The college attendance team applauds our school community and specifically parents/carers as we THANK YOU for REPORTING ABSENCES promptly. We have reached a new Compass Attendance milestone this year with more absences explained than ever before. See Graph 1 – Total explained absent periods 2021 vs 2022; this is an increase of 73,692 explained absent periods or, as a percentage an increase of 115.8%. Looking at our parent/carer login statistics approximately 50% of our families are regularly logging into Compass and engaging in your child’s/children’s educational journey and school community news and notifications.

If you require Compass access or help to access Compass please call 9308 1144 for support or visit the Compass website for the Parent / Carer Guide and Attendance Guide

Graph 1 - Total Explained Absent Periods compared to 2021 - 73,692 absent periods explained in 2022

We encourage all parents/carers to contact the college to promptly explain absences so as you are meeting your requirements under the Education and Training Reform Act 2006, and more importantly, so we can best support your family and your child/ren during times of absence.

We commend all students and families in helping to achieve a steady average overall school attendance rate during these difficult and challenging times, this means students in class and learning. See Graph 2 - Average % Rate 2022; a 1.9% increase compared to 2021.

Graph 2 - Average % Rate 2022; a 1.9% increase compared to 2021.

How the college communicates Explained/Unexplained Absences

Explained Approved Absences - these are absences where the explanation is reasonable and recorded with an approved code ie: medical/illness (40.5% of absences year to date)
Explained Unapproved Absences - these are absences where the college has determined the explanation is not reasonable and recorded with an unapproved absence code ie: truancy (3.12% of absences year to date); parent choice unauthorised (18.6% of absences year to date)
Amended Explained Absence - attendance record/s have been updated to an approved reason when a medical certificate/specialist letter or Principal Approval is received ie: medical/illness DET/VCE compliant
Unexplained Absences - these are absences where no reasons have been provided and generate the weekly unexplained absence emails requesting an explanation for absences (8.5% of absences year to date)

Please contact the college ASAP if any of your contact details change, especially your email and mobile number as college communications are generated via Compass and News Feed Notifications.

Overall School Attendance Rate.

Regardless of the type of absence, when a student’s attendance rate reaches less than 90%, the student’s attendance of concern and therefore may be at risk of:

Not meeting the learning and social and emotional outcomes.
Not meeting the college Attendance Policy under the Education and Training Reform Act 2006.
Not complying with the Department of Education attendance guidelines and legal requirements.

At less than 90% attendance rate the college will implement from a range of strategies to support your child's attendance and learning by:

Meet with your child to understand what is going on for them at school.
Email teachers for work to be complete and provide support.
Consider completing a student attendance and engagement profile and surveys.
Consider a student extended absence learning plan/support plans.
Holding a student support group meeting with parents /carers.
Refer your child to internal and external support programs.

The college attendance team is doing its best to keep attendance records as accurate and as up-to-date as possible and tracks your child’s/children’s attendance daily. We encourage all our families to check your child/children's Compass Attendance records regularly. Family holiday leave equates to 8.6% of explained absences in 2022 and must be school pre-approved, so as continued learning and extended absence planning is supported. Attendance Tier Rate chronicle emails and Unexplained Absence staged response chronicle emails are generated termly and unexplained absence emails are automatically generated weekly based on teacher roll marking, whereby we ask parents/carers please Login to Compass - Go to the Attendance links and Enter an Attendance Note to explain any unexplained absences; late records do not require explanation unless unexplained period/s relates to late to school.

Follow one of the options to explain absences and/or request attendance & engagement support.

Login to the Compass APP or parent portal at https://craigieburnsc-vic.compass.education/ (enter reason, time-frame/comment reason for the absence) or follow Attendance Note Required hyperlinks
Email: attendance@craigieburnsc.vic.edu.au (subject line: Student Name / Year Level)
Phone: 9308 1144 and follow the prompts to leave a voice message
If possible, email or provide Medical/Dental/Specialist Certificates on return to school

Schools’ Guide to Attendance – We all have a role to play!

The key elements of a whole-school and community approach to attendance are as follows:

1. Attendance is a shared priority, with documented processes and clear roles and responsibilities for all staff

2. Absences are accurately recorded, and data is regularly monitored to identify students requiring additional support

3. Clear escalation processes are in place, and additional support is provided for students who need it

4. All students feel welcome, included and engaged at school

5. Strong relationships.

Element 1: Attendance is a shared priority, with documented processes and clear roles and responsibilities for all staff and wider community

Why is this important?

• Regular attendance is essential to support every child’s learning and wellbeing. Absences from school may pose a potential risk to a child’s safety.

• An effective whole school approach to improving attendance requires commitment from every member of the school community.

• School leadership with parent/carer support is essential to setting high expectations for attendance.

• All staff have important roles and responsibilities in creating an engaging and inclusive environment and supporting students to attend school every day.

• Research shows that school communities that focus on continuous improvement within a tiered system of support experience the most significant improvement in student attendance.

Source: DET (Oct 2022). School’s Guide to Attendance Guide

For more information about attendance and missing school visit the Victorian Government education portal - school attendance and the college Attendance Matters and updated 2022 Attendance Policy.

If you have any questions about the attendance, please contact your child’s sub-school for engagement and learning supports via the Compass Portal email or by email at attendance@craigieburnsc.vic.edu.au or phone 9308 1144.

Every Day Counts – Every Day Learning - We thank you for your continued support in your child/children achieving an attendance rate of 90% or above. We are here to support you and your child/children with all Attendance Matters!

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