Attendance

As part of our recent College Review in 2024, a key area identified was to improve student attendance across all year levels. We have reviewed our current processes and made changes in order to be more effective in tracking, communicating responding and supporting student attendance. Our attendance officer will make an initial contact to check in if your child has an unexplained absence and this will be escalated to our sub school teams, if it is ongoing so we can support a return to school. Educational research tells us that attending school every day plays a pivotal role in your child’s education. It is key to continuous learning, acquiring new skills and fostering social and emotional growth.

If your child is going to be absent, please log it on Compass. Students are reminded that if they arrive at school late or need to leave early for an appointment this must be done through the general office. If you have concerns around your child’s attendance or require support, please contact the relevant coordinator or sub school team.

All Year 11 & 12 Students have all been informed about the College attendance policy and the attendance requirements for VCE/VM. The College VCE/VM Attendance Policy is fully supported by the VCAA and requires at least 90% attendance in each class to achieve an S for that unit. If students are absent due to medical reasons, especially when they have a SAC, they must provide a medical certificate to Senior Sub-School, so it will be documented as an approved absence.

College Uniform and Dress Code

We would like to acknowledge all the students and their families who are consistently wearing our college uniform with pride. It is great to see many students in correct uniform to start the new school year. A change for this year is that students are able to now make the choice of wearing either full PE/ sports, full sports academy, or full formal uniform on any day of their choice, unless otherwise advised.

It is recommended that all students have both a full sports and full formal uniform as there may be occasions when one or the other will be required.

Wearing a mixture of sports and formal uniform items at the same time is not permitted (for example dress shirt with sport shorts). Please note that black tracksuit pants, tights or shorts are not permitted.

Please ensure you check the Student Uniform and dress code policy for permitted uniform items which can be accessed via the College Website. https://www.dvallcoll.vic.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Final-DVC-Uniform-and-Dress-Code-Policy-October-2024-ac-edits.pdf

If for any reason your child is not able to be in uniform, please provide a note which needs to be handed to their homegroup teacher at the start of the day. Students who breach the college uniform policy on two occasions within the week and have not provided a note will receive sanctions as outlined in the college dress code policy. Any student who cannot wear part of the uniform for medical sons please refer the policy for exemption. If for any reason you are not able to supply uniform for your child, please contact the relevant Assistant Principal who can offer support. We will be actively addressing uniform in the first weeks of term. Please contact us if you have any problems accessing uniform.

Mobile Phone Policy expectations

A reminder, student who bring mobile phones to school MUST keep it switched OFF and locked in their locker between 8.30am - 3.00pm. Students leaving early on permitted days MUST NOT use their phones on school grounds. Air-pods and earphones are not to worn, used or accessed during school hours unless permission is permitted by their teacher for learning purposes or prior provisions have been approved.School staff are required under Ministerial Order to attend to breaches of this policy in which the college has a staged approach. All students have been briefed on this process during the 2025 return to school year level assemblies.

https://www.dvallcoll.vic.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/DVC-Mobile-Phone-Policy.pdf

Camps and Excursions

Last year we had number of families wanting to sign students out or make alternative arrangements for their child whilst on or returning from an excursion. This put undue pressure on our staff in charge of the excursion and our office staff. Whilst we acknowledge alternative arrangements sometimes need to be made, we also have to ensure we meet our duty of care obligations. For this reason College Council have endorsed amendments to the Camps and Excursion policy.

From now on any alternative arrangements other than the Excursion consent and event details will need to be prearranged with the teacher in Charge before the event.

For further information regarding any of these policies please refer to the college website, or alternatively contact the college.

https://www.dvallcoll.vic.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Camps-and-Excursions-Policy-template-July-2024.pdf

School Saving Bonus - Government schools

For government school students, the $400 School Saving Bonus will be provided directly to the school.

Families will receive an email from the department with their $400 School Saving Bonus information and access to an online system. Families can choose how to use and allocate the $400 bonus – on school activities, to purchase uniforms or textbooks, or a mixture of all three. *(Please see below)

If families choose to allocate funds to school activities, they will do so via the online system. Families will determine the amount to allocate, and the funds will then be available for the family to use at the school for activities.

The parent/carer can advise the school of their intention to use the School Saving Bonus when giving permission for their child to attend or participate in an activity.

Some common examples of school activities for which the School Saving Bonus may be used include:

school camps, trips, excursions and incursions
swimming and sporting programs
outdoor education programs
graduations
school uniforms
textbooks.

The School Saving Bonus cannot be used towards:

activities required for the school’s delivery of the curriculum
before/after school care
locker hire
classroom and homework materials including stationery
formals or debutante balls.
BYO Devices (Laptops etc)

Alternatively, the parent/carer can purchase uniforms and/or textbooks via an in-store or online purchase, with an approved supplier.

The bonus cannot be used for purchases at general retailers (for example, Kmart, Big W, Best&Less) or to support transactions between individuals.

Online access to the School Saving Bonus will expire on 30 June 2025. Any balance remaining at this time will automatically transfer to family accounts at the school for families to use toward school activities.

Funds will rollover for use in future years if not all spent in 2025.

Families who have more than one child at the same school can combine their School Saving Bonus to use on one child or for a specific activity (for example, a camp). The School Saving Bonus cannot be combined across different schools and cannot be transferred between government and non-government schools.

Unused money from the School Saving Bonus will follow students transferring between government schools. Where a student leaves the government school system any unused money can be transferred to a sibling at the same school. If there is no sibling, the funds can be retained by the school to support other students with educational costs.

*Please note: vouchers will be available in ‘bundles’ of $50 only. Please think carefully before nominating vouchers as that amount will be ‘locked’ to that supplier until July 2025. (we will send you clear examples of this as soon as they have been made available)

School Bus Information

Term 1 Bus Fares are now due. These payments can be made by calling the general office or by direct credit. Bank Details are:

Diamond Valley College

BSB: 063 594

Acc: 1010 4663

Please remember there are waitlists for some of our buses and families will be notified as soon as a spot becomes available. If your student, no longer requires their spot on the bus please advise us as soon as possible so we can offer it to students on the waiting lists.

A placement on the Diamond Valley College bus network is subject to the strict adherence to the College Code of Conduct and to the Bus Travel Behaviour and Consequences agreement. School bus travel is a privilege and not a right and consequences will follow a breach of these conditions. Parents of students whose child is suspended from the bus will need to make alternative travel arrangements.

It is important that your student only travels on their designated bus.

If your student requires a different bus home from their allocated bus. Permission has to be sought from their parents/guardians by recess of the day of travel. Please call the general office to organise. No bus passes can be organised at the end of the day.

Marly Lucas

Bus Co-Ordinator

Important Dates

Dates to Remember:

February:

March: