Attendance Matters

“You and your child are an important part of your school’s community. Every day of attending school counts. Being at school supports your child’s learning, social and mental well being.” (DET, 2022).

We know when absences are explained, we can provide the best supports for children and families. Protecting the safety and well-being of children through the reporting and monitoring of absenteeism is the responsibility of both parents/carers and schools.

Parents/carers have an obligation to notify the college of their child’s absence and schools are required to notify parents/carers on the day of an unexplained student absence. This responsibility needs to be underpinned by shared understandings and expectations about the procedures for the promotion, monitoring and follow-up of student attendance as outlined in the college’s Attendance Policy 2022

Clear communication and building a positive and collaborative relationship between schools and parents/carers is critical to the successful implementation of same day notifications and the school’s attendance processes. In addition, in order to implement this requirement, it is essential that schools have accurate and current parent/carer contact details. Please contact the general office on 9308 1144 to update student contact details as soon as possible.

HOW THE COLLEGE WILL COMMUNICATE  ABSENCES

College absence communications are automated based on teacher roll marking and to advise when a student is marked absent from school; we aim to best support parents/carers to meet their requirements under the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 to report absences promptly and to meet the school’s duty of care requirements.

  • At approximately 10am the Absent Text Message is sent to parents/carers for students marked Absent from Form Assembly or Period 1 or both periods.
  • At approximately 3pm the Absent Text Message is sent to parents/carers for students marked Absent all day.
  • Generally every Monday Unexplained Absence emails are automatically generated from Compass based on teacher roll marking to parents/carers. Unexplained Absences include whole day absent dates, we recommend parents/carers check the attached emailed letter carefully for the specific unexplained dates and classes.

At Craigieburn Secondary College attendance and engagement takes high priority and is highly supported by Education Support & Sub-school staff, Teachers and by our multi-disciplinary health care teams. We encourage all families to contact the college to promptly explain these absences so as the college can best support your family and your child/children during these challenging times.

To report absences or lateness to school, please follow one of the options to explain absences and/or request attendance & engagement support.

  • Login to the Compass APP or parent portal at https://craigieburnsc-vic.compass.education/ (Enter reason / Time-frame / Comment reason for the absence, estimated return date)
  • Email: attendance@craigieburnsc.vic.edu.au (subject line: Student Name / Year Level / Reason / Estimated Return Date)
  • Phone: Absence Line on 9308 1144 and follow the prompts
  • Email Year Level Coordinators via Compass for Attendance Participation or Engagement Support
  • If possible, email or provide Medical/Dental/Specialist Certificates on return to school
  • Families are reminded to update your family contact details as they change to receive college attendance notifications and general information

The College prides itself on keeping attendance records as accurate and as up-to-date as possible, however, at times records may not receive absence communications. Attendance records are uploaded daily to the Department of Education and Training to support COVID Safe practices, contact tracing, accountability and bench marking purposes.

Students experiencing difficulties returning to school or engaging in the face to face learning will not penalised on parent/guardian contact and immediate supports will be provided.

Every Day Counts – It’s Never To Late to Improve Attendance – We thank you!

COMMUNICATING ABSENCE TYPES

The college Attendance Policy 2022 is currently under review, pending School Council ratification mid August. The updated version will be found on the college policy website and is developed to support each family to assist their child/children where possible achieve the required Department of Education and Training 90% attendance rate to be achieving successfully at school.

Families may be communicated via Compass chronicle emails if an absence is deemed by the college as:

  1. Explained – Parent/carer contact received, cited or via a staff member to explain a student’s absence from school.
  2. Unexplained Absences – these are absences where no reasons have been provided.
  3. Absence Amended – medical certificate, specialist certification has been provided and attendance records have been updated and DET/VCE compliant and approved.
  4. Explained Absence Received – an acknowledgement email of a reported absence and attendance has been updated accordingly.
  5. Extended Absence Learning Plan – to support continued learning due to consecutive absence days, study leave, family holidays, or covid-related isolation requirements.
  6. Confirmed Truancy – to inform parents/carers if a student is deemed truant or out of class without permission.

By communicating attendance we are providing you with how the college can help your child/children to achieve high attendance and engagement at school!

The college wishes to ensure that all parent/carers have a clear understanding of how they can meet their legal obligations under the Education and Training Reform Act 2006. We encourage to you visit the Department of Education and Training (DET) “Attendance and missing school” information for parents to best understand attendance matters; how every day counts and general information on “going to school”.

2023 – New Department of Education and Training 2 Hour Rule to be considered Present at school

The Department have introduced a new ‘2 hour’ rule whereby a student needs to be considered ‘Present’ or ‘late’ in class for at least two hours prior to 12pm to be considered ‘Present’ for the AM period attendance coding, and two hours after 12pm to be considered ‘Present’ for the PM period attendance coding.

