At Castlemaine Secondary College, we value every day of learning. Regular attendance helps students build strong friendships, keep up with their learning, and feel connected to their school community.
Why attendance matters
Attending school every day gives students the best chance to succeed. Even missing one day every couple of weeks can add up to a significant amount of lost learning over the year. Being at school supports students’ academic progress, wellbeing and sense of belonging.
Parent and carer responsibilities
Parents and carers have a legal responsibility to ensure their child attends school every day it is open, unless there is a valid reason.
If your child is absent, parents and carers must notify the College on the day of the absence by logging the absence on Compass and providing a reason. This helps us ensure all students are safe and their attendance records are accurate.
When your child is unwell
If your child is sick, please keep them home so they can recover and avoid spreading illness to others. Please log the absence on Compass each day your child is away due to illness, or advise the College if the absence will be ongoing.
Working together
We understand that sometimes students may experience challenges that affect their attendance. If you have concerns about your child’s attendance, please contact the College. We are committed to working in partnership with families to support students to attend regularly and feel supported.
Supporting good attendance at home
Families can help by:
- Encouraging daily attendance and positive routines
- Scheduling appointments outside school hours where possible
- Planning holidays during term breaks
- Logging absences promptly on Compass
- Supporting students to arrive at school on time and ready to learn
If you need support or have questions about attendance, please contact Castlemaine Secondary College. We are here to support every student to attend, engage and succeed.
