Attendance

The Minister for Education, John Gardner wrote that we all have a, “role to ensure that children and young people get the best education available, and this starts with ensuring that children attend school all day, every school day” (2018). Regular school attendance not only gives them access to an education which develops their unique talents and abilities to assist them to reach their fullest potential, but develops within them skills to be able to participate as valuable members of their community. It also builds valuable social skills, enabling them to interact with peers and adults alike, while establishing healthy lifelong learning routines and behaviours. Quite simply put, attending regularly improves a child’s future outcome by supporting their learning and wellbeing, and it is the legal responsibility of the parent to ensure their child attends school daily (Department for Education, 2021).

It is a well-established and recognised fact, that students who are persistently absent from school are at risk of harm and of being marginalised, therefore unable to fulfil their potential. It is also noted that persistent absence from school without satisfactory explanation can be an indication that the health, emotional wellbeing or safety of a child is not being adequately protected and can be reported to Families SA (Memorandum of Administrative Arrangment Between Department of Education And Children's Services & Department for Families and Communities Families SA & Department of Health, 2010, pp. 3-4). Any move to prevent absenteeism is to ensure the wellbeing of a child and to provide the support, care and protection is provided promptly.

At Bethany Christian School, we take school attendance seriously because we believe that every child has the right to educational success, and this cannot occur when a child misses substantial amounts of time from school.

As part of our daily morning procedure, a report is generated to advise the administration staff when a student is ‘absent without reason’ in the morning. A text message is then sent to the parent/caregiver of the child for each day the child is absent from school. Please remember to notify the Administration Office if your child will be absent. Parents who do not notify the office will receive a text message enquiring as to why their child is absent from school.

Regular attendance at school is important to your child’s learning and development so that they have every opportunity to get the most from their education (SA.GOV.AU, 2017). Students may miss school when:

• The child is too ill to leave the house
• The child has an infectious disease/illness
• The child has a dental or medical appointment that cannot be made outside of school hours
• The school Principal has been provided with a genuine reason that prevents a child from attending school
• The child has been granted an exemption from school (forms to apply for school exemption can be provided at our Administration Office)
• The child has been sent home due to behavioural reasons (for example, being suspended)

Each school year has a maximum of 200 accountable school days. At Bethany, students are flagged to be of concern if they miss 10% of the school year, that is, 20 days absence. At a 90% attendance rate, students are at risk of missing an equivalent of two years of schooling between Reception and Year 10, should they continue with their rate of absenteeism each term.

For a student with 80% attendance, the equivalent of missing school jumps up to three years’ worth of education between Reception and Year 10. Persistent rates of absenteeism each term makes it almost impossible for them to keep up with their school work or keep in touch with their friends.

For the students who have attenance rates of between 80% - 90%, they will be issued with an attendance report to alert their parents/caregivers of the amount of schooling their child is missing. Students who are regularly late to school and need to sign in before going to class, or those who are persistently signed out from school early are also at great risk. While it may only seem like a small amount of time late or early departure, it all adds up and can be shocking for their parents/caregivers to realise that their time has amounted to a 10% absenteeism rate and now puts their child at risk. Even as little as getting to school by 9am each day is equivalent to 5 days of lost learning if it is added up. It is certainly food for thought!

If you experience difficulties getting your child to school on time, or find it is really hard to motivate your child to get to school, please make an appointment with your child’s teacher and discuss your concerns. We are here to help!

Squid Games and Halloween

The new #1 series on Netflix, Squid Games, has been described as, “addictive and binge worthy”. Unfortunately, despite being rated as MA 15+, making it highly inappropriate for our students, we have had a large number of our students watching this graphic drama/horror series and replicating the games in the yard. Sadly, this series takes innocent children’s games and twists them into violent, malevolent activities. Even the language used by some children when speaking about the games is inappropriate and harmful. The Squid Games theme has also spilled over into Halloween.

Bethany Christian School is a Christian school with a strong Christian ethos. As such we have a big population of families who do not want their child exposed to age-inappropriate content such as Squid Games or content that directly contradicts our Christian philosophy. Please consider what your child is watching carefully. Remember, what has been seen cannot be unseen, and often leaves lasting impression on highly impressionable minds.

Market Day

In response to student voice in our school community, it is with great delight the Student Representative Council (SRC) are announcing a Market Day being held on Friday 26th of November (week 7).

The student led Market Day is an exciting opportunity for any Year 3-6 student to hire a table at $5 so they can hold their own stall during lunch time, 1pm-1.30pm in the Under Cover Area (UCA). Any profit made can be either donated or used at the stall holder’s discretion.

Students are encouraged to make their own products and sell them within a .50c-$10 price range per product. Food stalls will not be permitted. All students who would like to hold a stall must apply by filling in an application form which they can get from their classroom teacher.

Any student from Reception to Year 6 may attend the Market Day to buy the goods offered from the stalls.

This is a fabulous initiative of the students, and I am looking forward to see Market Day in Week 7!

I wish you and your family a wonderful week.

God bless you,

Deb Clifford