PARENT/STUDENT Important Information

STUDENT ATTENDANCE | Every Day Counts

We all want our students to get a great education, and the building blocks for one begin with students coming to school each day. 

Students develop good habits by going to school every day – habits that are necessary to succeed after school, whether in the workplace or in further study.

Missing school can have a big impact on students academically and socially. It can affect their test results, including VCE & VCAL, and, just as importantly, it can affect their relationships with other students, and lead to social isolation.

There is no safe number of days for missing school – each day a student misses puts them behind, and can affect their educational outcomes.

We have a minimum attendance expectation of 90% attendance for all students. We will acknowledge and celebrate students with 100% attendance at the end of each term by providing those students with a certificate and free lunch. 

Schools are there to help – if you are having attendance issues with your child, speak to your school about ways to address those issues.

ABSENCE NOTIFICATION | Procedure

Notifying the school of your child's absence either prior to, or on the day they will be away, helps ensure the safety and wellbeing of children and will fulfil your legal responsibilities. 

If your child is sick or absent from school, you are required to notify the school as soon as possible on the day of absence (or prior) using one of the following methods: 

• Online (preferred option): Submit Absence Note via Compass. See this COMPASS GUIDE for instructions.  
• Email:  Send an email to attendance email address, attaching supporting documentation (if required):   
  • attendance@fhs.vic.edu.au  
• Telephone: Call the school on 9783 7955 and Press 1.  

Please note that you do not need to also call or email the school after loading your own approval, except in the case of the following circumstances: 

1.  Extended holiday (more than 3 days).
2.  You need to let us know that you child was in attendance after receiving a non-attendance email or text. 

Students Arriving To School Late/Leaving Early 

If a student is late to school or classes, they must sign in at the relevant Sub School Office with a parent/carer note (or attendance note entered prior on Compass).  

If a student is leaving school earlier than their last scheduled class (due to an unavoidable appointment), they are required to sign out at the Compass kiosk in the relevant Sub School Office with a parent/carer note (or attendance note entered prior on Compass by the parent/carer). 

CONTACT INFORMATION | Parent/Carer and Emergency

It is extremely important that your contact details are up to date and you have emergency contact information listed with the school.  This information should be updated as necessary.  It is particularly important that we have someone to call if parents/carers are unable to receive phone calls at work.

Only contacts listed as emergency contacts are permitted to collect students from school during the day. 

Please note that older siblings over 18 may be listed as emergency contacts. To update your details please email the General Office on office@fhs.vic.edu.au

SAFE ONLINE BEHAVIOUR | Acceptable Use of ICT Resources

With students regularly using their devices to complete school work, it is important to reinforce the importance of using technology in an acceptable manner. We expect our core values of respect and integrity to be reflected in every aspect of our students’ lives, including their use of ICT. As devices rely on the internet, restrictions to specific websites are determined by the internet connection that is being used. While at school, Frankston High School’s internet connection is filtered to limit students’ ability to access inappropriate content. 

When connecting at home, the device internet access will be in line with the family’s home internet connection. There are many options available for routers with parental controls, while it may also be worth contacting your Internet Service Provider (ISP) - most of these may already offer parental controls for your service.

SCHOOL UNIFORM | Expectations for ALL YEARS

Students must wear full school uniform each day.  The official uniform supplier for Frankston High School is PSW Uniforms. 

See FULL UNIFORM POLICY

• must wear a school shirt under school jumpers with the collar untucked from under the jumper
• No hoodies to be worn under any circumstances
• Jewellery is not to be worn apart from a watch (smart watches not acceptable) 
• No facial piercings 
• No unnatural hair color, wear heavy make-up, false eyelashes, nail polish or false nails
• plain flat, black polished, lace-up hard leather shoes

On the rare occasion a student is not in full school uniform, they will need a note signed by a parent/carer explaining a legitimate reason for being out of uniform, and a date confirming when the uniform issue will be resolved. This note needs to be signed by the relevant Year Level Leaders and a Uniform Pass will be issued. 

SCHOOL UNIFORM | Expectations for Years 9-12

SCHOOL UNIFORM | Expectations for Years 7-8

Years 7 and 8 students must wear full school uniform each day apart from Sport and PE days. (see below). New uniform consisting of white shirt/navy shorts, navy dress.

All Year 7 students are to be in Sport uniform for the entire day on a:

1. Monday for Sport Education and 
2. on their scheduled PE day (once a week as per timetable)

All Year 8 students are to be in Sport uniform for the entire day on a:

• Wednesday for Sport Education and 
• on their scheduled PE day (once a week as per timetable)

STRICTLY PROHIBITED | Vapes and Chewing Gum

Please note that these are strictly prohibited items and must not be brought into the school. Vapes are illegal for minors. Chewing gum in carpets has cost the school thousands of dollars for repairs. Any students caught with either of these items will face consequences which may include suspension.

MOBILE PHONE | Policy

Personal mobile phone use, in accordance with the Department’s Mobile Phones Policy issued by the Minister for Education, must not be used at Frankston High School while on school grounds until 3.15pm, including any time before school, lunchtime and recess and travelling between campuses.