Admin Corner

Welcome back to another edition of the Admin Corner!

In this addition, we would like to remind everyone of the importance of entering student absences through the Compass portal.

It is a requirement of the Department of Education that all students up to the age of seventeen attend school and if a child is absent that the absence is explained. 

It is important when students are going away on holidays or are not feeling well enough to attend school, an attendance note (absence) is recorded on Compass. This allows us to meet the Department’s requirement and assists class teachers, the principal, and office staff in planning for the day. It also provides Mr. Catalano or one of the Assistant Principals, with the opportunity to contact families who may need support. 

If an absence is not recorded by 10am, an automatic email message will be sent from Compass to parents advising them their child is absent from school, without an explanation. This is why it is important to add the absence note first thing in the morning or the night before. If your child arrives late to school they must come to the office for a late slip, their arrival is recorded in COMPASS and this prevents the 10am email. The late slip also indicates to the classroom teacher that the child has entered the office, and the late arrival has been entered in Compass. 

The office staff check absences daily and follow through on those unexplained.

You may have received a phone call from Jacinta or me asking for an attendance note to be added to explain your child’s absence. 

If absences are not entered, a fortnightly letter will be distributed listing the dates of the absences that do not have explanations. Returning these to the office ASAP helps keep the attendances records up to date.

We highly encourage parents to log onto Compass and add their own attendance note. I have attached a link which includes step by step instructions on how to do so: 

https://www.glenps.vic.edu.au/page/142/COMPASS

This guide is also available on our school website www.glenps.vic.edu.au under the section Parents and Topics COMPASS.

If families are planning holidays for an extended  period of time, such as greater than 3 days, we require evidence in writing in the form of an email sent to the class teacher, the school office (glen.waverley.ps@education.vic.gov.au) and principal (frank.catalano@education.vic.gov.au) advising of the dates the student will begin the absence and the date they will return back to school.

The office staff are always happy to help with attendance issues, or any questions you may have. Please drop past at any time and say hello.

Thank You – Daria McCulloch