Five ways positive friendships can help your child at school and in life Education Queensland Article (adapted)

1. Friendships create a sense of belonging

Research¹ has found that belonging – that feeling of being a part of something – helps us function better ­in the world. Covid-19 has taken so much.  Belonging to a friendship group within your classroom promotes positive mental health, physical wellbeing and a better focus on learning. It can also give us a sense of purpose and meaning. Friendships with other students can give children a sense of belonging and a greater connection to their school. For some children, building a sense of belonging can happen in other ways. Sometimes young people can also build a sense of belonging at school through connections with their teachers, more so than their peers. This is backed up by research² that found that students who experience close and supportive relationships with their teachers are more likely to interact positively with other classmates, to excel academically, and to feel a sense of belonging at school.

2. Friendships can develop children’s social skills

Friendships help children develop their social skills. Having positive friendships helps make school a fun and supportive place to be. As children get older, social situations can get more challenging. Managing these interactions is an important learning experience.

3. Friendships can promote learning

Strong relationships with other children at school can help children feel more engaged. Being engaged at school helps children learn better.  Studies suggest that students are motivated to learn and perform when working in a group of friends and for many children, having friends at school can be a powerful source of help, encouragement and motivation.

4. Friendships can reduce stress

Positive friendships can help reduce stress, especially during these challenging times. A 2011 study⁵ showed that the presence of a best friend can protect against the effects of negative experiences. 

5. Friendships can help school transitions

School and class transitions can be stressful for some students. Having someone they know by their side can make such transitions much easier, especially for those children who might struggle with change and new situations. While friendships are just one of the many things you consider when choosing a school for your child, being around people they know can help children adjust to a new situation. You can help your child’s transition by fostering relationships with kids going into the same classroom so there will be something familiar in your child’s new environment. In the end though, what matters most is to find the school that is the best fit for your child as their friendships are likely to change during these years.

During week 5 our students will be reviewing the teaching of the respecting road including showing respect for themselves, others, the school, and the environment. Through explicit and incidental teaching during learning activities when students are working independently or with a staff member, students will be encouraged to give themselves affirmations while they work.

• Parents and carers can support this explicit teaching by modelling saying positive statements about things they have done throughout their day.  

The Engine will continue to be explicitly taught through a variety of group and individual experiences designed to support the students to engaging in their five basic needs of: Love & Belonging, Survival, Fun, Power and Freedom.

• Parents and carers can support this explicit teaching by supporting their student to identify the people, places, events and objects that have meaning to them.

In building our global school budgeting for 2022 we are finalising our school budget and your contribution to support education delivery for state schooling.

Our school for 18 years has maintained with families a School Offer payment of $180.00 to contribute to your young person's school learning. The P&C approved that we would maintain the same financial offer of $180.00 for 2022.

The $180.00 payable Student Offer incorporates:

• Book list requirements
• Student Resources and Consumables
• Reprographics including printing
• Student Communication Diary

The Student Offer is based on the 40 school weeks. This Student Offer of $180.00 for whole school activities can be paid annually, by semester (2x $90.00), by term (4 x $45.00) or weekly (40 weeks x $5.00). A receipt will be forwarded and collected through the office or via student communication diary.

Classes will require further support for their individual user pays programs and will forward the details and invoice to you in writing once their projects have been approved through P&C Association and Administration, for example class cooking programs or user pays programs including: School Performances, swimming, camps etc.

Swimming fees for 2022 will reflect the training credential required to cover instructor led swimming lessons as per our departmental guidelines and we will offer to select teams in 2022.

Non-payment of the school Student Offer may result in a need for alternative programming for your child. It is crucial for these programs to be successful that all families participate.

The School Offer

The School Offer payable for the year is published on the schools website.

School Performance

All students will attend a school performance each year and in good faith with the request that families follow through with payment as soon as possible to assist with payment to the Schools Performance Team.

Cashless School

Your assistance with payments through the school bank account using your young person’s name and program name to identify payment.

To deposit directly into school bank account:

BSB: 064-430

Account Number: 00090761

Reference: Student name and program name e.g. C Hope Offer

School Activity Bank Deposit Code

Stop the Spread of COVID-19

Maintaining the required hygiene and physical distancing measures in place in our school. These are our most effective ways to stop the spread of COVID-19. 

Any person who is sick (staff, student or parent) should stay home and if they have any COVID-19 symptoms, no matter how mild, get tested.

Symptoms of COVID-19 can include: 

• Fever
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny nose
• Loss of taste or smell
• Tiredness and muscle aches
• Vomiting and/or diarrhoea
• Shortness of breath

If students or staff present at school as unwell we will follow up and request an imediate early departure until a medical clearance is provided and confirmation that the person is well.

We need to ensure we stay home if recurring flu like symptoms present to decrease the spread of influenza.

If you have any questions, please call your doctor or call 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84) in these continuing concerning times.