Important to note: This means when a student is marked absent (unexplained) or truant; out of class without permission for 1 or more periods or a parent/carer explains an absent or a student arrives or departs school early then this period of absence is calculated under the new ‘2 Hour’ rule and counts towards total absent days for the term or year.

Parents/carers can see their child’s Term Summary (Days Not Present) totals via your Compass portal Attendance pages. Attendance colour coding helps staff, students, parents/carer understanding attendance/absence record: Red – unexplained; Orange – explained (approved or unapproved); Blue – School Approved; Yellow – Late (explained or unexplained); or Green – Present. See the example attendance ‘Annual Summary’ and ‘Term Summary (Days Not Present)’.

ATTENDANCE COMMUNICATION SUMMARY

  • If no communication is received to the college, an unexplained absence will be recorded and attendance notifications sent.
  • Unexplained absences will initiate an Unexplained Absence weekly email for families to provide a valid reason for absence.
  • Continued Unexplained Absences will initiate the school Absence Unexplained Staged Response chronicle emails generated by Compass and parent/carer phone contact.
  • Explained absences regardless if the absence is deemed to be a reasonable or unreasonable reason for absence will initiate an Explained Absence acknowledgement chronicle email generated by Compass informing absence is explained and recorded.
  • Confirmed Truancy emails sent daily if your child is deemed to be confirmed truant out of class without permission; we encourage you to check Compass attendance records to review this decision &/or contact a sub-school team member to discuss the truancy & required supports.
  • An Attendance Multi-tiered System approach has been introduced to communicate to families when students attendance rate reaches less than 90% or their attendance is of concern. Compass auto-generated tier level 1-3 emails are designed to be informative; encouraging families/students to engage with the sub-school who can provide help, but most importantly, to build positive family partnerships around how to improve a student’s, academics, attendance, engagement and social and emotional journey at school.
  • We reward high attendance and engagement by issuing Merits, Distinctions and acknowledging our students at the college Award Ceremonies twice a year.

We would like our families to feel supported through this process, and as such the attendance communication and reminders are designed for you to gain full understanding of the circumstances behind absenteeism. This provides the basis for the college and families to work together to improve student attendance.

SUPPORTING STUDENTS WITH ATTENDANCE OF CONCERN

It is important for families to understand that the DET has a 90% attendance requirement, evidenced for your child to be achieving their full potential academically, socially and emotionally. Hence regardless of the type of absence (approved – reasonable or unapproved – unreasonable); when a student’s attendance rate reaches less than 90%, the student is considered with attendance of concern.

At this point the college will introduce attendance interventions that may include:

  • Phone or email contact
  • Regular monitoring of attendance and student’s academic progress
  • Emailing teachers for student progress and work completion
  • Student and school engagement profile and surveys
  • Student support group meetings & plan
  • Return to school planning & individual learning planning
  • Modified timetable and extended absence learning planning
  • Referrals to the college Allied Health Team &/or referrals to external service providers and government departments
  • and importantly, whatever it takes to keep your child engaged in learning and continue being part of the college learning community.

Family holidays within the school term are unapproved unless pre-approved by your child/children’s sub-school and an extended absence learning plan has been pre-arranged. Students absent for any extended time require an extended learning plan; please contact your child’s year level coordinator to request this learning support.

Every day counts when it comes to getting the best educational and social emotional outcomes for your child/children!

At Craigieburn Secondary College attendance and engagement takes high priority and is highly supported by Education Support & Sub-school staff, teachers and by multi-disciplinary health and well-being care teams. We encourage all families to contact the college if you know of an absence or extended absence leave in advance or to promptly explain absences, including lateness to school so as the college can best support your family and your child/children or you may not be meeting your requirements under the Education and Training Reform Act 2006.

Students able to continue learning from home and have Principal or Delegate Approval will be coded as ‘Medical/Illness’ DET/VCE Compliant approved for the following COVID-19 related reasons:

  • Student has a medical vulnerability, and their GP has advised that they should learn from home.
  • Student is in isolation and learning remotely if well enough to do so.
  • Student is unable to return from interstate or overseas due to COVID and the school is supporting them to learn remotely.

The college is doing its best to keep attendance records as accurate and as up-to-date as possible. Attendance records are uploaded daily to the Department of Education and Training.

Students experiencing difficulties returning to school or engaging in the face-to-face learning will not penalised on parent/carer contact and immediate supports will be provided. If you have any questions about the attendance communications and coding, please contact Andrea Brislin – Attendance Officer or Sub-school staff for student engagement and learning supports on 9308 1144 or email attendance at attendance@craigieburnsc.vic.edu.au.

For more information about attendance and missing school visit the school attendance. For Coronavirus and mental health advice and assistance visit Coronavirus and Coronavirus Mental Health advice.

View the Attendance Matters Info graphic below

It’s Never Too Late to Improve Attendance! 

Every day and Every Minute Counts when it comes to getting the best educational and social emotional outcomes for your child/children and we are here to help!