Attendance

At Coonalpyn Primary School we believe schools should provide a safe, success orientated and caring environment. We believe that students need to attend school regularly in order to participate fully and gaining maximum benefit from schooling. Regular attendance enables children to access a full education, so enabling them to reach their full potential. School staff should set an example for students, encouraging and emphasising attendance and punctuality.

All members of the school community are expected to meet the requirements of attendance and work to the best of their ability and skill level as consistently as possible.

ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS

A child who is at least six years old but not yet sixteen is of compulsory school age. Every child of compulsory school age, irrespective of distance from school or whether the student has a disability or not, is required to be enrolled at a government or non-government school or Open Access College and must attend the school (except at the Open Access College) on every day, or for such parts of every day, as instruction is provided at the school for the child, unless the Minister has granted a certificate of exemption from school attendance.

Compulsory attendance at school for children aged 6-16 years of age is based on the premise that each child has the right to receive an education which aims to promote personal development and equality of opportunity.

The primary responsibility for meeting this legal requirement rests with the parent/guardian. The responsibility for enforcing school attendance is with the Department for Education and Children's Services. The department therefore has a legal responsibility to record and monitor attendance and take appropriate action to rectify problems of non-attendance.

School commences: 9:00 am
Recess: 11:00 am - 11:20 am
Lunch: 1:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Dismissal: 3:20 pm

RESPONSIBILITIES

Students are asked to:

• Arrive at school punctually. Children are asked to arrive at school between 8:40 am and 9:00 am.
  
• Leave the school grounds, unless required to remain at school, immediately school is dismissed.
  
• Attend school on everyday when instruction is offered unless the school receives a valid reason for being absent eg. illness/family reasons.
  
• Provide teachers with an appropriate explanation for their non-attendance.usually this comprises of a letter of phone call from parent/caregiver or a medical certificate.
  
• When a student is late for school it is appropriate that student explains the reason for their lateness.
  

Parents are asked to:

• Actively encourage their children to regularly attend school.
  
• Notify the school of any absences by a written explanation or via the telephone for absences less than 3 days. A written explanation is required after 3 days.
  
• Let the school know if an extended absence is likely or if the school needs to arrange work at home for students.
  
• Ensure their children are at school by 8:55 am.

Teachers are asked to:

• Encourage students to attend school regularly by providing exciting and stimulating educational programs which are inclusive of the needs of all students.
  
• Monitor each child's attendance.
  
• Accurately complete the Roll Book for each day. Absences are to be coded according to the criteria set out in the front of the Roll Book.
  
• Teachers assess each individual re the appropriateness of applying consequences, such as additional home work, tasks to be completed, for un-explained non-attendance.
  
• Record students on part-time alternative programs held away from the school and mark in the comments reasons and for whom work is requested.
  
• Inform the Principal of any concerns about attendance, and in particular when a student is absent, without a reasonable explanation, for 3 consecutive days or if an irregular attendance pattern is identified eg. 5 days in 2 weeks.

The Principal is asked to:

• Ensure Roll Book is accurately completed.
  
• Devise, in collaboration with the classroom teacher, a school based plan to address non-attendance.
  
• Consult with DECS support staff as required by attendance procedures.
  
• Principals have delegated authority from the Minister to approve applications for temporary exemption from school attendance for periods of up to one calendar month. Parents or guardians should apply in writing and Principals should also advise approvals and non-approvals on school letterhead. Copies of such advises are to be retained in school files, together with applications and are to be made available to appropriate departmental officers as required.
  
• All applicants for temporary exemptions exceeding one calendar month, and for permanent exemptions, are to be set out on Form ED 175 and forwarded to the Student Attendance Counsellor.
  
• Applications for home schooling are referred, by the Principal, to the District Director. Only when parents receive written approval to home school their child/children, may the child/children be released from attending school.