A WORD FROM OUR PRINCIPAL
Our school continues to work hard to ensure our students are able to participate in not only extra curricula activities, but programs of instruction suited to the needs of our students. Throughout this term, our students have and continue to participate in the QVSA Stem program, run online, as well as NAPLAN omnibus and TCN opportunities for sport. I would like to congratulate our junior choir, led by Mrs Howell, leading us in singing the National Anthem at assembly last week, demonstrating the effort that they have already put into their singing.
In order to support students in their learning, attendance is the most important aspect of school – if they are not at school we can’t teach them! EQ policy states, “every day counts” for our every one of our students! At Freshwater State School we also encourage students to promptly arrive at school and class throughout the day as “every minute counts” when we are talking about students’ learning time. The following table is another way of clearly showing why this needs to be acknowledged:
If Your Child Misses |
That Equals |
Which Is |
From Prep to Yr 12, (i.e. 13 Years of Schooling) That is |
Which Means the Best Your Child Might Perform Is |
1 day per fortnight |
20 days per year |
4 weeks per year |
Nearly 1½ years |
Equal to finishing in Yr 11 |
1 day per week |
40 days per year |
8 weeks per year |
Over 2½ years |
Equal to finishing in Yr 10 |
2 days per week |
80 days per year |
16 weeks per year |
Over 5 years |
Equal to finishing in Yr 7 |
3 days per week |
120 days per year |
24 weeks per year |
Nearly 8 years |
Equal to finishing in Yr 4 |
NAPLAN
The 2025 National Assessment Program Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) will take from Friday 14th to Monday 24th March. As in previous years all students in Yr. 3 & 5 are required to participate in these tests unless they are withdrawn by parents/carers. Where parents/carers do not wish their children to participate in the tests, they must discuss their wishes with the principal or deputy principal. It should be noted, students who are withdrawn from the tests will have no result recorded and no report will be provided. Adjustments may be permitted for students to support their access to the tests to help facilitate maximum participation. Staff will identify students who will qualify for any adjustments. If parents have any questions in regards to this we request they initially contact the class teacher and if required the principal or deputy principal. Students have already participated in practice testing to ensure they are ready and comfortable with the testing procedures.
Reading
The importance of reading in school cannot be overstated. Reading is fundamental to student success as it enhances language skills, comprehension, critical thinking, and overall academic performance. In addition to improving literacy, it opens up new worlds of knowledge, broadens perspectives, and promotes creativity. Encouraging a reading culture within the school is vital for students' cognitive development and future success. As discussed on the lower school assembly last week, to encourage reading at home, students will receive prizes for every 25 nights of reading that they read, utilising their home reading log for recording. It has been wonderful seeing a number of students receiving prizes already.
Parent Teacher Interviews
For parents who want to know how they can best support their children through school, there is no better way than through a parent-teacher interview. Interviews between parents and teachers are primarily about one aspect: the overall development of a child. At Freshwater State School, interviews are an opportunity for parents to build rapport with teachers, have all their questions answered and voice any concerns they may have about a student’s progress.
Help Teachers Understand Your Child
Parent-teacher interviews are not just about teachers telling parents about how their child is doing at school. Our teachers take an interest in every child and strive to gain a better understanding of what makes each student unique. The best way to do this is to meet with parents and let them talk about their children, their interests and any specific challenges they face so that teachers can provide them with the precise support they need to thrive.
Questions or Concerns
Interviews will be held in 15-minute intervals. If there are specific questions you would like to ask, please let the teacher know at the start of the interview or send through prior to the interview, so that the teacher has some time to prepare the response.
Safety of Students, Staff and Community
The safety of students, both within and outside of the school, is paramount. Schools must take proactive steps to ensure a safe learning environment, including implementing proper security measures, monitoring school grounds, and offering safe transportation options for students. For this reason, each term the school participates in either a planned lockdown or evacuation, ensuring all staff and students understand the process. Teachers, staff, and school administrators also foster a culture of respect, inclusion, and awareness, ensuring that students feel secure and supported at all times. Aggressive parental behaviour toward staff and in the vicinity of students and parents, is not an acceptable practice at our school or any other workplace. Please keep this in mind when speaking to staff in relation to your children. We are here to provide, to the best of our ability, support for all students and their families.
Please take a moment to read our Parent and Community Code of Conduct.
Yours sincerely,