Strengthening Punctuality and Class Attendance

At Castlemaine Secondary College, we are proud that many of our students have developed strong learning habits and are making the most of their time in class. However, we have noticed that a small number of students are regularly arriving late to lessons or avoiding class altogether. This can disrupt learning—not only for the individual student but for others as well.

To support all students in building positive habits and meeting our expectations around attendance, we will be introducing a new truancy process from Monday 28 April (Week 2, Term 2).

Attendance expectations

• Students are expected to be in their scheduled class when the bell sounds.
• If a student is late, they must have a note from a staff member or have signed in at Reception.

What’s Changing?

• If a student is found out of class without a valid reason (more than 5 minutes after the bell), a truancy entry will be logged in XUNO, and families will receive an automated SMS notification.
• The student will be required to attend a lunchtime detention the following school day.
• Repeated truancy may lead to increased consequences, such as placement in an alternate classroom setting, after-school detentions, and in more serious cases, suspension.

Out of Class Passes

We understand there may be times when students need to leave class briefly. In these cases, teachers will issue an Out of Class Pass. No student should be out of class without one.

This new process is part of our ongoing commitment to supporting high expectations, building strong routines, and ensuring we meet our Duty of Care for every student.

We appreciate your support as we work together to keep learning focused and safe for all.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact your child’s Mentor Teacher or Precinct Leader.

Warm regards,

CSC Leadership Team