Emu Chronicle – 17 July 2026 (Week 1, Term 3)

Principal’s Report

SHANE DUPUY

Every day counts

Across Australia, school attendance is declining, and the trend is one that deserves the attention of all of us as educators, parents and carers. Currently, around 11% of students are absent from school on any given day. While that figure may seem relatively small, the long-term implications for student learning and wellbeing are significant.

A student is considered to have regular attendance when they attend school at least 90% of the time. Conversely, students who miss more than 10% of the school year are classified as experiencing chronic absenteeism. Ten years ago, approximately 78% of Australian students met the regular attendance benchmark. By 2024, that figure had fallen to just 59.8%. In other words, fewer than six in ten students now attend school regularly.

This decline presents challenges for everyone involved in a child’s education. For teachers, frequent absences make it increasingly difficult to accurately assess a student’s knowledge and understanding. Learning is carefully sequenced, with each lesson building upon previous concepts. Missing significant portions of classroom instruction often leaves gaps in understanding that are difficult to bridge, making it harder for students to demonstrate genuine conceptual mastery.

For students, the impact extends well beyond academic achievement. Regular attendance supports confidence, friendships, a sense of belonging and positive mental wellbeing. Students who are frequently absent are more likely to experience anxiety, difficulty maintaining social connections and, in more serious cases, school refusal. Every day at school provides valuable opportunities not only for learning but also for developing the social and emotional skills that are so important for lifelong success.

We also recognise that since the COVID-19 pandemic there has been a heightened awareness of staying home when unwell, and rightly so. On average, students miss around 11 days each year due to illness or medical appointments. However, declining attendance is a trend that began well before the pandemic. One area of particular concern is the sharp increase in family-related absences, including holidays taken during school terms, which have doubled over the past seven years. While we understand that family time is important, we encourage families, wherever possible, to prioritise their child’s education by scheduling holidays during school holiday periods.

Here at PBC, we firmly believe that student wellbeing is the foundation upon which academic success is built. We know that many families researching schools look to publicly available data such as NAPLAN results on the My School website. While these measures provide one snapshot of achievement, they do not tell the whole story.

As a smaller school, with year-level cohorts ranging from approximately 14 to 40 students, our results can be disproportionately influenced when students experience high levels of absenteeism and subsequently miss significant parts of the learning program. Standardised test results cannot capture the outstanding wellbeing initiatives, pastoral care, extra-curricular opportunities and strong sense of community that are central to life at PBC. These programs play a vital role in supporting our students’ academic, social and emotional development.

Importantly, the most effective strategies for improving attendance are not new or complex. They are built on strong relationships between school and home, consistent daily routines, and classrooms where every student feels safe, valued and connected. At PBC, these principles guide our work every day.

When schools, families and students work together, attendance improves, engagement grows and young people are better positioned to flourish. Thank you for your continued partnership in ensuring that every student has the opportunity to learn, connect and succeed. Every day truly does matter.

Primary School Coordinator Report

NICOLA KERIN

Following the release of Semester 1 reports, Parent-Teacher Interviews will provide a valuable opportunity for families and teachers to celebrate each child’s progress, discuss areas for continued growth and work together to support learning goals for the remainder of the year. Strong partnerships between home and school are an important part of every student’s success, and we look forward to these conversations.

We are also excited to continue welcoming our future Prep students through our Prep Transition Program. Storytime sessions in our Prep classrooms and our monthly Little Emus Playgroups continue to provide wonderful opportunities for children and their families to become familiar with our school environment, meet key staff and begin building confidence and excitement ahead of starting school. Watching these future students become increasingly comfortable and connected to our college is always a highlight.

Our Year 6 students will continue participating in their Year 7 transition program, building confidence and developing the skills needed as they prepare for the next stage of their educational journey. These experiences help ensure a smooth and positive transition into secondary school. This term, Year 6 students will participate in an afternoon transition session as well as a full day transition session in Week 10.

Students across the primary school have many exciting experiences to look forward to this term. Our Year 2 and Year 3 students will embark on their camp adventures, where they will develop independence, resilience, teamwork and lasting memories with their peers. Since introducing Year 2 camp onsite with a parent, we have seen increased confidence and independence of students attending We also look forward to celebrating Book Week, encouraging a love of reading through a range of engaging activities, and showcasing the incredible talents of our students during our annual Primary Talent Show.

Learning beyond the classroom continues to be a valued part of our curriculum, with a number of excursions planned throughout the term. Prep and Year 1 students will enjoy a visit to the Ginger Factory, Year 4 students will explore local history at Bankfoot House, and Year 5 students will deepen their understanding of science and history through their visit to the Queensland Museum. These authentic learning experiences help bring classroom learning to life and inspire curiosity.

One of the most anticipated celebrations of the term will undoubtedly be our 100 Days of Prep! Reaching this milestone is a wonderful achievement for our youngest learners and provides a fun opportunity to celebrate just how much they have grown academically, socially and emotionally since beginning their schooling journey.

As always, thank you for your ongoing support and partnership. We are looking forward to another term filled with learning, growth, new experiences and many opportunities to celebrate the achievements of every student. Here’s to a fantastic Term 3!