Attendance at school is essential to maximise learning, and we are tracking slightly down on our year to date at 93%. As I have mentioned earlier, every day at school counts and significant learning occurs this term so I encourage you all to ensure that students are at school, on time, ready to learn, every day. We appreciate you letting us know if your child is sick as this is classified as an ‘explained absence’. We have had a number of notifications lately though that we are not able to authorise due to students being kept home for unacceptable reasons. 

Earlier in the term, we sent out information regarding new forms of social media and the increasing importantance for parents to be aware of how this media works, such as Tik Tok is a video sharing app. As parents, it’s important to be having conversations about these tools (often which we know nothing about) and to understand how to support our children in being safe online. On the link below, parents can receive information outlining easy ways to set restrictions on what apps children are able to use; setting privacy settings and controlling who sees content on an app. The information comes from the eSafety Commissioner Website which has lots of excellent material relating to apps and online platforms being used by children.

https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/skills-advice/online-safety-basics

As part of our planning for next year, it is important for us to make an accurate prediction as to our numbers of students who will be attending Burnie Primary School next year. If you know that you will not be here or if you know of families that will be moving into our area, can you please let us know as soon as possible so we can ensure that we are able to cater for every single students’ success in 2020.

We have had students involved in so many different and varied learning experiences outside of our school grounds lately. From our upcoming two week Grade K - 2 Swimming and Water Safety program at the Burnie Aquatic Centre, to EMUsicians concerts, Grade 2s singing at the opening of the giving tree at the Kmart and upcoming excursion, Prep excursion to Guide Falls Farm, Grade 1 excursion to Devonport Paranaple centre, Grade 3 ‘Big Day Out’ and Grade 5 on their three day camp last week. These quality learning experiences are all great examples of enacting our vision of a collaborative, creative and innovative learning community here at Burnie Primary School.

 Andrew Starick