Assistant Principal - Mission & Wellbeing

Attendance 

Below is a set of procedures aligned with the student Non-Attendance Standard Operating Procedures from the CSO that we are working towards to support families and promote regular attendance of students. Early next term we will be contacting parents and issuing letters where there are significant attendance issues. 

An Attendance Concern means the following: 

1. Less than 95% attendance or; 
2. 3 consecutive days of unapproved leave; or
3. Any 5 days of unapproved leave or any other pattern observed (such as regular Mondays and Fridays away or habitual partial non-attendance).

The ongoing monitoring of attendance data is the responsibility of the College Wellbeing team and we are currently undertaking the following: 

Attendance Concern <95%

• Home Room teachers will have a discussion with the students in their Pastoral Care lesson to discuss concerns and provide strategies and support to improve attendance
• A session will be provided in Pastoral Care on the importance of attendance and attendance requirements 

Emerging Absenteeism <90% 

• A letter may be sent out to families detailing the attendance concern. Parents are encouraged to discuss this with their Year Coordinator.  

Chronic Absenteeism <80%

• Our Year Coordinators may phone home and discuss reasons for absenteeism and offer support for improvement with the families. 
• A letter will be sent out to outline the attendance concern. 

Complex Absenteeism <70%

• Our Pastoral Care Coordinator(PCC) or I will phone home and discuss reasons for absenteeism and invite parents to the College for a meeting with PCC and myself. At the meeting, we will discuss concerns, and create an Attendance Improvement Plan which provides strategies for improvement.

Our aim is to work with families and support families where there is a need to improve attendance. While families are legally responsible for the regular attendance of their children, school staff, as part of their duty of care, record and monitor part and whole day absences. The school has legal obligations to follow up with the family when non-attendance becomes a concern.

We do realise Semester One this year has been very disruptive and that the data does not tell the whole story. The data takes into consideration both full and partial absences and on careful analysis of the data sometimes there are valid reasons for absences and this has been verified by contact with the families. We encourage families to have regular contact with the Year Coordinators to discuss absences and thank those parents who already do this. 

Uniform Reminders 

As we near the end of term and prepare for Term 3, a couple of uniform reminders to consider:

Winter Options: We have been asked by parents and the student leadership team to consider providing some winter options for the students.  As you know we are in the process of making uniform changes. So in the interim period - for terms 2 & 3 - we have made the following options available, considering that additional changes are coming and wanting to reduce costs to parents:

• all students can wear the College tracksuit pants (and jacket) on sports day and when they have PE practical lessons.
• Boys can wear long grey dress pants
• Girls can also wear maroon dress pants.
• Girls can wear maroon, black or beige stockings

Jumpers - The only jumpers to be worn include, a Maroon “Gotcha’ with a monogram, Para Sport Jacket or Maroon Woollen College-Style Jumper. Remember to label all uniform items with the student's name. Many are left behind in the afternoon and are placed in the lost property bin for collection. 

Jewellery - Jewellery should be modest and kept to a minimum. Students may wear a wristwatch, a single neck chain, one simple ring and one bangle. Students may wear a maximum of two sleepers or studs in each ear. These are to be small, plain earrings. 

Neckbands, as well as wrist and ankle chains and ankle bands and leather jewellery, are not permitted. 

Excess jewellery will be confiscated by staff and returned at the discretion of the Assistant Principals or Pastoral Care Coordinator. All care will be taken, but no responsibility accepted. 

Nose Piercings - Visible facial piercings are not permitted. If your child has their nose pierced, they must wear a clear spacer during school time. 

Hair - Hair should be well-groomed and tidy - Long hair over the collar MUST be tied back. Ribbons and other hair ties are to be in school colours. Extremes of hairstyle, including extremes of colours, are not permitted. During the holidays is a perfect time to tidy the hair and get ready for the next term. 

These guidelines are in the Student Planner and students are encouraged to refer to this when unsure regarding uniform guidelines and the wearing of the Sports uniform.