Attendance Matters: Every Student, Every Day

Dear Parents and Care-givers,
 
At Dianella Secondary College we want your child to do their very best. To get the best education they need to attend school every day.
The teenage years are a time for young people to develop independence and find their place in the world, including how they take part in school life. We do know that some students may need that additional encouragement to attend school regularly.
By working together, our school community can address some of the reasons why teenagers may not want to attend.
 
Some common problems you may have getting your child to school:

• They won’t get out of bed in the morning.
• They go to bed late at night.
• They haven’t done their homework or are avoiding a test.
• They are watching television too late or playing video games before school.
• Are staying up late talking to friends on their phone.

You may also be worried that your teenager:

• is being bullied
• may not have friends or is not fitting in
• may be feeling lost at school
• fears being a failure
• is not feeling academically challenged
• may have learning difficulties
• may not get along with a teacher

What can you do to help?

• Act early, get to the bottom of why they don’t want to go to school.
• Ensure they get enough sleep, no phones or games in bed.
• Try not to make appointments or holidays during the term.
• Only stay home if they are genuinely sick.
• Monitor your child’s attendance.
• Have clear expectations around after school jobs, school always comes first.
• Don’t allow your child to stay home due to un-finished assignments.
• Encourage your child to get ready for school early and get there on time.

Do you need to let the school know if your teenager will be away from school?

• Yes, you need to let the school know the reason why your teenager is going to be or has been absent from school as soon as possible. Simply call 93459200 and you will be put through to the attendance officer.
• Don’t feel the need to ‘cover up’ the reason for your teenager’s absence.
• This reinforces that you are taking over when things are difficult. Be honest so we can work with you and your teenager to improve their attendance.
• Having information about why your teenager is missing school helps us plan for their return, and to work out whether we can provide any further help to you.

What will staff at Dianella Secondary College do to help?

• Offer relevant and culturally responsive learning opportunities to engage students.
• Monitor every student’s attendance and work with you to overcome problems affecting your teenager’s attendance.
• Talk with you about involving support staff such as our school psychologist, chaplain, Head of Year teachers and other agencies where appropriate.
• Talk with you about local services that may also be able to help.
• Develop Attendance Plans to support engagement and attendance.

Why is going to school so important for my child?

• At school, many concepts such as literacy and numeracy are taught in a sequence. Missing school means missing out on learning - which can often make it difficult to catch up later. This is particularly important when essential foundation skills are being taught.
• Going to school every day helps children learn the important life skill of ‘showing up’ - at school, at work, to sport and other commitments.
• Research from the Western Australian Telethon Kids Institute shows that every day at school counts towards a student’s learning. Students who attend more, generally do better at school and in life.

 
Remember everyday matters and every moment counts. Please call the school for any support you may require.
 
 
Yours sincerely,
 
Wayne Austin
Principal ​

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