Attendance

Regular attendance is essential because it ensures learning is not disrupted and enhances the building blocks for the future. Research has proven that regular attendance helps students develop social, teamwork, communication, and healthy self-esteem. Teachers can better understand your child’s individual educational needs with regular attendance and create programmes to address any learning difficulties.

By working in partnership with parents and caregivers to maintain a high level of attendance, we can maximise student achievement. This supports the Cluster’s ethos of ‘Every school day counts…’, which can only be achieved if students advance their education during an entire school year.

Although the College is pleased with our current attendance levels, there is always room for improvement. Ashdale SC has implemented several processes to communicate attendance rates with parents and students. We have also implemented strategies to acknowledge students with high-level attendance and those who have improved their attendance rate. Every week students with 100% attendance are acknowledged in their mentor group and go into a draw for the chance to win a small reward. On a fortnightly basis, all students with an attendance rate of 90% or higher go into a draw to win a gift voucher, with a winner from each year group announced.

It can be challenging to keep track of your child’s attendance, and as a student, you often don’t realise how quickly a day off here and there can add up. Therefore, during weeks 5 and 10 of each Term, the College focuses on attendance. The College will communicate attendance rates to students and parents, with rewards given to students with the highest attendance and the greatest improvements in attendance. Student Services staff and Mentor teachers will be engaging in conversations with students about their attendance and setting future attendance goals.

We can appreciate that, at times, students cannot attend every day for various reasons. However, to ensure your child’s potential is maximised at the College, it is essential that parents and guardians:

• Provide the College with an explanation if your child is away
• Contact the College if you are having difficulty getting your child to school
• Where possible, arrange doctor and dentist appointments out of school hours
• Arrange personal shopping trips with your child or birthday celebrations outside of school hours
• Arrange Local, Interstate and International trips during school holidays
• Do not allow your child to stay at home for minor reasons

If your child is going to be absent, you must advise the College by one of the following methods: