We are very excited to announce that we have a confirmed start date for our before and after school care program - Monday August 12th. To find out more about this program and what OSHClub will provide, you are warmly invited to attend the information session on Thursday July 25, 2024 at 7:30 PM. An email was sent out yesterday with the session information and the link. 

In case you missed it the details are as follows:

• Join Zoom Meeting here 
• Meeting ID: 920 7750 5324
• Passcode: wZdr9A

The meeting hopes to cover:

• Info on OSHClub
• Before and After Care
• Holiday Programs
• Pricing for the sessions
• How to enrol your child into our services
• 2024 Open Day meet and greet

Please note, you can interact with OSHClub  through the chat function on the night or the team are happy to answer questions offline as well.

Please submit any questions you have for the school when registering. The OSH club team hope to address as many questions as possible at the event or in future communications.

To register for the night, please contact Jessica Carnell - Jessica.carnell@junioradventuresgroup.com.au

Mobile: 0447 411 747

Or use the link above on the night to enter the presentation.

Every Day Counts (by Dr. Justin Coulson - Happy families)

There’s a relationship between how much your child attends school and their overall academic achievement. Regular school attendance is strongly correlated with academic success, and chronic absenteeism, or prolonged periods of school absence, can have a negative impact on a child’s educational attainment.

There is also a relationship between attending school and social and emotional outcomes. On average, we see that regular interaction with peers and teachers fosters social skills, emotional intelligence, and a sense of belonging. Children who consistently miss school may experience feelings of isolation, struggle with forming positive relationships, and face challenges in developing essential life skills. School is often a place where students receive emotional support from educators and peers.

Additionally, completing education is often associated with better employment prospects, higher earning potential, and an improved overall quality of life. Children who miss substantial amounts of school may face difficulties transitioning to higher education or entering the workforce. This can limit their options and hinder their ability to pursue fulfilling and rewarding careers.

Based on research from around the country and the world, most Australian states have a mantra (and a marketing message) that every day counts. VIC Education, for example, states on their website that:

Every Day Counts is a state-wide initiative that aims to assist in improving student attendance at school through a shared commitment. Going to school every day is the most important part of your child’s education. There are no safe number of days for missing school – each day a student misses puts them behind and can affect their educational outcomes and their social connectedness. The best thing you can do is support your child to get to school every day.

Multiple days of absence from school, especially consecutive days, can be problematic for students. But a day here or there is less about impacting learning outcomes for kids and more about:

• Making life harder for teachers who have to continually repeat work and try to help students catch up on missed content.
• Helping students with consistency.
• Allowing parents to complete their responsibilities, which can often be completed only when kids are at school.

So, when the kids are asking for days off, what’s the best way forward?

Understand Root Causes

If kids are pulling a “sickie,” understanding what’s really going on is vital. It’s obvious, but often we miss the mark on this. Sometimes kids choose not to tell us what’s really going on. This is where we get curious, not furious. 

Do they need your attention because things aren’t good at home? Do they need your attention because things aren’t good at school? Are they saying they’re “sick,” but they’re struggling with a teacher, a peer, or a bully? Are they complaining about school, but they’re on their period and feel nervous about being at school at a sensitive time?

Pausing to really explore and understand is key.

Explore, Explain, Empower

When faced with the dilemma of kids wanting a day off, explore, explain, and empower. Discerning the underlying reasons, communicating a clear rationale for what you’re asking, and developing solutions together will usually be the best way forward. And if it’s something deeper (that could lead to school refusal), this process will generally help you discover that issue faster.

In doing these things we gain perspective, and we open a dialogue with our child that is more likely to lead to productive conversation and resolution.

IMPORTANT DATES

• 26th July - Whole School Mass
• 26th July - District Basketball
• 31st July - Sacrament of Reconciliation Parent Meeting
• 2nd August - Mini Olympics Day
• 22nd August - School Closure Day
• 23rd August - Relax and Read PJ Day
• 9th - 10th September - grade 4 camp
• 20th September - Term 3 ends

Kind regards

Jodie