Deputy Principal's Report

Attendance

For students to learn most effectively and achieve their potential in Year 11 and 12 they need to attend classes. Attendance is monitored at each lesson to ensure that students meet the minimum attendance as required by the College and the VCAA. As outlined in the College Attendance, Achievement and Promotion Policy, students must not have more than FOUR classes of Unapproved Absence per semester in any subject. Students who exceed this limit will receive an N (Not Satisfactory) result in that unit or units of study. A warning letter will be sent home once a student has missed two classes.

For an absence to be approved due to illness a Medical Certificate should be provided. However, a Statutory Declaration made by parents will also be accepted for an absence on a single day if it is made on the day of the absence and provided to the College within three days of the absence occurring. A range of school approved activities will also be automatically approved absences, including camps and excursions. Meetings with a College Counselor will also be approved. If a student is experiencing difficulty at home, this should be communicated to the relevant Cluster Coordinator who may also approve certain absences, including bereavement leave.

It should be noted that VCE, VET and VCAL students are also required to actually be in attendance for a minimum of 70% of classes within a semester to eligible to receive an S result for that unit. This means that student’s absences, even approved absences, must not exceed 30% for a student to remain eligible to pass the unit.

Parents are advised to delay any extended holidays or travel during the final years of secondary education. If the absence is significant students may need to consider deferring their study, extending their VCE over three years, or enrolling in Distance Education. If an extended absence/ holiday is being considered parents are required to notify the College Principal in writing. In order for both VCE and VCAL students to be promoted to the next year level, the student must receive a Satisfactory (S) overall result in at least 75% of VCE, VCAL or VET units undertaken in a calendar year. Students who do not achieve this may risk their ability to graduate or be promoted to Year 12.

The full policy is available on the College website under the Current Students tab – student policies. These expectations exist to enable students to achieve to their full potential within their studies. Parents are encouraged to contact the College if they require clarification about this policy and the accompanying procedures.

Student Absences

An absence from any class is considered to be an “unapproved absence”, except for the following circumstances that will allow for an “approved absence”:

A medical certificate that complies with the guidelines of the Australian Medical Association regarding the period of illness accompanied by a note or phone call from a parent/guardian is provided;
A statutory declaration made by parents/guardians is provided. This may be used only to approve an absence due to illness for a single day and only if it is provided to the College on the school day following the absence. A statutory declaration will not be accepted to approve absences for classes where a School Assessed Coursework task (SAC) is scheduled. Only statutory declarations filled in and sworn by PARENTS will be accepted by the College. Statutory declarations filled in by students will NOT BE accepted.
Any Medical Certificates found to be fraudulent will result in the student and their parent/guardian being required to meet with the Principal to discuss their future enrolment.

To report a student absence, please call directly to the absence line on Ph: 9361-0000 and follow the prompts on the recorded message (dial 2).

College Uniform Requirements

As we come to the end of the Term I would like to remind parents and students that students are to wear the College winter Uniform when Term 2 commences. The requirements are set out below.

The College blazer MUST be worn to and from the College each day

The College has a lovely uniform, and students are expected to wear it correctly with pride. This attention to personal appearance helps to promote and express a sense of self-worth. The tidy wearing of our common dress code is one of the criteria used by employers and the public at large to evaluate the worth of an educational institution, and therefore it is in the best interests of all to have it worn well.

Winter Uniform (To be worn in Terms 2 and 3 only)

Boys

Blazer: CRC Blazer

Trousers Navy Blue with CRC monogram.

Shirt: White long sleeve shirt with CRC monogram. CRC shirt must have the top button done up and be tucked in.

Jumper: CRC Jumper can only be worn to and from the College if under the Blazer.

Tie: CRC Sydenham tie is compulsory and to be done up to the shirt collar and worn correctly.

Shoes: Black leather lace up school shoes. No street shoes or black runners.

Socks: Navy Blue.

Girls

Blazer: CRC Blazer

Winter Kilt: CRC Tartan. Length: On the knee.

Pants: Navy Blue CRC Tartan with CRC monogram.

Shirt: White long sleeve shirt with CRC monogram. CRC shirt must have the top button done up and be tucked in.

Jumper: CRC Jumper can only be worn to and from the College if under the Blazer.

Tie: CRC Sydenham tie is compulsory and to be done up to the shirt collar and worn correctly.

Tights: Navy blue.

Socks: White short or long socks

Shoes: Black leather lace-up school shoes. No slip on, ballet or T-Bar style shoes.

Scarf: Navy or maroon scarf only.

Sports Uniform

The students are to wear the sports Uniform on days when they have PE practical classes or when they have been given permission to do so for activities such as training for, or competing in official College sport and Wellbeing sessions.

Sports Shirt: CRC Sydenham polo shirt (with emblem)

Pants: Navy school track pants with CRC embroidery (Uniform shop issue only)

Shorts: Navy and maroon school P.E. Shorts (Uniform shop issue only)

Rugby Top: Navy and Maroon CRC Sydenham rugby top. (Uniform shop issue only)

Spray Jacket: Navy CRC approved jacket to be worn with sport uniform only. (Uniform shop issue only)

Jewellery

Earrings are restricted to one small plain stud or sleeper in each ear lobe.

No facial piercing jewellery may be worn. (This includes no clear caps in existing facial piercings)

No necklaces, rings, bracelets or bangles other than a medical emergency bracelet or a discreet necklace with a cross/ crucifix.

Appearance

No extreme hairstyles (This includes extremes of length, style or colour (only natural shades) as deemed by the Principal.)

No tails.

Hair accessories should be navy. No bandannas to be worn.

No tattoos are to be visible whilst students are in college uniform

Any make up is to be discreet. Eye make-up or nail polish should be natural shadings only.

If there is a legitimate reason for any item of the uniform not being able to be worn, a note from