Welcome to Term 4!

This is an exciting term in relation to learning. Our teachers know their students so well, proven by the reflections of their strengths and areas of need in our recent planning sessions. With this insight, they have planned carefully for each student and will work with the children to collaborate on their next steps.

At the recent parent teacher conferences, there was a chance to catch up with your child’s learning journey and collaborate with our teachers as to what you can also do to assist your child to be ready for learning and meeting their goals. I encourage you to maintain that communication this term so that we can work together to ensure our students are successful.

It was wonderful to see the students return to school today happy to see their friends and ready to learn! We look forward to a busy term with plenty of educational experiences.

Attendance – Every day Counts!

At Dayboro SS, we are passionate about building lifelong learners who have the best chance of success. In order to do this good student attendance is essential.

Why does school attendance matter?

Regular school attendance gives students a better chance at life. Students achieve better when they go to school all day, every school day because:

• they have increased access to learning opportunities
• they maintain friendships
• they stay connected to the curriculum progression
• they develop self-efficacy as a learner
• they have better long-term life outcomes.

I am concerned that our Dayboro SS attendance rate has dropped over the past few years and is now sitting at 90%, well below our target of 95%. I understand concerns around the pandemic and other contagious virus’ have certainly made us all cautious about isolation periods, but we really do want to have your child at school EVERY day that they are well. It is therefore helpful to your child if you schedule non-essential appointments and special day trips on weekends or holiday periods, allowing your child the best chance at connecting with school and their friends. Please remember that parents hold an obligation to ensure that their child is attending school on every school day.

If your child is having difficulty attending, please discuss their needs with their class teacher. Karen and I are also always happy to assist and support your child so please let us know if you need support.

Continuing to enhance our learning environment - Facilities

Over the holidays, it has been exciting to see the progress made with our current projects:

• Our staff carpark has been levelled and topped with gravel making it easier for staff to access our school (particularly in the wet)
• The concrete cricket pitch has been removed from the centre of the oval (thank you P&C for obtaining that grant)
• The remainder of our year 1 and 2 classrooms have been refurnished with updated student and teacher desks
• Our front entrance with flag poles completed (just waiting on lettering for the front gate).

We are looking forward to our upcoming project in the planning for 2023:

• D block and B Block renovation of classrooms – extending classrooms to include the veranda area and building an additional deck learning area. Plans are currently being drawn with careful consideration to enhancing the learning areas for the students and teacher and maintaining the heritage features of the current buildings
• Installation of a persons with disability unisex toilet underneath D Block for use of the year 1 and 2 students during learning time.

We are excited by these improvements and look forward to seeing this new project completed for our students to use!

Planning for 2023

In Term 4, we will be busy planning resources and staffing for the 2023 school year. We would appreciate you keeping in contact with the administration team about your child’s enrolment (if changing) for 2023.

We will be beginning to conduct enrolment interviews for students transferring to Dayboro for next year. Please let our Admin Officer know if you have a child enrolling. Please note – Catch up Prep Interviews Monday 17 October - If you know a family who has a child due to start Prep in 2023, please encourage them to contact our office as soon as possible. Our catch-up Prep interviews, will be in week 3. This term we will welcome our new cohort of preppies

If your child will not be returning to Dayboro SS in 2023, could you please let us know so we can ensure our staffing and resources are as accurate as possible. Thanks for your assistance.

Dayboro SS Student Success!

One of our Dayboro SS school captains, Ivy, participated in the National Interschool Equestrian Championships in Sydney last week. Ivy represented QLD in the 80 and 90cm Primary Show jumping at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre over 5 days and 6 events. Outstanding results from Ivy:

• 4th overall in Australia in the 80cm jump
• 7th overall in the 90cm jump
• The QLD primary Show jumping team which Ivy was a member of, came 2nd overall. 

Ivy reports that she had loads of fun and met lots of lovely children from all over Australia. Children travelled from as far as Western Australia, the NT and Tasmania.

We are proud of Ivy for following her passion and working hard at her chosen sport!

Have a great week!
Gabrielle