College Expectations 

Attendance Matters

Attendance at Hampton Park Secondary College 

At Hampton Park Secondary College we are passionate about ensuring our students attend school every day. 

We know attendance positively impacts student learning and supports students to feel connected and part of our special community. 

We encourage regular communication with our families. 

Below is some information which supports us to enact our Attendance Policy and the learning growth of your child:

• If your child is absent an SMS will be sent to you on the day of absence. The SMS is sent after Period 1, to ensure roll accuracy. Should you get an SMS and you have not contacted us about absence, please do so immediately. If your child is at school, please also contact us immediately to rectify this error 
• If your child is going to be absent, please contact the College to provide the reason. This can be done via Compass or phone. Please understand reasons for absence should be approved to ensure we can support the learning of your child. Outlined below are some further points about absence:
  • Sickness – There are always times when students need to miss school, such as when they’re ill. It’s vital that they’re only away on the days they are genuinely sick, and setting good sleep patterns, eating well, and exercising regularly can make a big difference. If your child is sick please have them return a medical certificate, which is imperative – to ensure the absence is counted as approved 
  • Family holidays - It's vital that holidays are planned during school holidays where possible, and not during the term. If you are planning to go on holiday during term time, make sure that you talk to your school in advance, and work with them to develop an absence learning plan. Students will be given work to complete while they are absent, so they do not miss out on learning. If the student is in Year 10-12 students will also be required, to redeem their learning time missed, as it is a requirement students maintain an attendance of 90% or above to support learning and authenticate assessment 
  • “Day off” – Think twice before letting your teenager have a “day off” as they could fall behind their classmates – every day counts.

While all absences can affect academic performance, DET’s statistics show that unexcused absences are a much stronger indicator of lower reading and maths achievement.

BEING AWAY FROM SCHOOL FOR 1 DAY A FORTNIGHT EQUALS MISSING 1.5 YEARS OVER 13 YEARS OF SCHOOL

• If for any reason your teenager must miss school, there are things you can do with your school to ensure they don’t fall behind:
  • Inform the school via Compass, through the General Office or their House Team 
  • Find out what work your teenager needs to do to keep up.
  • Develop an absence learning plan with your teenager’s teacher and ensure they complete the plan

Openly communicating with us about all absences is a good way to prevent attendance issues being escalated to a School Attendance Officer. 

If you’re having attendance issues with your teenager, please let the year level coordinator, wellbeing coordinator, principal or other relevant staff member know so you can work together to get your teen to school every day.

TOP ATTENDANCE TIPS FOR PARENTS

* Schools want to work in partnership with parents – act early if you have any concerns by contacting your child’s school and asking for advice and support

* Remember that everyday counts

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

* Talk positively about school and the importance of attending every day

* Open and prompt communication with your child’s school about all absences is a good idea

* Avoid making routine medical and dental appointments during the school day or planning family holidays during the term

* Seek help from your school if you are concerned about your child’s attendance and wellbeing. Schools want to work in partnership with parents to support student attendance and wellbeing.

At Hampton Park Secondary College we use the below categories to identify how students are travelling with regards to attendance. We celebrate improved attendance and those coming to school every day and we strive to work together with our families to ensure every student understands that ‘Every Day Counts’. 

• Regular attendees: miss less than 10 days a year (approx. less than 5% absence)
• Risk of chronic absence: miss between 10 and 20 days a year (approx. 5-10% absence)
• Chronically absent: miss 20+ days (approx. 10-15% absence; average 1 day per fortnight)
• Severe chronic absence: miss 30+ days a year (approx. over 15% absence).  This cohort is at high risk of becoming an Early Leaver.

On average, students who go on to be chronically absent in their later years of schooling have higher absence rates than their peers in primary school, starting as early as Grade Prep. It is never too early or too late to establish positive attendance habits. Attendance plays a crucial role in setting students up for success in later years.

Where intensive support is needed to improve student attendance, we will work together with our families through a Student Support Group to assist with understanding needs and develop comprehensive support plans for students based on identified need. An Individual Education Plan or Attendance Improvement Plan will be developed as part of this meeting. 

Our unique House System at HPSC

In response to FISO 2.0 and after reviewing our student, staff and parent opinion survey data, Hampton Park Secondary College engaged in a House renovation initiative in 2021. Together, with our students and our community, we have worked to rebrand our Houses, connecting them to meaningful Australian icons who have contributed to society and to further promote wellbeing and a sense of purpose across our college.

Our new Houses, each assigned a colour and element, chosen by our community, are Freeman (Red, Fire), Walton (Yellow, Air), Hollows (Blue, Water) and Mabo (Green, Earth).  

The House system at Hampton Park Secondary College is unique and promotes student and staff connection, inclusion, safety, and support. Our system is both vertical and horizontal ensuring no one is left behind. 

Students belong to a House for their entire time at the college and have the wrap around support of a House Leadership Team – which includes an Assistant Principal, Head of House, and Student Learning Leaders - wellbeing liaisons, career education practitioners and our student leaders. Staff are also assigned to a House to further promote connection, strengthening House spirit and pride and healthy House competition. 

Students are further supported by a teacher mentor each week who belongs to their House. Mentors work closely with a group of 25 students to monitor and track student learning progress. Each is an advocate for the students they work with and work together with teachers and each House Leadership Team.

In a large school like ours, our House system supports staff and student morale and boosts mental health and wellbeing. Students and staff develop their sense of purpose as they work together to raise money for their House charity, connected to their Australian icon. This is another way we give back to the community and inspire citizenship and servitude in our students and staff. 

As a member of HPSC, your child will have a plethora of opportunities to connect with their House and our very special community. Curricular and co-curricular activities and events promote House pride and enable students to generate points for their house – not only limited to sporting events, but events connected to learning, the arts, attendance, our values, smaller games/competitions within classes/year levels and our charities. Students are encouraged to participate in as many events as possible, not only to collect House points, but to strengthen team spirit, pride and to inspire their peers.  

Our House system is well and truly alive at Hampton Park Secondary College and is strengthening every day. We cannot wait to have you and your child join our community in 2023. If you have any questions about our House system please contact the College.