Dear Parents and Carers,

As we reach the end of Module 2, I’d like to thank you all for your continued support and partnership as we work together to make LAB such a strong learning environment for our young people.

As you know, we spent a large amount of time last year consulting with students about rewards and sanctions. Taking their feedback into account, we refined our behaviour for learning policy to make it clearer and easier to understand, while adding a wider range of rewards, trips, and visits. I am delighted to share that the positive impact has been amazing.

To start, the number of significant negative behaviour incidents has been greatly reduced. In Module 2, there have been only 7 suspensions compared to 25 over the same period last year. At the same time, positive incidents have increased significantly, with the number of merits awarded rising from 25,917 to 30,754.

On Monday of this week, we celebrated our first group of Bronze Award winners. These are students who achieved 96%+ attendance, no more than 3 late marks, fewer than 20 demerits, and no supervisions or suspensions. In total, 104 students received their bronze award badges, certificates, and fast-track lunch queue passes at an awards assembly in front of parents, carers, and staff.

When we return in January, the counter resets, meaning every student has the chance to achieve their bronze award by the end of module 4. Meanwhile, our current winners have the opportunity to move toward their Silver and Gold awards if they maintain the high bar they have already set for themselves.

As part of our work on the student experience, I have thoroughly enjoyed meeting a wide range of achievers during my fortnightly "Hot Chocolate and a Cookie" sessions. Whether they are students who consistently display our values through small daily actions or those who have made great strides in their attendance and attitude, it has been a pleasure to celebrate their success.

During these meetings, I ask students to share one thing they appreciate about LAB and one thing they would like to change. Their responses have made me smile, made me think, and quite often, led me to take direct action. It is now common to see points raised by students appearing on the Leadership team’s weekly agenda.

Our students frequently highlight our diversity, inclusivity, and the positive relationships with teachers as things they value most. Regarding changes, they asked for clocks in the playground and restaurant, improvements to the lunch queue, more trips, and more consistency in recording merits. I’m pleased to tell you that the clocks have been ordered, the new "snack shack" has significantly improved the lunch queue, and at least three new residential trips have been added to the calendar. While consistency in awarding merits remains a focus for us, we are certainly getting better!

We know that some have found the refined focus on high expectations a challenge, but together we are making huge progress. This is evident in our above-national average attendance, the reduction in daily lates, and the fall in serious behaviour incidents. None of this would be possible without your support, and I would like to thank you for embracing these positive changes.

Please enjoy reading this edition of the newsletter. We look forward to welcoming students back on January 6th when the gates open at 8:00 am.

Wishing you all a peaceful festive season.

E Smith
Principal