Dear Parents and Carers,

WELCOME BACK PREPS-YEAR 2

We were thrilled to welcome our junior students to school last week. I want to take this opportunity of thanking all our parents for embracing the changes to our pick up and drop off procedures, we are truly appreciative of your support. Next Tuesday we welcome back our Year 3-6 students. Year 2-6 students enter via the back gate between the Gym and the Discovery Building.

WELCOME BACK TO SCHOOL ASSEMBLY

Parents are invited to join our Welcome Back to School assembly. The main purpose of this assembly is to introduce our student executive and present their badges. Due to COVID-19 this assembly will be conducted virtually using Google Meet.

Date: Tuesday 9th June

Time: 9:30am

Google Meet: https://meet.google.com/fsn-oqrz-pco

STUDENTS WHO ARE LATE TO SCHOOL AND HOW IT AFFECTS THEIR LEARNING

I am concerned at the number of students who are presenting as chronically late for school, and we also have many who are missing significant chunks of time each week. The following advice is adapted from an article published in 2016 and clearly explains how frequent lateness to school impacts on our children’s wellbeing and their learning.

We all run late sometimes. For your child, arriving late to school occasionally won't cause major disruption. Inevitably, children will feel sick or tired some mornings, or other situations will prevent them from being on time. But chronic lateness eventually takes its toll on a child's overall educational experience. Research tell us that missing just 10 percent of the school year in the early grades causes many students to struggle in primary school, and lateness in later grades is associated with increased failure and dropout rates. Fortunately, parents can help prevent tardiness from becoming frequent enough to negatively impact their child's school life.

Disrupted Routines

One of the most important aspects of school is that it is organized, scheduled and predictable. Students depend on the structure of the day. They know where they have to be and when. They know the main purpose for being in school is to learn and that routines are in place precisely to help them focus on that learning. When students are repeatedly tardy, these routines are disrupted. Children who are often late have trouble settling in and mastering routines. Tardiness can throw off their whole morning or even their day, especially if the late commute to school was stressful.

Social Criticism

The social experience has a powerful impact on a child's feelings about school and his or her ability to be academically successful. When a child continuously shows up late to class, other students are distracted. Attention is drawn away from the teacher and toward the child who has just arrived. Over time, classmates may begin to criticize this child, affecting how they feel about themselves in school. During adolescence, children are especially conscious of fitting in and being accepted by peers. If your child is repeatedly tardy, they may become a target or outcast over time, and negative peer interactions can hurt their ability to concentrate on learning. According to the Encyclopaedia of Children's Health, children with steady friendships throughout the school year enjoy school more, and children who can make new friends tend to perform better academically.

Low Achievement

Perform Well, a non-profit policy research and educational organisation, reports that frequent tardiness is associated with lower grades and lower scores on standardized tests. It is also linked to low graduation rates. In addition, students who are routinely late at the primary and middle school levels are more likely to fail in senior school -- or even drop out. In many classrooms, particularly at the primary level, morning routines are critical to daily lessons.

Responsibility

Part of your child's education is learning to be responsible. The school experience teaches children how to meet expectations. They learn to follow schedules, obey rules, complete assignments and keep track of their materials. Learning responsibility in school is a precursor to functioning in the working world.

Attendance is one of the ways children show they can meet their obligations. In many cases, a child's attendance depends on the parents' ability to help their child to be on time. Parents can teach their children organisational techniques that will help them get out of the house faster, such as packing their bags and laying out their clothes the night before school. Parents who drive their children must also remember to be punctual and responsible. After all, you are the primary role model.

("Effects of Tardiness On Your Child's Education" 2016)

Rosemary Cosentino

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