Student Connection to School

On Monday, 25 February 2019 I had the pleasure of attending my first off-campus full-school event, the PCW Swimming Carnival at Prahran pool. It was a lively and enjoyable event as the girls expressed their house spirit and gave a really impressive display in the pool. They should be particularly pleased with their efforts to make the day an enjoyable one for all present; they really gave a fitting display of the spirit of PCW.

One element of school that was most prevalent on the day was the connection that the girls have to the school. The girls were passionate about their house, ensuring that they did all that they could to contribute on the day, as well as encouraging and allowing one another to do so. This observation may come as no surprise to you. You may, however, be not so aware of the importance of such a connection. Through belonging- in this case to both the school and the relevant house- we provide an environment that creates a better sense of wellbeing. It is a preventative measure for health, allowing the girls to see PCW as a safe space, which is crucial in the lives of all of these young women. Schools should be a space where young people can explore their identity, take a risk and perform in front of the school, and let their exuberance and enthusiasm for life shine; these experiences are a crucial part of growing up. It develops resilience through being part of a strong community and creates an atmosphere where the girls can flourish, an endeavour that we continually aspire to.

Tuesday March 5 sees the Music Festival take place (which promises to be a fantastic event) and then the Athletics Carnival later in the term. These are compulsory school days and crucial for the growth of the girls into resilient and adaptable young women. I look forward once again to seeing the true character of the school and the individuals involved on display.

Attendance

As the new school year is now well underway, I’d like to take the opportunity to emphasise the importance of attendance in classes. Attendance is directly linked to school outcomes; better attendance equates to better school outcomes, and not just academically. The social and emotional benefit of being at school is very clear and, as such, attendance at school is compulsory.

Acknowledging that sometimes trains are cancelled or run late, there will be circumstances where students arrive after the bell. Nevertheless, the expectation is that all students are at class on time. Additionally, it is expected that all students remain at school until the conclusion of the school day. Where possible, appointments, including those for medical reasons, should impact as little as possible on attendance.

As we are a school that provides a holistic model of education, it must be emphasised that our Positive Education Program, which runs on a Wednesday afternoon, is part of the curriculum and is therefore compulsory. Senior Students will be dismissed at 1.25pm on a Wednesday and not before unless you have been notified via CareMonkey; Years 7 – 9 will go to lunch. As a school can we ask that if you do need to make an appointment for your daughter, please endeavour to make it outside school hours.

Brenden Mair

Deputy Principal

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