School Policy Update

School policies play an important role in ensuring our school remains a safe, consistent and supportive environment for all members of our community. They provide clear guidelines for expectations, decision-making and day-to-day operations, and are a requirement set by the Victorian Department of Education. All policies are regularly reviewed and formally endorsed by School Council to ensure they remain current and relevant.

Attendance Policy 

Last week, Donvale Primary School's Attendance Policy was shared with School Council. As is regularly communicated, each child's regular attendance at school is vital in their continued social, emotional and academic improvement. 

Donvale Primary School's annual goals for attendance are:

• Increase in overall attendance from 90% (in 2025) to 92% in 2026 - currently 92%.
• Increase in number of students attending school 95% or more of the time from 29% (in 2025) to 35% in 2026 - currently 51%.
• Decrease in the number of students attending less than 95% of the time from 34% (in 2025) to 25% in 2026 - currently 22%.

The school puts in place a range of proactive measures to support student attendance including:

• Morning check-ins with students to support peer-peer and student-teacher connections.
• Lunchtime clubs, including the Library and Wellbeing Hub, open to students to attend for ways to connect and always have activities to look forward to.
• Schoolwide Positive Behaviour Supports are in place across the school where behaviour expectations are explicitly taught and re-taught. These expectations were co-created with staff and students and are aligned to our school values of Gratitude, Respect, Responsibility, Compassion and Resilience.
• Regularly updating the school community on current attendance data.
• Classroom Teachers and Specialists regularly reviewing current attendance data for individual students to track progress.
• All of this sits on top of our teaching practices and classroom management practices which encourage stimulating learning environments where students are challenged and support to do their best and are offered a rich and varied curriculum to build knowledge and ignite their passions.

Of course, situations arise where absence will be allowed and necessary.

The principal has the discretion to accept a reason given by a parent for a student’s absence. The principal will generally excuse:

• medical and dental appointments, where out of hours appointments are not possible or appropriate

• bereavement or attendance at the funeral of a relative or friend of the student, including a student required to attend Sorry Business

• school refusal, if a plan is in place with the parent to address causes and support the student’s return to school

• cultural observance if the parent/carer notifies the school in advance

• family holidays where the parent notifies the school in advance.

Families are encouraged to book family holidays during school holiday periods where possible. Should families seek leave of longer than five school days, a written request should be sent for approval to Mrs Rassias.

If your child is having difficulty attending school, please reach out first to your child's classroom teacher and then to Mr Robertson or Mrs Rassias. We can meet together to work on strategies to improve attitudes to school and build routines which support daily attendance.

All of our School Policies can be found on our website https://www.donvaleps.vic.edu.au