Every Day Counts

I think most teachers, parents, and students in our community would recognise that attendance is important. As staff, we are very aware that regular attendance is one of the most significant factors in student success. Every day at school provides valuable opportunities for learning, building relationships, developing confidence, and participating in the life of our school community.

Research consistently shows that poor attendance can have significant impacts on a student's academic achievement, wellbeing, and future opportunities. Students who frequently miss school are more likely to experience declining academic performance, difficulties maintaining friendships, and reduced engagement with learning.

As teachers, we often see attendance challenges begin with small patterns, such as arriving late, leaving early, or having occasional absences. When these patterns are identified early and support is provided, schools and families can work together to help students remain connected to their learning and the broader school community. Research highlights that a strong sense of belonging, positive relationships with peers and staff, and strong family-school partnerships are key protective factors that support regular attendance.

Throughout 2026, we have placed a strong focus on raising awareness of the importance of attendance and increasing proactive intervention. This has included regularly keeping students and families informed about attendance levels and proactively reaching out to begin supportive conversations when concerns arise. In many cases, reasons for absence are known, and these conversations provide an opportunity for us to check in on students' successes and challenges at school. Our goal has always been to work in partnership with families, demonstrate care, and provide support where needed.

It has been really pleasing to see the outstanding commitment our community has shown towards school attendance this year. This has been reflected in several positive attendance trends, including:

• A 20% improvement in the number of students achieving 95% or higher attendance.
• A 9% reduction in the number of students absent for 10 or more days this year compared to the same time last year (12% reduction on 2024).

Both of these figures place our school above similar schools and state averages for these attendance measures.

These improvements reflect the collective effort of students, families, and staff working together to ensure students attend school regularly and remain engaged in their learning.

We would like to sincerely thank our students and families for recognising the importance of regular attendance and for your ongoing commitment to supporting learning every day. By continuing to work together, we can ensure every student has the best possible opportunity to achieve positive learning outcomes, strengthen their sense of belonging, and successfully complete each year of schooling.

Every day counts, and every day matters. Thank you for helping make attendance a priority.