Deputy Principal - Students

Many students have excellent attendance records. Some students struggle to come to school. For all students, there is no safe number of days for missing school.

Consider a student with an attendance record of 90%. This young person is actually missing one school day every fortnight; which adds up to missing around four school weeks each year. That’s going to have an impact. There are excused absences (absence with a reasonable explanation), unapproved or unexplained absences and planned absences. Whichever applies, the reality is that the young person is absent from school and missing out on learning and social opportunities.

Punctuality matters too - coming to school late creates an unsettled start to the day. Young people miss out on conversations with friends and peers and have to rush to get ready for class. Imagine starting work late on a regular basis – it’s an unsettling thought. School is a place of academic, spiritual and social learning. Young people develop a sense of belonging and connectedness at school: friendships are formed and forged, and social and emotional skills are honed.

Contact the Year Level Leader or College Counsellor if a pattern of school lateness, absence, avoidance or refusal is developing. Our young people need us to work together before it becomes overwhelming.

Every school day is an opportunity not to be missed and never to be repeated.