We are now into the second half of the term and the teachers are deep into assessment and reporting for Semester One.

We are pleased to invite you to our upcoming Parent-Teacher Interviews, a pivotal opportunity to strengthen the partnership between home and school. They are in Week 8 from Monday 17 June.

Why Attend?

1. Insight into Your Child's Progress: These meetings provide a comprehensive overview of your child's academic growth, behaviour, and social development. It's a chance to celebrate their achievements and identify areas for improvement.
2. Personalised Communication: Face-to-face conversations allow for meaningful dialogue. Teachers can share specific examples of your child's work and behaviour, offering a deeper understanding than a report comment can do.
3. Collaborative Problem-Solving: If your child is facing challenges, this is the perfect time to discuss strategies and resources. Working together, we can develop plans to support your child's individual needs.
4. Building Relationships: Strong relationships between parents and teachers foster a supportive learning environment. When parents are involved, students often feel more motivated and confident in their schoolwork.
5. Being Informed: Being informed helps you be involved and engaged in your child's school life.

These interviews will be face to face meetings, however if you would like to have it remotely via teams, book a time via the online system and then email the teacher directly and they will set up a TEAMs invite.

Interviews will be scheduled for 15 mins slots with the length of the interview time being up to 13 mins. This gives teachers 2 mins in between to get ready for the following interview.

We look forward to seeing you at the Parent-Teacher Interviews. Your involvement is crucial to your child's educational journey, and we appreciate your commitment to their growth and development.

For further information on booking and interview for your child/children please read the flyer at the end of my message.

We have had a prevalence of flu, covid and even pneumonia in the school in the past weeks. Please do not send your children to school if they are unwell. Sick children at school only spread illness to other students and staff. Please see the fact sheet in the newsletter about mycoplasma pneumonia.

Safe on Socials

On Thursday 27 June, at 7:30pm we are hosting Kirra Pendergast, founder of 'Safe on Social' via an online webinar. This cyber safety webinar is only available for our St Thomas community and can be accessed via the Zoom meeting details below. It is specifically for audiences 18 years and over containing adult content, and as such, is unlike any cyber safe presentation that you may have heard before. It is interactive and you will have opportunities to ask questions via the chat function.

Kirra comes with a wealth of experience. The following blurb can be found on her website:

A Career dedicated to Cybersecurity and Online Safety Kirra Pendergast’s career has been deeply intertwined with the evolution of the internet. From the early days of widespread online adoption, she has been a leading voice in promoting cybersecurity and online safety. With over three decades of experience, Kirra’s work has spanned from high-level government advisory roles to grassroots educational outreach. Her commitment to the field is evident in her hands-on approach to teaching internet users about the potential risks of online life. By prioritising knowledge-sharing and skill-building, Kirra has helped to sculpt an online environment that prioritises the well-being of its users. Through Safe on Social and The Online Safety Agency, she has crafted training programs and resources that offer practical solutions to everyday digital interactions, ensuring that individuals and organisations are equipped to navigate the complexities of the online world with confidence and safety.

This is so important as you would undoubtedly know from the constant stories in the media.

We hope that you can block out your calendar and join us from the comfort of your homes. 

We hope to see you online, 7:30pm Thursday 27 June! 

The zoom link is:

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81085932784

Meeting ID: 810 8593 2784

Passcode: 721528

Pie and Footy Night

We had a great roll up of dads for our Pie and Footy Night on Wednesday. Whether they went for NSW or QLD, they all agreed that the pies made by Victoria were delicious and the company was good too!  Thank you to those who were able to come along and support the fact that we are community of families, not just a school of students.

Every Day at School Matters

There is a clear link between your child's school attendance and their academic progress. Regular attendance is a key factor in achieving growth while frequent absences can hinder their educational progress.

Beyond academics, attending school regularly also impacts social and emotional development. Interacting with peers and teachers on a daily basis helps children build social skills, emotional intelligence, and a sense of belonging. On the other hand, chronic absenteeism can lead to feelings of isolation, difficulties in forming positive relationships, and challenges in developing essential life skills. School provides an important support system where students receive encouragement from both educators and their classmates.

Research from around the world supports the idea that every day counts.

Missing multiple days of school can create significant challenges. While an occasional day off might seem harmless, it can disrupt the learning process and create extra work for teachers who need to help students catch up. Regular attendance helps maintain consistency for students and allows parents to fulfill their responsibilities while children are at school.

When children ask for days off, it's important to understand the underlying reasons. If they're frequently "sick," it might indicate deeper issues either at home or school. Approach these situations with curiosity rather than frustration. Ask yourself:

Are they seeking attention due to problems at home or school?

Are they struggling with a relationship at school?

Are there specific circumstances, such as feeling unwell during their period, that make school attendance challenging?

Taking the time to explore these questions can provide valuable insights.

To address requests for days off, adopt the approach of exploring, explaining, and empowering. Understand the root causes, communicate why regular attendance is important, and work together to find solutions. If there are deeper issues at play, this process can help identify them more quickly.

By fostering open dialogue and understanding, we can support our children in maintaining regular school attendance and setting them up for long-term success.

Source of information – Dr Justin Coulson happyfamilies.com.au

No hats for June and July

Following advice from the ACT Cancer Council, our school will be 'hats off' for the months of June and July. This means that students will not be required to wear a hat outside during the day at school. It is safe to relax the requirement for students to wear hats, so they can maintain adequate Vitamin D levels over the winter months.

With a long weekend ahead, I hope you all get to have some down time and sleep-ins.