Welcome back to term 2, it is in these continued challenging times, there is an opportunity to reflect on, celebrate and bring to the attention some key points for improving student attendance:

Let’s celebrate a full term back on-site learning since the end of 2019, when COVID-19 restrictions and lockdowns were announced
We understand the Department of Health and Human Service testing and close-contact procedures have continued to impact attendance; we are here to support continued learning
We have been here to help students and families navigate remote learning (exceptional) due to covid related absence, by having learning and resources available via Compass; no student/s have being penalised for not attending due t COVID-19 isolation requirements or being unwell to continue to learn from home
While attendance across each year level was steady in Term 1, it was still well below the 90% attendance policy at the College and Department of Education and Training requirement for students to be achieving academically, socially and emotionally at school – see Table 1 and Table 2 below for Year 7-12 Average Attendance rates.

Tracking Attendance and Data at Craigieburn SC

The Attendance Officer and our Executive Officer’s roles at Craigieburn Secondary College is to manage and maintain our comprehensive system and method of tracking student attendance, as well as to ensure the use of the attendance data is tracked to better target students' individual needs and supports.

Our Assistant Principals, Sub-school Leading Teachers and Managers are updated weekly on the attendance trends across the college. The college prides itself on the use of attendance data to adjust and respond accordingly to students’ attendance behaviours such as unexplained absences, truancy (out of class without permission), students withdrawn from class, and school refusal. We aim high to keep our attendance records as accurate as possible based on teacher roll marking and college operations.

The college has many strategies to support and provide student-family-centered supports around attendance related matters. Please do not hesitate in contacting your child’s/children’s sub-school to discuss how we can best target and support attendance and engagement matters.

College Attendance Policy

Craigieburn Secondary College has an attendance policy that is in line with the expectations of the Victorian Department of Education and Training (DET). We encourage all our students and families to read and familiarise themselves with the Attendance Policy which can be accessed by downloading here: CSC Attendance Policy (Website)

The Victorian Government requires that families "let the school know as soon as possible and explain why your child can’t come to school." For more information we recommend parent/carers view the DET Victorian Government's Guide to Student Attendance (website). Absences can be explained via the Compass portal website or the Compass app on your smart device or email attendance@craigieburnsc.vic.gov.au or phone 9308 1144 and leave a record message with student name, form and reason for absence. A guide to entering an Attendance using Compass is as follows:

Department of Education and Training (DET) Recommend an Overall School Attendance Rate of 90%

Students are expected to maintain at least 90% attendance across the school year. We know when students are achieving 90% attendance rates then they are more likely to be achieving academically, and are feeling connected to school both socially and emotionally. This is especially important when it comes to Years 10-12, when students are heading towards the end of their school career and are completing one or several VCE and/or VCAL subjects.

The VCE and VCAL Administrative Handbook (2022, pg. 72) states, "If a student has completed work, but there has been a substantial breach of the school’s attendance policy, the school may be unable to authenticate the student’s work completed across the outcome."Students and families are reminded to be aware the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority's (VCAA) set attendance requirements at senior levels – see the VCE and VCAL Administrative Handbook for more information. Essentially, it is saying that if a student has fallen below the school's minimum attendance requirements when completing VCE and/or VCAL, they are likely to fail any affected units of study.

If you are worried about your child/children’s senior years attendance, please contact the senior school via email or phone on 9308 1144 to discuss this further as they are able to help.

The college understands that COVID-19 positive cases and close-contact regulations during term 1 and 2 have had some impact on our attendance, and no students attendance is penalised for COVID-19 related absences, however, we have to report that too many absences still remain unexplained.

To be meeting the requirements under the Education and Training Reform Act parent/carer’s must promptly report absences; this can be done via Compass, email, phone, by note, or in person; preferably we prefer our parents/carer to record the reasons for your child's absence on Compass.

The college attendance data is communicated directly to the Department Education and Training (DET) daily and is used by both the college and the DET to plan initiatives and programs to support your child’s/children’s educational journey. Table 2 below demonstrates the percentage of absences that are unexplained, parent explained, school explained including COVID-19 related days whereby a student’s attendance is not penalised and remote learning and Compass extended absence planning, resources are accessible if the student is well enough to do so. Importantly highlighted in green shows the average year levels class percentage rate which is currently below the DET guided 90%.

“We know when absences are explained, we can best target learning, social and emotional supports for our students and/or families.We thank you for explaining absences and engaging with the college around your child’s/children’s attendance.”

It is also important that if your child/children test positive for COVID-19 or is a close contact, that you inform the College. For the latest COVID-19 Cases and close contact information visit https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/checklist

Supporting Your Child's Attendance

The list below are examples, but not limited to, of what DET suggests is helpful advice to support families in improving student attendance.

Talk to your child about school and how important it is. You can ask them how they feel about school, what they liked and if there are any problems at school
Reward good behaviour and not bad behaviour. For example, if your child refuses to go to school, do not let them have access to their phones or the internet, reward them when they have demonstrated good behaviour
Set good examples and model how to be committed to responsibilities
Encourage your child to take on hobbies that your child enjoys such as sports and clubs. This will help them develop positive relationships outside of the classroom
Have a set time to do homework and go to bed and to have leisure time
Leave all technology out of their bedroom and set healthy routines
Pack their school bag the night before with everything they need
Have a set time for breakfast and going to bed at night
Plan to meet up with a friend so they can travel to school together

Please remember we are here to help, if you require any attendance and engagement support, please contact the relevant sub-school via the Compass Email Portal or phone 9308 1144.

Figure 1 Source: Queensland Department of Education

“Young people must take it upon themselves to ensure that they receive the highest education possible so that they can represent us well in future as future leaders.” ~ Nelson Mandala

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