Welcome back to a new school year! We hope you’ve had a chance to enjoy some downtime over the holidays and are slowly finding your way back into school routines.

The start of the year always brings a mix of emotions. For our Prep families, it’s a big milestone, excitement, nerves and pride often all rolled into one as your children begin their school journey. For our returning students, it’s about reconnecting with friends, getting used to new classrooms and teachers, and easing back into the rhythms of school life.

As the weeks go on, routines begin to settle, confidence grows, and school starts to feel familiar again. Thank you for your support during this transition, whether that’s encouraging a tired child in the morning, helping with new routines, or simply being there as everyone adjusts.

The theme of today's newsletter is exactly that, routine building and setting our community up for success.

ATTENDANCE – EVERY MINUTE MATTERS; EVERY DAY COUNTS!

Every Day Counts

The importance of regular school attendance.

At Grayling Primary School, we prioritise regular school attendance. We will work with families to ensure students are in class with their peers and teachers and enjoying all the benefits that brings.

Attending school every day means experiencing what counts – the learning, friendship, fun and opportunities that can shape your child’s future.

We understand that there are times when your child will need to miss school, but to ensure minimal disruption to their education, please consider scheduling family holidays or medical/dental appointments outside of school time. If your child is well enough to attend but is worried about friendships, schoolwork or tests, please encourage them to come to school. Avoiding school can make these feelings worse and can create a negative pattern of behaviour.

If your child is having difficulty attending school, talk to their teacher or Wellbeing team about getting support.

We know that parents and carers can be juggling challenges daily to get your children to school. If your child must miss school, notify us as soon as possible via Compass so we can work together to support them.

For more information about the importance of everyday attendance, see Attendance and Missing School.

Remember, Every Day Counts.

8:30	Gates open	Students are welcomed into the school grounds and walk to their classroom
8:40	Music	Students are met by their teacher at the classroom door
8:45	Bell	Students should be in class and ready to learn. Welcome Circle starts

Positive Start

Our Positive Start program has supported a smooth beginning to the year for students across the school. Based on the Berry Street Education Model, the program focuses on creating predictable and consistent routines that help students feel safe, supported and ready to learn.

Through a range of engaging activities, students have been building positive expectations about school life while developing a shared understanding of how to demonstrate our PROUD values in everyday situations. This strong start helps set the foundation for positive relationships, wellbeing and learning throughout the year.

School Uniform

The start of the school year is an important time for building positive routines and habits that support learning and wellbeing. One area we will be placing a strong focus on during Term 1 is wearing the correct school uniform. A consistent uniform helps create a sense of belonging and pride in our school, supports equity, and helps students feel part of a shared community. From a safety perspective, uniforms also make it easier for staff to identify students during the day and on excursions.

Families experiencing financial challenges to obtain the correct uniform should contact the office who can offer support to you.

We appreciate families’ support in helping students establish these routines early, as they play an important role in setting students up for a successful year.

Communication is key

We greatly value the strong partnerships we have with our parent community. Open and respectful communication is key to supporting your child’s learning and wellbeing.

While our admin team is always here to support, we kindly ask that initial queries regarding your child’s learning, behaviour, or wellbeing be directed to their classroom teacher via Compass.

Classroom teachers work closely with your child every day and are best placed to understand their individual needs, progress, and experiences. Reaching out to them first allows for the most timely and informed response.

If your concern requires further discussion beyond the classroom level, your teacher will then guide you on the appropriate next steps.

We thank you for your continued support and for helping us ensure communication remains clear, respectful, and effective for all.

Have a great fortnight everyone,

Assistant Principals

Lach Clydesdale and Meagan Lindberg.

Every Minute Counts