ATTENDANCE AT SCHOOL
School Attendance
A fresh start for 2026.
At Lucas Primary School, we prioritise regular school attendance. 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.
Did you know that missing 1 day per fortnight adds up to missing four weeks of school a year!
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, please talk to their teacher or to our Mental Health and Wellbeing leader Sharon Cartledge 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 our Compass App, a phone call to the school office on 53385000 or email the school on lucas.ps@education.vic.gov.au so we can work together to support them.
For more information about the importance of everyday attendance, see
Attendance and missing school | vic.gov.au
Late arrivals and early departures
We look forward to seeing our students arriving at school every day and we understand that sometimes mornings can be challenging. Not every morning goes according to plan, and this can mean students can be late to school. However, students are expected to be at school on time each day to ensure that they have a positive start to the day and do not miss any important learning.
Please note the following:
Students start school at 8:50am each day and are expected to be in their classroom to participate in the Welcome Circle.
If your child arrives any time after 9am they must come to the school office on arrival to be signed in. Students will receive a “Welcome to School” pass from the office staff that students will then give to their teacher.
Upon late arrival or early departure, parents and carers will be required to sign their child in or out on our Compass Kiosk at the front desk of the office. When doing so they will be asked to submit a reason for their child’s late arrival or early departure.
Some reasons that are not approved by the Department of Education for late arrivals or early departures are:
- to avoid parking issues or school traffic
- to go shopping
- to attend hair appointment or similar
- visiting friends
- swimming lessons or other sports lessons not affiliated with school
Please do not hesitate to contact the school if you have any questions regarding school attendance.