Health & Wellbeing

Welfare

Article 2: why EVERY DAY COUNTS

 

When students stay away from school, their learning and friendships are affected. There are many practical issues associated with absenteeism.

 

Students who are absent from school:

  • miss the introduction of new work
  • fail to complete work
  • miss revision time
  • miss homework explanation
  • fall behind with their learning
  • develop disjointed home-reading routines
  • develop inconsistent homework returns/routines
  • may lack confidence and feel embarrassed because they cannot do work the class has been studying
  • feel left out from class discussion when they have missed a special class activity and cannot do the associated work
  • miss specialist lessons because these lessons only occur once a week and so, for example, art work is not completed or is rushed in order to finish in the limited time available
  • miss notices and newsletters to take home
  • miss celebrations, for example student of the week, class awards, excursions, visitors, assemblies and special activities
  • can find it difficult to break into established friendship groups and develop good friendships with their peers
  • can develop a poor attitude towards school believing ‘I won’t miss much if I’m not at school’
  • fail to realise that the teachers and students miss them.

Sometimes students stay at home for reasons that are not acceptable. For example:

  • the child’s birthday
  • too tired to come to school because of a late night
  • staying home with a sibling or parent who is sick
  • staying away for the whole day when an appointment is booked for a short time in the morning or afternoon
  • weather conditions, for example too hot, too wet.

Please remember that if you are experiencing difficulty in having your child attend school, discuss the matter with your child’s teacher. 

Health Reminder

It is important that we all continue to monitor our own and the health of our children daily during this time. If you or your child develops any symptoms such as a fever, cough, sore throat or

shortness of breath:

  • Stay at home and do not attend school
  • Seek medical advice
  • Call the school to let us know of any important outcomes
  • If you or your child has a health condition or complex health needs, please discuss this with your medical specialist.
  • Information about coronavirus (COVID-19) is available on the DHHS website.

Our school is continuing to promote and implement on a daily basis both Covid-safe behaviours and practices across our school community.

Financial Assistance - CSEF

Every Victorian child should have access to the world of learning opportunities that exist beyond the classroom. The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund helps ensure that no student will miss out on the opportunity to join their classmates for important, educational and fun activities. It is part of making Victoria the Education State and the Government’s commitment to breaking the link between a student’s background and their outcomes.

 

School camps provide children with inspiring experiences in the great outdoors. Excursions encourage a deeper understanding of how the world works while sports teach teamwork, discipline and leadership.  All are a part of a healthy curriculum.

 

CSEF is provided by the Victorian Government to assist eligible families to cover the costs of school trips, camps and sporting activities.

If you hold a valid means-tested concession card or are a temporary foster parent, you may be eligible for CSEF. A special consideration category also exists for asylum seeker and refugee families. The allowance is paid to the school to use towards expenses relating to camps, excursions or 

sporting activities for the benefit of your child.

 

HOW TO APPLY

New applicants should contact the school office to   obtain a CSEF application form or download from the website below. 

If you applied for CSEF at your child's school last year, you do not need to complete an application form this year unless there has been a change in your family circumstances. 

You only need to complete an application form if any of the following changes have occurred:

  • new student enrolments; your child has started or changed schools this year.
  • changed family circumstances; such as a change of custody, change of name, concession card number, or new siblings commencing this year.

The annual CSEF amount per student is:

  • $125 for primary school students
  • $225 for secondary school students

 

MORE INFORMATION

For more information about CSEF visit:https://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/programs/Pages/csef.aspx