A Message from David
Welcome to the first newsletter of Term 3. As usual, there is a lot happening this term, however with fewer disruptions such as camps and public holidays, it is also a very productive term.
Parent conferences
This year we have scheduled parent/carer conferences over two days:
- Tuesday 1st August – Years 3 to 6 and class 2/3S – 3-way conferences (parent/carer, student, teacher) - this will involve sharing and discussing learning progress and showcasing work.
- Thursday 10th August – Prep to Year 2 – parent/carer/teacher conferences
These conferences will be held between 9am and 6pm. Children are required to attend school as normal on these days. Bookings can be made through Compass from 4pm, Monday 24th July. A Compass reminder with instructions will be sent on Monday.
Attendance
At TPS we believe that student success is dependent upon good attendance at school. Students need to attend school regularly in order to participate fully and gain maximum benefit from their schooling. Regular attendance enables students to access a full education, allowing them to reach their full potential. Students with poor patterns in primary school usually have poor patterns in secondary school and often disengage from school. Poor attendance also makes it difficult for children to form positive relationships with their peers. If your child has an attendance record around the state average for their entire school life by the time they reach year 12 they would have missed one year of school.
Last year 63% of our students had 20 or more days of absence, compared to the state average of 45%. One of the goals in our strategic plan is about improving attendance through building engagement and connection to school. Please ensure that your child/ren attends school regularly and please reach out to us for support if school refusal is an issue.
Breakfast Club
Thank you to the volunteers who support with Breakfast Club each morning. Without this support it would be very difficult to run the program. The program creates an inclusive environment to provide healthy food for students, who might otherwise go hungry. With food in their stomachs, children and young people have an opportunity to better engage in the classroom, to focus on learning and achieve their highest potential. Everyone is welcome to attend Breakfast Club in the Babajen from 8.20am each day.
Many thanks to James for coordinating the program this year and who is stepping away from the coordinator's role. Thanks to TPS staff member Owen who will take on the coordinator's role. If you are interested and able to volunteer, please contact the school on 9484 3254 or thornbury.ps@education.vic.gov.au
School Council
There is a casual vacancy in the parent/carer category due to a resignation. If interested in this position, please contact me.
2024 Prep enrolments - reminder
Enrolments for Prep 2024 are open and families with siblings who will be commencing next year are reminded to complete the enrolment process as soon as possible. If you know of any families that are hoping to enrol at our school, please let them know that we run individual tours that can be booked by contacting the school and enrolment applications are available at the front office.
If you have any questions, concerns, feedback about anything at TPS please do not hesitate to contact me - David.Wells@education.vic.goc.au