It's Not Okay To Be Away

‘Going to school every day is important for a student’s education.This may seem to be stating something extremely obvious, but data from school reviews is now available to support what teachers have long known. Absence from school means that learning opportunities are reduced and this can ultimately lead to poorer student achievement. Where this happens, the impact will be felt long after the student has left school.

Absence from school and class clearly affects the absent student, but also impacts on the teacher’s ability to plan and present class work in a sequential and organised way. This can affect the progress of all students in the class, not only those missing, and can make classroom management difficult.

---

The systematic monitoring of student attendance and the degree to which schools are able to address the absence issue is an important indicator of a school’s ability to maximise the learning opportunities it offers to its students.’ from Keeping Kids at School (DEET) In our school’s Annual Implementation Plan for 2012 the following target was set: The average (mean) number of absent days per Full Time Equivalent student to be 15 days with 90% of students with 95%+ attendance.

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate and thank the students who achieved 95%+ attendance for 2012.

They are; Anthonie, Cynthia, Claudia, Eliza, Thomas E, Liam, Jude, Harry, Mark, Hannah P, Freda Teesha, Amy, Euhan, Tobias, Charlie, Fynn M, Harry S, Santino Sebastian, Olivia, Victor, Harmany, Cherise, Tess, Rosie, Muhammad, Lavanya, Bronte, Christine, Hannah Y, Ruth, Evelyn, Daniel, Julia, Carissa, Taoh (100%), Tayha, Ben N, Helen, Sobhan, Benjamin W, Rylie, Krystal, Mohammad Y, Mohamed A, Claire B, Clare D, Todd, Phoebe, Marthese, Ellison, Angela, Marshall, Kiki, Isabella, Jacob B, Elloise, Marcus (100%), Jake, Joseph, Maya H, Gloria, Anu, Brandon, Guddu, Abdullah, Yuvani, Lucy, Rani, Catherine B, Morgan, Michelle, George, Ellie, Azra, Ray, Shaina, Lily, Sam E, Alexis (100%), Hinda, Elvis, Suli, Lily M, Bi and Ruby.

To help us achieve our target this year we ask parents and caregivers to make sure their child:
 attends school on ALL school days
 is on time every day

Make sure you:
 provide the school with an explanation if your child is away
 contact the school if your child does not want to go to school
 arrange doctor and dentist appointments out of school hours
 arrange personal shopping trips with your son/ daughter or birthday celebrations out of school hours
 do not allow your child to stay at home for minor reasons.

Glendy Jakober
Principal