Kia ora koutou katoa,

Welcome back to Term 3 at Maungaraki School! I hope you all had a restful break and enjoyed quality time with whānau. As we start Term 3, I wanted to take a moment to emphasise the importance of regular attendance for our tamariki.

Attendance at school plays a crucial role in our children's overall development and academic success. Research consistently shows that regular attendance significantly contributes to higher achievement outcomes. Conversely, a pattern of irregular attendance can have a detrimental impact on a child's progress, both academically and socially.

Let me illustrate this with an example: take a child who misses just one day every fortnight over the course of their schooling years from Year 0 to Year 8. One day a fortnight might seem inconsequential at first glance. However, over the eight years of primary school, those missed days add up to two full school terms lost over their education journey.

During these missed days, important learning opportunities occur—lessons in literacy, numeracy, social skills, and much more. Each day contributes to building foundational knowledge and skills that are critical for future success.

As parents and caregivers, your role in ensuring regular attendance is vital. We understand that occasional absences due to illness or family commitments are unavoidable. A consistent effort to prioritise attendance sends a powerful message to our children about the value of education.

We are always here to help, if you have any questions around attendance, or are having a tricky time with getting someone to school - please reach out to your classroom teacher. Together, let's commit to supporting our tamariki by making attendance a priority. By working collaboratively, we can help them achieve their full potential and set them on a path to success.

Shane Robinson
Principal