HI EVERYONE

We have reached the end of a very busy term, for families and schools. First of all, congratulations for your work as parents and carers in managing such extreme circumstances. We have been working together like never before and we appreciate this. To our staff, who have also worked tirelessly to move from the end of Term 1 into Blended Learning in Term 2 and now into what may be a return to more “normal” conditions in Term 3.

There will be an update emailed to you through the holidays on those things that will be different in Term 3, as I know many are waiting on what this means for volunteers, events etc. We appreciate your assistance across the term with the unknown and changes that have been necessary.

For now, please accept our best wishes for a holiday period where there is hopefully some rest for students and families.

We will return to school on Monday 20th July, having postponed our Staff Development Day to later in the year. We will give details of this as soon as possible.

A couple of reminders for next term:

APPLICATIONS FOR EXTENDED LEAVE (TRAVEL OR HOLIDAY)

A change for applying for extended leave has been given to schools, which is now in effect. These decisions are not of our school and we are required to inform you of them. Previously, parents or carers were required to complete a form for the absence due to travel or holiday from 10 or more days. Now we are required to let you know that this is 3 or more days. Here is an excerpt from the document for your information:

From time to time parents/caregivers may approach the school to seek permission for their child to travel during school term for periods of time. From the beginning of 2015, family holidays and travel are no longer considered under the Exemption from School Procedures and therefore as a general rule, Principals should not approve leave for this purpose. Parents should be advised of this and if they choose to proceed, the absence should be recorded as Unjustified Leave and a Notification of Extended Leave Form A4 should be completed when the leave is for 3 or more days. Travel outside of vacation period is now counted as an absence for statistical purposes.

ABSENCE DUE TO ILLNESS/MEDICAL 

If a student is absent for more than 3 days due to illness/medical, they are requested to provide a medical certificate which states that they are unable to return to school due to an ongoing medical condition. If a student is absent for more than 3 days without a medical certificate, this will be recorded as an unjustified absence and followed up by the school in line with normal practice. 

WINTER UNIFORMS 

• All students will be expected to be in their full winter school uniforms to start Term 3. Please ensure all items are correct. Notes will come home in Term 3 with requests should there still be uniforms that are not correct. 

We look forward to welcoming everyone back in Term 3.

Tess Koning
Principal