Attendance

Every Day Counts

The importance of regular school attendance.

At Wyndham Central College, we prioritise regular school attendance. Regular attendance results in greater academic and social emotional success. We will work with families to ensure students are in class with their peers and teachers and enjoying all the benefits that brings. 

Attending school every day means experiencing what counts – the learning, friendship, fun and opportunities that can shape your child’s future.

We understand that there are times when your child will need to miss school but to ensure minimal disruption to their education, please consider scheduling family holidays or medical/dental appointments outside of school time. 

If your child is well enough to attend but is worried about friendships, schoolwork or exams, please encourage them to come to school. Avoiding school can make these feelings worse and can create a negative pattern of behaviour. 

If your child is having difficulty attending school, talk to their teacher about getting support. 

We know that parents and carers can be juggling challenges daily to get your children to school. If your child must miss school, notify us as soon as possible via:

• Entering the absence on Compass

• Calling the College on 03 87448900 

• Emailing the College at attendance@wyndhamcentralsc.vic.gov.au

Remember, Every Day Counts.

Expectations

Students are expected to attend school 100% of the time, as per both the Government Education Act and the Community Services Act. Students with high attendance are more successful as they feel more confident with their learning and more connected to their peers and the school.

Late Students

The school gates are closed at 8.55 am to facilitate students arriving to class on time. Students must report to the administration area after 8:55 am, to obtain a late pass.  Consequences for lateness will apply.  Your child should have a note to explain a known lateness. 

Students leaving school early

If your child needs to leave school early for an appointment, parents/carers are required to send their child with a note in their planner advising the reason and time they need to leave. The student must take the note to the Attendance office (located in their sub school office) in the morning to receive an early leaver’s pass. This pass can then be shown to the teacher at the time they are leaving class and then to the front office to be signed out. Parents/carers are to collect their child from the administration office.

If your child is unwell or has been absent:

• enter this on Compass    or     contact the school (8744 8900)

• ensure that your child brings a note on their return, including their name, tutor class and reason within three school days to explain his/her absence

   

For further information please see the Attendance Policy on Compass or the Department of Education parent website.

Fact sheet for parents/carers from the Department of Education 

If your child is sick or absent, you are required to notify their school as soon as possible on the day of absence using one of the following methods:

1. Online: Log the absence directly using our school’s IT platform - Compass
2. Telephone: The school’s Attendance Officer, on 03 87448900 (Option 1 for attendance) and let her know your child’s name, class, date of absences and reason. 
3. Email: Your child’s tutor teacher, via Compass and provide the staff with your child’s name, class, date of absences and reason for absence.

Why do I need to notify the school if my child is absent?

Schools need to know when and why a child is absent and you need to know if your child isn’t at school. 

All Victorian government schools are required to contact parents/carers as soon as practicable on the same day of an unexplained student absence. If your child is absent on a particular day and you have not contacted the school to explain why, the absence will be marked as unexplained.

This system also promotes daily school attendance. Going to school every day is the single most important part of your child’s education, they learn new things every day – missing school puts them behind.

What is your responsibility?

Parents/carers are legally required to ensure your child attends school every day or you must provide an explanation for their absence. It is expected that you will let the school know in advance of any upcoming absences or let them know in the morning if your child won’t be at school. In order for schools to implement the same day notification requirement, it’s essential that you provide the school with your most up-to-date contact details.

Generally, one notification will be sent per family. Should there be circumstances that require both parents and carers to be notified, please contact the school to make the necessary arrangements. 

What is the school’s responsibility?

The school must notify you of an unexplained absence in relation to your child as soon as practicable on the same day. 

Schools will let you know either by your school’s online communications app, SMS, phone call or email. If you can’t be reached because the school does not have your correct contact details (i.e. changed phone number, SMS/email failure notification received etc.), the school will attempt to make contact with any emergency contact/s nominated on your child’s file held by the school. Where possible, this contact will be made on the same day of the unexplained absence.

Where can I learn more about the process for managing student absences? 

Ask the school for a copy of the Attendance Policy which outlines the school’s processes and procedures for monitoring, recording and following-up of student absences. 

This policy is located within the Policies & Handbooks folder (available using parent/carer login details):   

https://wyndhamcentralsc-vic.compass.education/Communicate/SchoolResources.aspx 

Students on Holiday Leave

If a student is going on holiday leave, a letter/email to the Principal from the parent/carer is required prior to the student’s leave.

A student absence learning plan will be emailed home to support the education of students who are absent from school for an extended period. It is an expectation that the student hands the completed work to their Year Level Leader upon their return to school.

Please contact the relevant Year Level Assistant Principal (Mr. Ashley Rowe Year 7, Ms. Megan Taylor Years 8 & 9 and Ms. Rebecca Sandlant Years 10, 11 & 12) at the College on 8744 8900 for further information if required.