Gisborne Secondary College Newsletter

Attendance Information at GSC

Overview

Daily attendance is important for all children to succeed in education and to ensure they do not fall behind both socially and developmentally. School participation maximises life opportunities for children by providing them with education and support networks. School helps people to develop important skills, knowledge and values that set them up for further learning and participation in their community.

 

Recording Attendance at GSC

Gisborne Secondary College must record attendance in every class. This is necessary to:

  • Meet legislative requirements
  • Discharge Gisborne Secondary College’s duty of care for all students
  • Meet VCAA requirements for VCE students

Attendance will be recorded by the classroom teacher at the start of every period. If the student is at another school event e.g., sporting day or an excursion, an event will be created, and a roll will be marked over the students’ normal classes by the teacher in charge of that event.

 

Recording absences for Families

Parents/Guardians are expected to notify GSC of their child’s non-attendance at their earliest convenience on the day of their child’s absence.

 

Three ways a parent/Guardians can notify of a student’s absence are:

  1. Log Absence via the Compass App
  2. Email GSC at absences@gisbornesc.vic.edu.au
  3. Leave a message on the college absence line ph: 5428 3691

Notifications Sent By GSC

If a student has been marked as absent and GSC has not been given an explanation by a parent/guardian, the following communication will be sent by the school:

  • Automatic notification via Compass sent for students who have been marked absent without an explanation for Mentor, Period 1 or Period 2 at 11.15am
  • Automatic notification via Compass sent for students who have missed 1 or more periods throughout the day at 3.30pm.

If the student’s absence remains unexplained by the following Monday:

  • A ‘Not present/Late: Unexplained’ parent letter will be sent via Compass/email 

If a student is absent for 3 or more consecutive days:

  • A ‘3 Day absent letter’ will be sent Via Compass/email

If a student is absent for 5 or more consecutive days: 

  • A ‘5 Day absent letter’ will be sent Via Compass/email

Any absences that continue to remain unexplained by a parent or guardian after these forms of communication are sent, will be escalated to the year level leader who will be in direct contact with the family.

 

Signing In and Out

Students are required to Sign in and out of GSC if they arrive late to school or are leaving early for any reason.

 

Signing in process:

ALL STUDENTS that arrive to school after 8:55am must go directly to their sub school office (Year 7-9 Sub School Office is located in B Block and Year 10- 12 Sub School Office is located in I Block) and get a late pass. It is advised that students have a note from their parent/guardian as to why they are late. If this is not possible, a parent/guardian use their Compass App and add an absent note for this lateness. 

 

Signing Out Process:

ALL STUDENTS that need to leave before 3:16pm need to be signed out at the main reception area by a parent/guardian or a person on their emergency contact list.

If the student cannot be collected in person, a written note needs to be given to the school for the student to be allowed to sign themselves out.

 

This written note can be:

  • sent via email to gisborne.sc@education.vic.gov.au
  • recorded as a student absence on the Compass app for the time they need to leave or 
  • a physical handwritten note that the student can show their teacher to leave class and sign out at reception.

It is important that all families now have a Compass account for their child/ren, so that correspondence can be received from GSC. If you do not, please download the app and follow the instructions. If you need assistance, please call reception on 5428 3691.

 

If there are any concerns regarding the attendance of your child, you can email the Attendance Officer on absences@gisbornesc.vic.edu.au or call on 5428 3691.

 

Thankyou for your patience in reading this document.

 

Regards,

Attendance Officer