I extend a warm welcome to all students, families and staff. I trust that every student has returned to school this year with a clear focus on achieving personal success in their academic, vocational, sporting and/or cultural endeavours during the year. I reaffirm our schools commitment to support students to achieve their goals through a caring and supportive approach and a focus on to meeting our schools high standards and expectations.
This year the focus is on:
Attendance
Students attending school every day and parents explaining all absences in a timely manner. To achieve this parents must set clear expectations that attending school is required and work with the school to address any issues that are impacting on student attendance.
TARGET - 90% Attendance
Learning engagement
Students must be organised and bring all materials to class and complete classwork, homework and assessment on time and to the best of their ability. Parents should show interest in students’ learning and be monitoring, encouraging and celebrating students’ academic engagement and progress. Teachers should have high expectations in the classroom and students must follow teacher instructions and behave in accordance with school and classroom rules and procedures. There should be a clear focus on teaching and learning in every classroom every day.
TARGET - Increased Effort & Behaviour Results on Report Cards
Academic outcomes through reading comprehension and critical and creative thinking
Student success at school is a key factor in determining each student’s life pathways beyond school. We aim to ensure that all students achieve minimum standards in standardised testing programs such as NAPLAN and PAT. As a school we also have a focus on ensuring that students are being extended to the upper limits of their abilities through a whole school focus on reading comprehension and critical and creative thinking skill development.
TARGET – Increased Academic Results on Report Cards
Playground behaviour
Students should act in a safe and appropriate manner, show respect for other students and property and follow school rules and procedures. Where friendship or social issues arise, students are responsible for resolving this in a rational, safe and appropriate manner and be proactive in seeking assistance from staff.
TARGET – Decreased behaviour incidents, referrals and disciplinary consequences
School Uniform
The school uniform clearly outlines the school uniform expectations and during enrolment interviews all students have agreed to wear the uniform as determined by the school in consultation with the P&C Association. Parents have a big role to play in expecting that their children comply with these requirements. A strong and consistent uniform is a key sign of school pride and demonstrates the importance of preparing students for life in the workplace.
TARGET – Improved uniform compliance
The school is highly committed to creating a safe, respectful and supportive environment for all students, staff and other members of our school community. We will take a clear stance against students who compromise this environment through the use of serious disciplinary consequences. As a Positive Behaviour for Learning school we will also continue to focus on teaching and role modelling appropriate behaviours and celebrating appropriate behaviours by “catching students doing the right thing”. We want the best learning environment for your students and will continue to be active in ensuring that this is achieved.
Communication with School Community
The school has a number of ways to keep our school community informed of relevant information about our school, its operations and the great efforts and achievements of our students and staff. These include:
- A School Newsletter is sent home every 3 weeks to keep parents informed about various school operations, events, information and achievements.
- A School High Flyer magazine is sent home with report cards at the end of each term to celebrate a range positive school performances, events and programs.
- Facebook - Like us on Facebook to receive school updates, timely information, good news stories and to ask questions. This site will also be used during emergency situations (e.g. flooding) to communicate with parents.
- The School Website contains a range of information about our school, including a calendar of events newsletters and information about curriculum, enrolments, assessment and school policies and procedures.
- The QSchool App provides up to date with school events, news, newsletters, information and more. Simply download the app and set Laidley SHS as a favourite school. QSchools for iOS, Android and Windows 8 are available for free download from the iTunes store, Google Play and the Windows Store.
- A Text Messaging Service is used daily to advise parents of student absences. The school will also send SMS messages from time to time to remind parents about key events or requirements. This service will also be used during emergency situations (e.g. flooding) to communicate with parents.
School Fees
A reminder that school textbook and resource scheme fees are now due. Prompt payment ensures that your children gain access to textbooks and other resources immediately. Parents can pay these fees in full or over 3 instalments. Students are issued textbooks, diary, classroom resources and ID cards once the first instalment is paid. Parents experiencing financial difficulties are encouraged to contact the Business Services Manager to negotiate alternative payment arrangements to ensure that their children gain access to the resources required to support their learning. Our school has registered for Centrepay, a facility that enables families receiving Centrelink benefits to have funds paid directly by Centrelink to the school. Many families are finding this payment method helpful.
Please note that some senior subjects involving partnerships with TAFE and other training organisations require payment of subject fees in advance. Students will be withdrawn from these subjects if subject fees are not paid by the required date. Again, parents can negotiate repayment agreements with the school if required.
School Uniforms
Thank you for your ongoing support to ensure that students are well presented and demonstrate a strong sense of pride in our school and its uniform. I appreciate parents supplying students with the correct uniforms for the start of the school year. The school uniform policy is developed in consultation with the P&C Association. It is outlined in the school diary and on the school website and students have all signed an agreement to wear the school uniform as per this policy upon enrolment. I encourage parents to be familiar with these requirements.