Attendance & Engagement

📊 Attendance & Engagement – Week 10 Update

As we reach the end of Term 2, we would like to congratulate our students and families on the positive attendance and engagement demonstrated throughout the semester. Establishing strong attendance habits from the beginning of the year has helped students build consistent learning routines, strengthen friendships and continue making progress across all areas of the curriculum.

While we recognise that illness and unexpected circumstances can occasionally impact attendance, attending school every day possible remains one of the greatest contributors to student success. Every lesson, conversation and classroom experience helps students develop academically, socially and emotionally.

As we head into the term break, we encourage families to enjoy a well-earned rest and look ahead to a successful start to Term 3. If your child will not be returning at the beginning of the term due to family travel, please remember to notify the school as soon as possible. Looking further ahead, we also encourage families to plan any remaining holidays during the scheduled school holiday periods wherever possible. If travel during term time is unavoidable, please provide the school with at least two weeks' notice so that the appropriate Family Holiday Notification process and Student Absence Learning Plan can be organised.

📈 Attendance Snapshot – 2026 Year-to-Date

Below is a summary of attendance across each year level so far this year:

🌟 Celebrating Our Progress

It is wonderful to see that all Primary year levels are maintaining attendance above 91%, reflecting the strong partnership between our families and staff in supporting students to attend school regularly. These consistent attendance rates provide students with the best opportunity to engage in learning, participate in school events and develop positive relationships with their peers and teachers.

As a college, we will continue working closely with families to support attendance across all year levels, particularly in the secondary years where attendance can often become more challenging. By maintaining open communication and working together, we can ensure every student feels connected, supported and ready to learn.

Thank you to all of our families for your ongoing commitment to making attendance a priority throughout the first half of the year. We look forward to building on these positive habits as we commence Term 3.

Every Day Counts

The importance of regular school attendance.

At Saltwater College, we prioritise regular school attendance. We will work with families to ensure students are in class with their peers and teachers and enjoying all the benefits that brings.

Attending school every day means experiencing what counts – the learning, friendship, fun and opportunities that can shape your child’s future.

We understand that there are times when your child may need to miss school. To minimise disruption to their education, please consider scheduling family holidays or medical/dental appointments outside of school hours. If your child is well enough to attend but is worried about friendships, schoolwork or exams, please encourage them to come to school. Avoiding school can exacerbate these feelings and create a negative pattern of behaviour.

If your child is having difficulty attending school, please discuss this with their teacher or your child's Year Level Assistant Principal to explore support options.

We know that parents and caregivers can face daily challenges in getting their children to school. If your child needs to miss school, please notify us as soon as possible via the parent XUNO app, by calling us on 03 8366 7700, or by email at saltwater.p9.co@education.vic.gov.au, so we can work together to support them.

For more information about the importance of everyday attendance, see Attendance and Missing School.

Remember, Every Day Counts.

✈️ Family Holidays & Attendance Reminder

As we head into the term break, we wish all of our families a safe and enjoyable holiday. We know that many families take the opportunity to travel or spend time with loved ones during the break, and we hope everyone has the chance to rest and recharge before the start of Term 3.

If your family will not be returning to school at the beginning of Term 3, please remember to notify the school as soon as possible. Providing advance notice allows us to accurately manage attendance records, prepare for your child's return and ensure appropriate support is in place.

Looking ahead, we also encourage families to begin planning any holidays or travel for the remainder of the year. Wherever possible, holidays should be scheduled during the Victorian school holiday periods to minimise disruption to learning and help students maintain strong attendance, routines and connections with their classmates and teachers.

Family Holiday Notification Process

If a family holiday during the school term is unavoidable, families are asked to notify the school at least two weeks prior to the planned absence.

Notifications can be made by:

• Xuno via the Parent Portal
• Email: saltwater.p9@education.vic.gov.au
• Phone: (03) 8366 7700

Please include your child's name, year level and the dates of the planned absence.

Following notification, the classroom teacher will prepare a Student Absence Learning Plan outlining the learning that will occur during the absence and suggested activities to support your child's learning while away. A meeting may also be arranged to discuss the learning plan and answer any questions.

Holiday absences will be recorded in accordance with the College's Family Holiday Notification Policy as either:

• Family Holiday (Approved) – where the required notification process has been followed.

• Family Holiday (Unapproved) – where no prior notification has been received.

   

Thank you for continuing to support your child's learning by communicating with the school and planning ahead. Working together helps us maintain continuity of learning while ensuring accurate attendance records for every student.

We wish all of our families a relaxing and safe holiday break and look forward to welcoming everyone back for the beginning of Term 3.