks. A member of the school administration team will be in contact with prospective families to book interview times.

Important Information Regarding Student Non-Attendance K-10

Schools have a legal requirement to monitor and track student attendance and respond appropriately where attendance is becoming or has become a concern. Absenteeism from school has a significant impact on a students ability to grow academically, socially and emotionally.

School action for the management of habitual non attendance will be as follows:

5-10 Days Unexplained/Unjustified Absence

Phone call to parents seeking explanation of non attendance
Follow-up with letter/email requesting a meeting with parents to discuss non attendance

11-20 Days Unexplained/Unjustified Absence (Not necessarily Consecutive)

Phone call to parents on each subsequent day of unexplained/unjustified non-attendance after the 1st 10 days
Registered letter to parents re: attendance requesting meeting between school and parents to discuss non attendance

21 - 30 Days Unexplained/ Unjustified Absence (Not necessarily Consecutive)

Daily phone call/ SMS message to parents on each day of unexplained/ unjustified non-attendance
Registered letter to parents re: attendance requesting meeting between school and parents to discuss non attendance
Inform the Catholic Schools Office Consultant of the concern regarding non-attendance

Above 30 Days Unexplained/ Unjustified Absence Within Last 100 Days

Registered letter to parents re: attendance requesting meeting between school and parents to discuss non attendance
Daily phone call/ SMS message to parents on each day of unexplained/ unjustified non-attendance
Consult with the Catholic Schools Office Child Protection Officer on whether it is appropriate to report to Family and Community Services (FACS). If so, the Principal or Counsellor makes a report to FACS and informs the Catholic Schools Office Consultant
Referral by Schools Consultant to Director of Schools for possible further action.

Above 30 Days Unexplained/ Unjustified Absence (With No Improvement)

The Catholic Schools Office and the Principal make schooling arrangements with parents/carers that include a written undertaking with respect to compulsory schooling.

The above guidelines demonstrate the necessary procedures required by schools to track and monitor student non attendance, to ensure, impacts to students wellbeing and learning growth is minimised. If you have any concerns regarding your child's overall attendance at school, please contact the school office to discuss your situation with a member of the school's senior leadership team.

Evaluation of St Philomena's Secondary BYODD (Bring Your Own Designated Device) Strategy

St Philomena's is seeking feedback from our parent community (particularly Years 6 - Year 10) regarding the suitability, effectiveness and overall sustainability of our current BYODD strategy from Year 7 in respect to the purchase and use of Chromebooks. Parents are asked to complete the short survey consisting of approximately 12 questions as a means of evaluating our current strategy and to potentially identify a more effective strategy/ solution from 2022 and beyond.

The survey will be open until 5pm Friday 6th August and I encourage as many of our families to contribute to the survey as possible. Please click here to access the link to the survey.

God bless,

Jamie McDowall

Principal

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