Principal's Message

‘Missing school is missing out!’

Dear parents and carers,

We recognise that regular attendance plays a crucial role in our students’ academic success and overall well-being. This page aims to highlight the significance of attendance and the impact that missing school can have on children’s education. Our goal is for children to achieve excellent attendance and to be in school before 8.50am every single day.

Risk Categorisation	Attendance %	Impacts per fortnight	Impacts per year	Impacts over 6 years
No Risk	95% +	Up to ½ day absent per f/n	Up to 10 days (2 weeks) of school missed	Up to 12 weeks (3 months) of school missed
Potential Risk	90-95%	Up to 1 day absent per f/n	10-20 days (2-4 weeks) of school missed	12-24 weeks (3-6 months) of school missed
At Risk	80-89%	Up to 2 days absent per f/n	20-40 days (4-8 weeks) of school missed	24-48 weeks (½ - 1 school year) missed
High Risk	70-79%	Up to 3 days absent per f/n	40-60 days (8-12 weeks) of school missed	48-70 weeks (1-1 school year & 3 terms) missed
Critical Risk	Below 70%	More than 3 days absent per f/n	More than a term of school missed	More than 1 school year and 3 terms missed

Why Attendance Matters

Regular school attendance is essential for students to fully engage in their learning and make academic progress. Here are some key reasons why attendance matters:

Academic Success: Attending school regularly allows students to benefit from consistent instruction, participate in classroom discussions, and complete assignments on time. This contributes to better academic performance and helps students achieve their educational goals.
Building Relationships: School attendance provides opportunities for students to build meaningful relationships with their peers and teachers. These connections enhance the learning experience and contribute to a positive school environment.
Developing Essential Skills: Consistent attendance helps students develop important life skills such as time management, responsibility, and resilience. These skills are crucial for success both in school and in future endeavours.
Preventing Learning Gaps: Missing school, even for short periods, can lead to gaps in learning that may be difficult to overcome. Regular attendance ensures that students receive continuous instruction and stay on track with their learning objectives.

It is essential for children to attend as much school as possible if they are to get the most from their education and achieve their full potential. Being absent or late to school means a lost learning opportunity for your child.

The Impact of Missing School

While the importance of good attendance is clear, it’s also essential to understand the negative consequences of missing school:

Academic Challenges: Students who are frequently absent often struggle to keep up with their classmates academically. They may miss important lessons, fall behind in their learning, and experience difficulty mastering essential concepts.
Decreased Engagement: Chronic absenteeism can lead to disengagement from school and a lack of motivation to participate in learning activities. This can result in decreased academic performance and lower levels of achievement.
Social and Emotional Impact: Missing school can also have social and emotional consequences for students. They may feel isolated from their peers, experience increased stress or anxiety about falling behind, and miss out on valuable opportunities for personal growth and development.
Long-Term Outcomes: Research has shown that students who are chronically absent are more likely to have lower graduation rates, decreased earning potential, and higher rates of involvement in negative behaviours such as substance abuse.

We are committed to promoting good attendance and providing support to ensure that all students can attend school regularly. We encourage all families to join us in prioritising attendance and recognising its importance in shaping the future success of our students. Our goal is literate and numerate students for a HOPE filled future!