Attendance

Good Attendance starts with punctuality.

School commences at 8:55 am with roll call/CREW every day.

Did you know that every minute late, and a day here and there away from school, all adds up? Check out the posters below to see just how much!

Being on time makes sure that students do not miss out on important learning activities scheduled early in the day, including building strong relationships with their Crew teachers. 

Being on time also helps students learn the importance of punctuality and routine. We know this is an important like skills and will set up our students for future success. Being at school also helps us build our community as it gives students time to greet their friends before class.

We all know that it reduces classroom disruption, helping us have a calm environment.

Did you know that  lateness is recorded as a partial absence and must be explained by parents? We ask that this comes to us in writing.

Where an explanation has not been received within the 7-day time frame, the school will record the absence as unjustified on the student's record.

For more information regarding school attendance see the Department of Education’s website: https://education.nsw.gov.au/student-wellbeing/attendance-behaviour-and-engagement/school-attendance

Why Does Attendance Matter? 

Australian research shows that attendance matters for achievement. The more a child misses school, the worse things get for academic performance. Regular attendance not only improves academic results, but enables students to develop a sense of belonging to a peer group and assists in building important coping and friendship skills.

 Confident students are less likely to engage in anti-social behaviour. 

Regular attendance relieves stress and makes school easier. 

We have a great deal of support here at Armidale Seconday College to help students in the form of a School Counsellor, Year Advisors, the Welfare Team, Learning and Support Teachers, Careers Advisor etc. if you feel like you need support, please come and speak to us. We take care to work with parents/carers of students whose attendance is causing concern. 

Please explain all absences with seven days. This can be done by responding to SMS, by phone, note or in person. Under the Education Act 1990, all absences must be explained within seven days, it will be recorded as an unjustified absence and this will appear on your child’s report. If you are not receiving a SMS when your child is away could you, please notify the school and update your details. 

Absences add up quickly!

So 1 Day A Week away adds up

Absences can add up really quickly and can affect your child’s academic, social and emotional progress. School attendance is the LAW – every day counts and can make a difference. Be at School! 

I would like to encourage all our families  to make use of our homework centre  that runs on Tuesday afternoon from 3.30 pm to 4.30pm in the school library. Staff are available to help everyone with homework and assessment tasks and it is FREE.