Pastoral Care

 The Year of Freedom

Friday 17 March is the National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence (NDA). It is Australia’s key anti-bullying event for schools and encourages all students to ‘take a stand together’ against bullying and violence in the classroom, in schools and beyond.

The national definition of bullying for Australian schools says: Bullying is an ongoing misuse of power in relationships through repeated verbal, physical and/or social behaviour that causes physical and/or psychological harm. It can involve an individual or a group misusing their power over one or more persons. Bullying can happen in person or online, and it can be obvious (overt) or hidden (covert). Bullying of any form or for any reason can have long-term effects on those involved, including bystanders. Single incidents and conflict or fights between equals, whether in person or online, are not defined as bullying.

Behaviours that do not constitute bullying include:

• mutual arguments and disagreements (where there is no power imbalance)
• not liking someone or a single act of social rejection
• one-off acts of meanness or spite
• isolated incidents of aggression, intimidation or violence.

However, these conflicts still need to be addressed and resolved. At Loreto Normanhurst, each person in the community has the right to feel safe. We are an inclusive school that actively promotes the joy of the Open Circle where everyone is made to feel welcome, part of the community and also able to leave freely. Bullying, harassment and exclusion are not tolerated in the school. Our Safe School Policy clearly outlines the processes for student safety and what to do if experiencing harassment. The ‘Take a Stand Together’ app is a free app that has tips and advice about bullying. It includes short animated stories about bullying, and students can choose what to do from a range of responses. Students can also create their own avatar and choose a positive anti-bullying message. I would encourage families to talk about this important issue with their daughter/s and encourage you to make contact with your daughter’s Head of House if you have any concerns. The Bullying No Way! Website has some excellent information  to access. 

PLEASE TAKE SOME TIME TO READ OUR PROCESS FOR ATTENDANCE, ABSENCES AND OTHER RELATED PIECES OF INFORMATION.

 Attendance

If your daughter is leaving school to attend an appointment, it is important for our duty of care that she has a note explaining why she is leaving school. If your daughter is absent from school and you have phoned, emailed or sent an SMS, your daughter is still required to bring in a signed note explaining her absence when she returns to school, as per  the NSW Attendance guidelines .

When absent from school

There are two ways to contact the school:

1. Email: attendance@loretonh.nsw.edu.au, or

2. Phone: contact the Student Attendance Line on 9473 7354 – leave a message that includes your daughter’s name, House, Year and a brief explanation for her absence.

Please inform the school of your daughter’s absence before 8:30am. If your daughter’s absence remains unexplained after 8:45am, an SMS message will be sent to your mobile phone reminding you to contact the school and explain her absence.

On your daughter’s return to school, a signed note by a parent or guardian explaining the absence is required. You can use the perforated slips in the back of your daughter’s Student Handbook. The note needs to be handed to Mrs Anderson or Ms Storey in Student Services within seven days of the absence. The absence note is a legal requirement.

Partial absence

If your daughter arrives to school after 8:20am, she will be required to sign in late using her Student ID Card. A signed note will need to be provided by a parent or guardian to verify the lateness with an explanation. If your daughter is required to leave the school grounds earlier than 3:15pm, she will be required to sign out using her Student ID Card. A permission note, not an email must be provided, clearly stating the reason for the leave and the time of departure. Again, the signature of the parent or guardian is required.

Please contact me on pastoral@loretonh.nsw.edu.au or 9487 3488 if you have any questions.

Uniform

Please support us in relation to school uniform. Your daughter should be wearing her full school uniform to and from school including her hat. One earring in each lower ear lobe that are  plain gold  or silver studs,  sleepers or small white pearls are allowed.  No student is permitted to wear excessive makeup, nail polish, necklaces or multiple earrings, sparkly or other shaped earrings. Nails are to be natural and not acrylic or shellac.  If your daughter arrives at school with makeup she will be asked to remove it. Repeated issues with jewellery will result in a conversation with her Head of House or myself. Information pertaining to the Uniform Code is found on page 24 of your daughter’s handbook.

Conversations this week: 

Please do not hesitate to phone your daughter’s Head of House or the School Counsellors on 9487 3488 if you have any concerns. I can be contacted via email   if you have any questions.

Mr Justin Madigan

Dean of Pastoral Care

Merit Awards

Congratulations to the following students who received  Merit Awards:

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