Principal's Report

Dear Parents, Carers and Community Members,

School Attendance

Attendance

All student attendance is recorded in Compass and within our data ecosystem, providing a clear visual overview of attendance patterns across the term and year. Armidale Catholic Schools attendance officers also have access to this information. Students are categorised by attendance levels, which reflect their access to learning opportunities and their connection to school.

Regular attendance is essential for students to reach their potential. While parents hold the legal responsibility for ensuring attendance, St Joseph’s works in partnership with families to ensure that attendance levels are maintained. 

The diagram below highlights how even occasional absences can accumulate over time and place a child’s learning at risk.

Absences

New families and existing families are reminded that if your child is not going to be at school, you need to lodge an absence for your child in your parent Compass App (you may email or call the school also). If we do not have a note in Compass by 10am, an automated reminder is sent from our attendance system to remind you that your child is not at school and their absence has not been explained.

We also remind you that if you do not explain an absence within 7 days, we are unable to explain the absence in our system and it will appear on your child's report as unexplained. This is a state policy rule that our school is unable to change.

May God bless you and your family.

Casey Chard

Principal