SCHOOL LEADERSHIP MESSAGE

PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE

The Importance of Attendance at Korumburra Secondary College

At Korumburra Secondary College, we know that regular attendance is one of the strongest predictors of student success. Every day at school provides valuable opportunities for learning, building friendships, developing confidence, and feeling connected to our community.

From the school’s side, we are working together to make learning more engaging across the whole school. We are also giving students more chances to share what helps them come to school and their ideas on how we can keep improving.

Over the past few weeks, we’ve had a range of exciting events designed to help students have fun and feel connected to their peers and the wider school community.

Our recent House Swimming Sports was a fantastic whole-school event where students could get involved, show house spirit and enjoy the day together.

Our Year 7 students also return from camp today, having built stronger friendships with both staff and classmates, and grown in confidence as they tackled new challenges together.

Our 2026 Attendance Goal

Our goal for 2026 is to reduce unexplained absences from 21% to under 10%. To support this, we are improving how we follow up with families, including sending more personalised text messages when absences haven’t been explained. We encourage families to get into the routine of letting the College know the reason for any absence, either by calling the school or updating it in Compass.

We are also aiming to lift our overall attendance rate from 81% to 84% in 2026. While this is still below the Department’s target of 95%, we are focusing on small, realistic improvements that we can work towards together.

Even small increases in attendance can have a big positive impact on students’ learning and wellbeing.

Our attendance rate so far this year is at 91% which is a great start to the year. 

Why Every Day Counts

Academic Success

Regular attendance supports consistent progress in literacy, numeracy, and subject-specific learning. Missing lessons can create gaps that are difficult to bridge.

Wellbeing & Belonging

Being at school each day helps students maintain friendships, build routines, and stay connected. Frequent absences can impact confidence and engagement.

Future Pathways

Strong attendance habits in secondary school support success in senior years, post-school pathways, employment, and further study.

Understanding Attendance Categories

• 95–100% – Effective Attendance Students are well positioned for academic and social success.

• 85–94% – Needs Monitoring

  Students may begin to experience learning or wellbeing impacts.

• Below 85% – At Risk 

  Students are at significant risk of falling behind academically and socially.

What We’re Doing at KSC

We will continue to use Compass SMS notifications to alert families if a student is marked absent at the beginning of the day. This supports our shared Duty of Care to ensure every student is safe and accounted for. We are now also sending a more personal text message that parents can reply to.

We have dedicated staff who monitor attendance and follow up where needed. If you ever believe an absence notification has been sent in error, please contact the College so we can resolve it promptly.

How Families Can Help

• Aim for 95%+ attendance wherever possible.

• Prioritise punctuality — arriving on time sets students up for success.

• Schedule appointments and holidays outside of school hours where possible.

• Notify the College of absences promptly via Compass or by contacting the office.

• Reach out if attendance is becoming a challenge — we are here to work in partnership with you.

• If you are planning a family holiday during school time please contact the Principal to seek approval. The only way we can code a student as Family Holiday is if parents have discussed this with the Principal first. 

Working Together

We understand that some absences are unavoidable and that family experiences and special opportunities are valuable. If extended leave is being considered, please discuss this with the Principal.

At Korumburra Secondary College, we are committed to working alongside families to ensure every student feels supported, connected, and successful.

Every day at school matters.

If you have any questions about attendance or would like support, please contact the College office.