Attendance Policy

Regular attendance is one of the strongest predictors of a child's success at school. We ask families to treat every school day as important and to work with us when illness or family circumstances keep a student away. This policy explains how to notify us of absences and what we do when attendance becomes a concern.

Purpose

To set out the College's expectations for student attendance, punctuality and the notification of absences, consistent with the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic), Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) requirements and the Department of Education's Every Day Counts framework.

Scope

Applies to all students from Prep to Year 12, their parents and carers, and all staff responsible for marking rolls and following up absences.

Policy statement

• Attendance is compulsory for all children of school age on every scheduled school day.
• The College aims for every student to attend at least 90% of school days each semester; attendance below this triggers follow-up and support.
• Parents must notify the College before 9:00am on the day of any absence.
• Family holidays during term are discouraged. Where unavoidable, absences of five or more school days must be requested in advance using the Extended Absence Request Form.
• Students who arrive late or leave early must be signed in or out at the Junior or Senior office.

Procedures

Reporting an absence (same day)

Report before 9:00am by one of:

Include your child's full name, class and the reason. An email to a teacher is not sufficient on its own.

Unexplained absences

• Rolls are marked at 8:45am (Junior) and 8:40am Homeroom (Senior), and again each period in the Senior School.
• At 9:30am an automated SMS is sent to parents of any student marked absent without explanation. Please reply to the SMS or phone the office as soon as possible.
• If no explanation is received within 3 school days, the absence is recorded as unexplained and the Year Level Coordinator follows up by phone.

Late arrival and early departure

• Late students sign in at the Junior office (Prep–6) or Senior office (7–12) and receive a late pass before going to class.
• For early departure, submit a note via the Parent Portal that morning and collect your child from the relevant office, not the classroom.

Extended and planned absences

• For planned absences of 5 or more school days, complete the Extended Absence Request Form on the Parent Portal at least 2 weeks before the absence. The Head of Junior School (Ms Priya Natarajan) or Head of Senior School (Mr Tom Brennan) will respond within 5 school days.
• Teachers do not prepare individual holiday work packs; Senior students remain responsible for assessment deadlines — see Assessment & Reporting.

Illness

• A medical certificate is expected for absences of 3 or more consecutive days, and for any absence coinciding with a Senior School assessment or examination.
• Infectious conditions follow Victorian Department of Health exclusion periods.

Monitoring and support

• Attendance is reviewed every fortnight by Year Level Coordinators.
• Where a student's attendance falls below 90% in a semester, or a pattern of unexplained absences appears, parents receive an attendance letter and are invited to meet the Year Level Coordinator.
• Ongoing concerns are referred to the Deputy Principal – Wellbeing & Mission and the school counsellor (Ms Alana Ford, Junior; Mr Chris Nguyen, Senior), and an Attendance Support Plan may be developed with the family. Unresolved absences for students of compulsory school age follow MACS escalation processes.

Responsibilities

Parents and carers

• Ensure your child attends every day and arrives before 8:40am (Senior) or 8:45am (Junior).
• Report all absences before 9:00am and respond to the 9:30am SMS.
• Book routine appointments outside school hours where possible.

Students

• Attend every class and arrive on time; sign in at the office if late.
• Catch up on work missed and speak with teachers about assessments.

Staff

• Mark rolls accurately at the start of the day and each period (Senior).
• Follow up unexplained absences and record all contact with families.
• Notify the Year Level Coordinator of emerging patterns.

Related documents

• Absences and Late Arrivals
• Parent Portal Guide
• Daily Schedule and Bell Times
• Term Dates
• Assessment & Reporting Policy
• Child Safety Policy

Review

Policy owner: Deputy Principal – Wellbeing & Mission. Approved by the College Leadership Team February 2026; ratified by the College Advisory Council; next review February 2028.

Frequently asked questions

I forgot to call before 9:00am. What should I do?

Reply to the 9:30am SMS or ring (03) 9555 0111 as soon as you can. Explanations received within 3 school days are recorded as approved absences.

Can my child miss school for a family holiday?

We ask families to travel in the holidays wherever possible. If a trip during term is unavoidable, submit an Extended Absence Request Form via the Parent Portal at least 2 weeks in advance. The Head of School will record the absence as approved but not authorised as educational.

Does my child need a medical certificate?

A medical certificate is expected for absences of 3 or more consecutive days and for any absence on a Senior School assessment or exam day. Shorter absences simply need a parent notification.

What happens if my child's attendance drops below 90%?

You will receive an attendance letter and an invitation to meet the Year Level Coordinator so we can understand what is happening and put support in place. This is a supportive conversation, not a punitive one.