Attendance

​​​​​Every day of lessons counts

At our school attending web lessons wherever possible is important. Student attendance and participation in the lessons is a high priority. Research clearly shows that students who attend regularly are more likely to be successful at school. Attendance at our lessons, which is voluntary, requires commitment by the student and support and vigilance from the parent.

In our school, as a School of Distance Education, the legal requirement of students is to ensure that the required work is submitted to the school, i.e. Section 177 Paragraph 2 of the Education (General Provisions) Act 2006 “a child enrolled in a program of distance education is taken to attend the school of distance education offering the program by completing and returning the assigned work for the program…“

Attendance at Charters Towers School of Distance Education means completing the assigned work for the program as set out in each subjects Work Rate calendar.  Attendance at scheduled lessons or engaging with recordings of scheduled lessons is expected.​

Key messages

• Ensuring attendance at lessons is primarily parental responsibility.
• Early attendance patterns tend to be maintained over time. Therefore efforts should be made to rectify poor attendance as soon as it becomes known.
• There is a correlation between lesson attendance and academic performance.
• Parents may exempt their child from the mandatory daily reporting of non-attendance of lessons, however this does not lessen the importance of attending lessons where ever possible.
• Parents may be prosecuted for their children's truancy, i.e. the non-return of work that has been assigned as part of their learning program. Our school does apply truancy provisions to all students. If a child is truant, then this may also impact on a range of government payments received by the family.

Why is regular attendance at offered lessons important?

Regular attendance at offered lessons will mean that your child has a better chance in life. Your child will achieve better when they participate in formal lessons.

Why must I send my child to school?

As stated earlier, under Queensland law, you must make sure your child of school age is enrolled and attends school all day, every school day unless they have an acceptable reason. Illness or competing in a school sporting event are acceptable reasons for being temporarily absent from school.

The Principal decides if the reason given for your child’s absence is acceptable. Avoid keeping your child away from school for birthdays, shopping, visiting family and friends, if they sleep in, looking after other children, minor check-ups or grooming such as haircuts. Routine medical or other health appointments should be made either before or after school or during the school holidays.

What should I do if family is going on a holiday in school time?

You are encouraged not to schedule holidays during school time. If your family holiday is during school time, let the school know in advance and talk to teachers about what arrangements can be made for your child. Depending on the circumstances you may be able to take the work with you, negotiate some reduction in the assigned work or seek an exemption from school for a defined period of time.

Are you having problems getting your child to school for some of these reasons?

If so, a set routine can help:

• have a set time to go to bed
• have a set time to get out of bed
• have resources organized at the end of each day for the start of the next
• have a set time for starting and finishing breakfast
• set a time for daily independent learning activities
• speak about learning, their lessons and our school positively
• be firm, set up and maintain a learning routine every school day including their birthday and the last day of term.

What should I do if my child will not participate in the learning program or lessons?

You should contact the Student Engagement Officers of the school as soon as possible for advice and support.

• Prep - Year 9 - Laura Darvall
  
• Years 10 - 12 - Rochelle LeBoutillier
  

If work is not being submitted, then truancy could be real problem. If you are experiencing difficulty you could also contact your child's pastoral care teacher.

If you have registered for notification of your child’s absence from provided lessons, then you will receive a SMS (Short Message System) each time their child is absent from their scheduled lesson. If you receive an absence message from the school, please respond promptly via email to their teacher as to the reason for your child’s absence.

Keep your mobile phone details up to date. Make sure the school has your current mobile phone number, and notify the school immediately if this number changes.

Alternatively, if you know your child is going to be absent, please notify their teacher in advance by email. Please state the reason for your child’s absence.