2024 Parent, Caregiver and Guardian Opinion Survey

The 2024 Parent, Caregiver and Guardian Opinion Survey will be available to complete online in the coming week.

The survey is confidential and made available, through ORIMA Research to all Victorian government schools in Term 3 each year. The aim is to seek feedback on school climate, community engagement in learning and teaching practices for student engagement and outcomes.

It is compulsory that all Victorian Schools participate in the annual Parent, Caregiver and Guardian Opinion Survey. You may be randomly selected and invited to complete this survey and detail will be sent to you if this is the case.

Student Drop Off & Pick Up

Student safety is a priority at Bonbeach Primary and as adults it is vital that we are responsible and set examples for our children and all students. Please be reminded that the staff carpark is not to be accessed for school drop off or pick up and access through car park gates is not permitted, as it is not a safe area.

We thank you for your assistance with keeping everyone safe.

                         

Every Day Counts

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. QLD 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 by students, parents, caregivers, schools, and the community.

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.

regards

Ken & Jayne

It was with much excitement that Preps started the Garden Program this week. It was a beautiful day as they busily exploring compost and learning about the important job worms have in keeping our gardens healthy and thriving.

Time was also spent exploring the garden, meeting the chickens, being garden sleuths and discovering the many garden habitants, doing animal yoga and experimenting and with how leaves catch valuable water.

Prep to Year Two students are looking forward to a great semester in the garden.