Principal's Message

Dear Families, Students and Community Members,

Attendance Matters

EVERY DAY COUNTS - SECONDARY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE

Going to school every day is the single most important part of your teenager’s education.

Students learn new things at school every day – missing school puts them behind.

SCHOOL IS BETTER WHEN YOUR TEENAGER IS THERE

Why it’s important?

We all want our students to get a great education, and the building blocks for a great education begin with students coming to school each and every day.
Students develop good habits by going to school every day – habits that are necessary to succeed after school, whether in the workplace or in further study.
Missing school can have a big impact on students academically and socially. It can affect their test results, and, just as importantly, it can affect their relationships with other students, and lead to social isolation.
There is no safe number of days for missing school – each day a student misses puts them behind, and can affect their educational outcomes.
Each missed day is associated with falling behind in subject topics and assessment tasks.

The main reasons for absence are:

Sickness – There are always times when students need to miss school, such as when they’re ill. It’s vital that they’re only away on the days they are genuinely sick, and setting good sleep patterns, eating well and exercising regularly can make a big difference. Students shouldn't be kept home when parents or siblings aren't well.
Family holidays - It's vital that holidays are planned during school holidays where possible, and not during the term. If you are planning to go on holiday during term time, make sure that you talk to the school in advance.
“Day off” – Think twice before letting your child have a “day off” as they could fall behind their classmates – every day counts.

TOP ATTENDANCE TIPS FOR PARENTS

Schools want to work in partnership with parents – act early if you have any concerns by contacting the school and asking for advice and support
Remember that every day counts
There is no safe number of days for missing school – each day a student misses puts them behind, and can affect their educational outcomes and their social connectedness
Talk positively about school and the importance of attending every day
Open and prompt communication with the school about all absences is a good idea - ensure you update Compass if your child is absent.
Where possible avoid making routine medical and dental appointments during the school day or planning family holidays during the term

Reminder: Pupil Free Day - Friday June 7th

Please remember Friday of next week, June the 7th is a pupil free day. Students do not attend school on this day. It is set aside for moderation and report writing for staff.

College Council Ballot Outcome:

Following the close of the ballots and the tally of votes, the elected school council representatives are as follows.

Elected Parent Representatives:

Arun Elangovan (2-year appointment) June 2024 till March 2026
Mohamed Ashar (2-year appointment) June 2024 till March 2026
Khaled Elshomouny (2-year appointment) June 2024 till March 2026
Matthew Witbrodt (1-year appointment) June 2024 till March 2025
Ramneet Kaur (1-year appointment) June 2024 till March 2025

Elected Staff Representatives:

Angela Roberts (2-year appointment) June 2024 till March 2026
Justine Radford (1-year appointment) June 2024 till March 2025

Elected Student Representatives:

Prabhnoor Singh (7G) (2-year appointment) June 2024 till March 2026
Ruby Tran-Nguyen (1-year appointment) June 2024 till March 2025

Thank you to all nominees who expressed interest in our school council.

Kind Regards,

Mr. Simon Haber

College Principal

As a staff team we are committed to providing a diverse and inclusive school with our students and your children. We encourage you to partner with us as we build our high expectations for our school community as a whole. Your feedback is always welcome and I can be contacted on 03 8001 3333 or via email at Brinbeal.SC@education.vic.gov.au