Deputy Report

Dear Parents and Carers,

This term certainly has gone quickly and what a productive and busy time we have had. This term we have welcomed our amazing Preschool and Kindergarten students, we have hosted school events and activities including our swimming and cross-country carnival, Harmony Day celebrations, Easter Hat Parade, multiple sporting activities and our school disco hosted by the P&C. But, most importantly, our students have been busy learning in classrooms, the Library and Digital Technology Lab, and in learning support and enrichment groups.

Attendance

This year, we are aiming for every student at Oak Flats Public School, to have an attendance rate of 90% and above.

It has been fantastic to see our whole school attendance rates remain steady this term with an average of 91% from P-6.

As we head into the  end of Term 1 it remains important that your child attends school every single day. Being at school is the best place for students to learn as well as to keep social connections and build life-long skills. 

We understand that families are eager to see and reconnect with loved ones and take a well-deserved break, but please remember that planned travel should only be taken during scheduled school holidays.  

Students should be at school every day during school terms, including until the end of term, unless they are sick or are absent for a justified reason.

Missing a day here or there may not seem like much, but absences add up and can negatively impact your child's learning and wellbeing. When your child misses one day per fortnight, that's 4 weeks of missed learning in one year. Over an entire school journey this adds up to 1 year of lost learning.

Road Safety on Holidays

With the school holidays approaching, daily routines often change and everyone is a lot more relaxed. Different play locations and holiday destinations means changed traffic environments and new safety concerns. To help keep our children safe, we all need to remember these key road safety messages when going on holidays and being in new environments:

Point out the road safety differences and dangers. Roads, footpaths, parks, car parks and bike tracks can look very different in holiday areas or maybe totally foreign, especially if going overseas for your holidays.

Car parks can look different in holiday areas. The best way to keep children safe is to actively supervise them. Talk and teach children about road safety every time you are out and about. Even on holidays it is important to actively supervise them.

Talk to children about being a safe road user. When out walking talk about the safe decisions you make, they may not have experienced these situations before. Stop, look, listen, think every time you cross the road. If a child is aged 8 years or younger hold their hand when walking near or across roads. Up until at least 10 years old supervise them closely. When on holidays children can often be overly excited and not thinking about being safe.

It's the law that everyone wears a helmet when riding a bike in a public place. It also makes good sense to wear a helmet when riding scooters and skateboards too! It is a great way to encourage always wearing a helmet. Wearing a helmet when riding a bike in a public place is the law.

Click clack front 'n back every person for every trip. Safe travelling in the car on long distances means taking a break every two hours. Give your children fun things to do in the car so they don't distract the driver. If using a different car while on holidays check they are in the right child restraint for their age and size.

Take care and have a great holiday everyone.

See you all next term.

Alice Wigny