Principal's Message 

Welcoming Our Preps and New Families!

Dear Yarra Road Primary School Community,

welcome back for the 2024 school year. I hope that you all had a fabulous holiday break and were able to spend quality time with family and friends. As we begin another exciting school year, we extend a warm welcome to all our new families and to our eager Preps who bounded into school this Monday.

We are very proud of how our youngest learners have settled into school life this week, displaying resilience, independence and curiosity as they explore new experiences and begin to develop strong connections within our community. Their enthusiasm has been truly infectious!

Alongside our new students and families, we are delighted to welcome back Ms Shanae Stevens from leave and introduce Mrs Michaela Pagliaro to the community. Additionally, we extend a warm welcome back to Mrs Nicole Tonna, who previously served as a Classroom teacher and has rejoined our staff as a permanent member for 2024.

Emphasising the Importance of School Attendance

At Yarra Road Primary, we are committed to providing every student with the best possible educational opportunities. Central to this mission is the importance of regular school attendance. Last year, we observed that 39% of our students recorded 20 or more days of absence (compared to the Maroondah Network average of 32%), a figure that warrants our collective attention. 

It is really important to understand that consistent attendance is not just about meeting a requirement; it's about ensuring that every child has equitable access to the same learning environment. Each day missed represents a missed opportunity for engagement with our curriculum and development of crucial social and life skills. 

If a student has a day off, once a fortnight, this will add up to 20 days in a school year (there are approximately 40 weeks in a school year). 20 days is the same as missing a tenth of a school year. This figure of 20 days absence is deemed as ‘a very poor’ attendance rate.  A child with this attendance rate could miss over two and a half years of schooling between prep and Year 10. 

We acknowledge that there are very valid reasons for absences, such as:

1. Illness: When a student is unwell, it's incredibly important for them to stay home to rest and recover. This includes contagious illnesses to prevent the spread of infection to others.
2. Medical Appointments: Sometimes, students may need to miss school for medical appointments such as doctor visits, therapy sessions, or dental check-ups.
3. Family Emergencies: Situations like family emergencies, including illness or accidents involving family members, may require a student to be absent from school temporarily.
4. Mental Health: Just as physical health is important, mental health matters too. If a student is experiencing emotional distress or mental health issues, they may need to take time off for self-care or therapy sessions.
5. Religious Observances: Students may be absent from school due to religious observances or cultural celebrations recognised by their faith.
6. Family Vacations: Although it's generally discouraged to take vacations during the school term, some families may plan trips that coincide with school breaks or for special occasions. Alternatively, families may seize the opportunity to spend extended time traveling together, exploring new places, reuniting with family and friends and creating lasting memories.

It's important for parents and guardians to communicate with the school regarding the reasons for their child's absence. This helps ensure that absences are recorded accurately and that students receive any necessary support to catch up on missed work. For more information regarding school absence please refer to the link below. Should you ever require support with this issue please contact the school at any time as we are here to work with all families who may find consistent attendance difficult.

Attendance and missing school | vic.gov.au (www.vic.gov.au)

It has been a great start to the year. Students have settled in very well and the school has a wonderful atmosphere. Our first assembly is next Monday at 9:10am on the top basketball court. We will be presenting our School Leaders with their badges and also having a visit from a local Wurundjeri Elder who will conduct a smoking ceremony to welcome our new school year. 

Please remember to stay up to date with important events by checking the Diary Dates page in this newsletter, as well as the weekly email from staff sent each Friday to inform you of the upcoming week's plans.

Thank you for your ongoing support, and here's to a fantastic school year ahead! 

Ken Darby

Principal

Camps, Sports and Excursion Fund (CSEF)

If you hold a current Health Care Card you are eligible to apply for CSEF funding. Applications are now open. The link below will take you to the CSEF website and you will need to click on the first link, 'Camps, Sports, Excursions Fund application form 2024 (DOCS)', to apply.

If your application is successful, Yarra Road Primary School will receive $150 per student. These funds will be put onto your account and you can utilise them for any camps, excursions or incursions.

If you applied and were successful last year (2023), your funding will automatically roll over and you will not need to re-apply unless any of your details have changed.

Annual privacy reminder for the Yarra Road Primary School Community

Our school collects and uses student and parent personal information for standard school functions or where permitted by law, as stated in the Schools’ Privacy Policy and the Schools’ Privacy Collection Notice, please click the link below.

Our Photographing, Filming and Recording Students Policy, describes how we collect and use photographs, video and recordings of students. The policy also explains when parent consent is required and how it can be provided and withdrawn. Please click on the link below for more information. This is also a consent form and only needs to be filled in and returned to school if you DO NOT give consent.

Holiday Care Newsletter

Welcome to our Holiday Care Newsletter, where we embark on a journey of fun-filled activities that foster learning and create lasting memories for your little ones. Our program is designed to offer a diverse range of experiences, including exciting incursions, thrilling excursions, and engaging in-house activities. 

Excursions

Our holiday care took the kids on a thrilling adventure through various excursions. From watching the heartwarming 'Wish' movie to indulging in a pizza party, exploring the Ninja Park, visiting Collingwood Animal Farm, and grooving at the Disco Party hosted by Party Hire – each outing was a unique and enjoyable experience, creating moments of joy and camaraderie.

Incursions

Adding an educational and cultural touch, our incursions included the mesmerizing Spanish Flamingo Dance and the excitement of Soap Box Derbies. These activities not only entertained, but also enriched the children's understanding of different art forms and creative expressions.

In-House Activities

Our dedicated educators curated engaging in-house activities, ensuring a blend of fun and learning. From crafting Shoo Fly Hats to celebrating a Mexican Fiesta, paying homage to Matilda, and enjoying the wonders of Bubble-O-Fun with special STEM bubble machines, the children explored their creativity and teamwork.

Throughout the holiday care, we witnessed the children embodying the values of respect, responsibility, and generosity. It's heartening to see these young minds not only enjoying their time but also imbibing essential values that will shape their character. We look forward to more exciting adventures and meaningful experiences in the future.