Absences – IT’S NOT OK TO BE AWAY!

School is compulsory for all children over the age of six. Frequent absences without a legitimate written excuse are reportable to the authorities.

We are working hard at our school to keep absences, late arrivals and early departures to a minimum. Anything higher than ten days over the year impacts significantly on your child’s learning and can make a difference to his or her classmates. Obviously there will be times of illness and family emergencies and we can always accommodate those occasions within our records. If you are finding getting your child to school a problem, for whatever reason, please do not hesitate to talk to us.

Please note that it is a Departmental regulation that written reasons be provided for all absences. These letters are required to be kept as records for a number of years. Feel free to email a message to your child’s teacher, the school email address (stratford.ps@education.vic.gov.au) or to text 0417 161 332 to let us know.

You are also able to send us a message through the school’s communication app, Compass.

If your child is away and we have not heard from you by 10am you will receive an automated text message. You may respond to the message via text or by phone to update us on the reason for your child’s absence.

If you are planning to be away for an extended period of time and would like work for your child please give teachers at least 2 weeks’ notice so that work can be prepared. Please also be aware that the type of activities that will be provided will be aimed at taking advantage of types of activities you will be doing, such as keeping a diary, taking photographs, writing postcards to the class, reading or completing maths activity book tasks.