Dear Parents and Carers of Vancouver Forest,

The academic year is in full swing and the children are very busy in class learning. As you know it is Windsor’s ethos and vision to provide the best quality of care and education to all of our children. However, it has come to my attention that many of our Windsor children are coming into school late. The school doors open at 8:00 officially and learning begins at 9am, regardless of whether the children are here for half a day or full day. This gives the children time to settle into class ready for the day ahead. It more importantly gives the class teachers a chance to greet the children coming into class and if needed it gives you an opportunity to talk to the teachers if you have to pass on some information. I realise it is difficult for the children to get up in the mornings and what with the weather being so cold, but it is extremely important your child feels settled and comfortable in the classroom environment.

I would like to present to you the reasons that your child needs to be in school by 9am everyday:

• It is important to us that your child is greeted with a warm and caring smile. Between 8:00 to 9am gives the teachers time to do this and answer any questions you may have.

• When you come in late, learning is taking place already and the teacher will not have the time to greet them, as they need to have full attention to the children that are there and learning at that precise moment. Interrupting a child’s learning to tend your child who has come in late puts the teacher in a very difficult situation. It is not very professional or fair to put our teachers in this position.

• Many of you have asked how will my child acquire English or learn more this year. If your child is in school on time and consistently, they are more likely to pick up language and learning concepts far easier. For example, when a child comes in at 10am to school and regularly, think as a parent how many hours of learning are lost over the whole academic year? Especially, when English-speaking time is in the morning?

• We want your child to learn the routines of school life. Coming into school on time really does help. Your children will self-registrate when they enter the class and will be in the mind frame of dealing with the school day. They will be prepared to learn and start to focus.

• Structure is essential to any child at whatever age. They need to know what is happening and when to expect it. Their brains use it as a coping mechanism in helping them to understand what is happening.

• We at Windsor feel that manners are very important. Meeting and greeting times are an essential life skill especially as they get older and ultimately go to work. They learn to respect not just the teacher but also their peers in class. These are the first steps when making relationships with adults and other children.

I realise at times being late for school will happen, for example the traffic. If you know you will be late or they have an appointment in the mornings, please tell the class teacher or leave a message with the front desk.

As it is school policy and government law, we are required to record a child’s attendance in school, including lateness over the course of the academic year. Therefore, attendances including lateness will be put on the Windsor Academic School Report at the end of the year for each child.

I hope this has helped to inform you from our professional point of view why it is so important the school starts at 9am. With your help by supporting the school in a small way, will greatly benefit your child. I would also like to point out that the younger they are, the more vital it is they have this routine in place, in order for your children to bond with the adults. As they get older they know the structure of the day and they know when they themselves are late for school. By K5 they understand the routines and are more developed in their learning abilities and it is important they get to start class on time.

I know as Parents and Carers you take your child’s education as importantly as we do. Therefore, by reading this letter I hope you will agree we have your child’s best interests both academically and socially.

Thank you for your continued support at Windsor.

I wish you a very Happy New Year and a very healthy, wealthy and successful year ahead.

Kind regards,

Ms Shirley Wan

Curriculum Manager of the Windsor Schools