PRINCIPAL'S REPORT

At Echuca East Primary School, we know that going to school every day is one of the most important parts of your child’s education. Students learn new things every single day – missing even one day can put them behind.

In Victoria, school is compulsory for children and young people aged 6-17 years. Schools are required to record and monitor attendance and absences.

Please ensure all student absences are reported to the school. 

You can do this by:

• Logging into SENTRAL and adding an attendance note 
• Calling the school on 5482 2588
• Emailing echuca.east.ps@education.vic.gov.au

Why it’s important

• Every day of learning builds on the last – regular attendance sets students up for success both now and in the future.
• Missing school regularly means missing the building blocks of learning in reading, writing and numeracy.
• There’s no “safe” number of days to miss – every day counts, and every minute matters.
• Even small amounts of missed time add up to a significant loss of learning over the years.

Common reasons for absence

Sickness – Sometimes children need to stay home when unwell. Please ensure absences are only for genuine illness and follow current health guidelines. Healthy routines (good sleep, eating well, regular exercise) can reduce sick days.

Family holidays – Where possible, please plan family holidays during school breaks. If holidays during term time are unavoidable, contact the school in advance to seek principal approval and so we can help provide some learning while your child is away. 

“Day off” – Think twice before keeping your child home without a genuine reason. Even one day can make a difference.

Truancy – This is when a student misses school without parental permission. If this happens, we’ll work with families to address the reasons and get students re-engaged.

School refusal – This is when a child experiences significant emotional distress about attending school. If this is a concern for your child, please contact us early so we can work together on a plan of support.

Arriving on time

Our learning day begins promptly at 8:45.  Arriving even a few minutes late can cause an unsettled start for your child and disrupt the class. Over time, these minutes add up to a large amount of missed learning.

Top Attendance Tips for Parents

• Act early – contact the school if you have any concerns about your child’s attendance.
• Talk positively about school and the importance of attending every day.
• Avoid scheduling routine appointments during school hours.
• Let us know promptly about all absences via SENTRAL, phone or email.
• Work with us – we’re here to support both learning and wellbeing.

Thank you for supporting us in making sure every Echuca East student is here on time, every day, ready to learn.