karingal.heights.ps@education.vic.gov.au

eNewlsetter

Issue 22 30th July 2021

A Word From the Principal

It was great to see all of our children back on site this week. I didn't think it would last long though with the COVID scare at Karingal Hub and Karingal Coles among other places close by. This scare shows how important it is to check in with your QR codes and to get a COVID test if you are feeling unwell. Thank you to the families who did not return to school with their children until they received a negative result.

Attendance is on the department's radar and Mr Bodley has included an article in this week's eNews along with our attendance policy. There are protocols we must follow to be within the department's guidelines. Please make sure you read this article and contact the office if you have any questions.

Stay safe everyone,

Kerryn Riley and the KHPS staff.

Attendance is important

It's not ok to have a lot of days away from school. Please read this important information on what to do if your child is away from school or late to school.

Attendance

It is extremely important that all students attend every day unless they are sick. This is even more important now due to all the interrupted learning over the past 2 years. Daily attendance is important for all children and young people to succeed in education and to ensure they do not fall behind both socially and developmentally. School participation maximises life opportunities for children and young people by providing them with education and support networks.

What if my child is sick?

If your child is sick, it is your responsibility to contact the office by the start of the school day to provide an explanation. Leaving a message on the absence line is an easy way to report a child as absent. Doing this helps us to enter absences without needing to spend time calling families. Call 97893288 for the absence line.

Click here for the KHPS attendance policy.

What if my child is late?

It is expected that any child who arrives after the school day has started must be brought into the office by an adult. Please do not let your child enter without and adult. An explanation needs to be provided and recorded on the attendance register.

If your child is regularly late, we would like to know how we can assist. Being late consistently means that your child misses out on morning lessons.

Is there an acceptable number of days to be away?

As a guide to parents, KHPS attach the attendance ranges on mid-year and end of year reports. Absences of between 0 – 6 days per year are considered an acceptable number of days away from school. 7 – 10 days absent is considered as below average attendance. Any more than 10 days is considered an attendance concern.

All the staff at KHPS value regular attendance. Please call the school if you are needing assistance with any barrier that may be causing a high number of absence days. We are happy and able to refer you to different services.

Managing your wellbeing

For many, the current situation has had a toll on overall wellbeing of individuals and families. I you or your child is in need of any assistance around mental health and wellbeing, please read further to find out where to get help. There are many resources that are around to assist individuals and families with their mental health and/or wellbeing. KHPS, with the assistance of Anglicare, would like to invite you to look at the Family Wellbeing page of our website to find out about some of the many different support options that are available to you.

Natalie and Naomi run the Family Wellbeing Hub at KHPS and are able to provide extra support to the families from our school. Their contact details are on the Family Wellbeing page.

Please reach out to the school if you are worried about the wellbeing of your child. We are here to support them through their learnging journies.

Update Your Details

It is very important to keep your contact details current at the office. In the past few weeks, when trying to contact parents we have found phone numbers and/or email addresses have changed and we have not been informed. It is extremely important that you tell us if your details have changed, especially in case of emergency.

Pupil Free Day

A Pupil Free Day has been organised for Friday 13th August. Please put this into your diary. The Karingal Cluster of schools have professional learning booked with
clinical psychologist, Andrew Fuller. Andrew Fuller works with many schools and communities in Australia specialising in the wellbeing of young people. We are very lucky to be able to work with him.

This professional learning was to occur last year but was cancelled due to COVID restrictions with school council approving 2021's date at the beginning of the year. We are waiting to hear if the event will be going ahead. If not the Pupil Free Day will be cancelled for term 3.

The Art Room Needs Your Help

Next term is Construction Term and we need boxes. Children will be participating in a construction unit next term in the art room and we need boxes, cardboard cylinders and egg cartons. (No toilet rolls allowed). Can you begin collecting these during the holiday and please send them to school next term. It will greatly be appreciated.