Attendance

The importance of Attendance at Dunamase College

Regular attendance is the foundation of academic success,
fostering consistent learning, personal growth, and future opportunities.

At Dunamase College, we believe that consistent school attendance is vital for students to reach their full potential. Each day of learning builds upon the last, and being present ensures students stay engaged and benefit from every educational opportunity.

Below are some key numbers about school attendance and its impact on student success:

• 95% Attendance: Students with this attendance rate miss around 9 days of school per year. This is generally considered excellent and keeps learning on track.
• 90% Attendance: Missing 19 days of school in a year means almost a full month of learning is lost, which can impact progress significantly.
• 85% Attendance or Below: Missing over 28 days of school in a year can have a serious impact on academic achievement and engagement.

How We Support Attendance

Our goal is to foster a warm, supportive atmosphere that motivates students to attend school every day. Here is how we can work together:

What we will do in school:

• Meet & Greet: We will welcome all students through our doors each day.
• Daily attendance: Monitor your child’s attendance and punctuality daily.
• Late Arrival Message: Send personal emails via VS Ware to parents/guardians to notify them when your child has arrived late to school.
• Communication: Call home to discuss your child’s attendance with you when needed.
• Attendance meetings: Invite you to attend our school for attendance meetings if we have concerns.
• Positive Attendance Promotion: We will run a number of competitions and reward points this year to place a focus on the importance of attendance.

What You Can Do as a Parent:

• Encourage Regular Attendance: Emphasise the importance of being in school every day.
• Plan Ahead: Schedule appointments and family holidays outside of school time whenever possible.
• Stay Informed: Download the VS Ware app and turn notifications on so you can regularly check your child’s attendance and reach out if you notice any issues.
• Encourage and Support: Your child to come to school on time every day. We would greatly appreciate your unwavering support with this.
• Appointments: Inform the school via the school office or on VS Ware in advance about any essential appointments. Please do everything possible to ensure all appointments are outside of school hours.
• Attendance Uncertainty: If you’re unsure if your child is well enough to attend school, send them to school as they often feel better upon arrival. If your child is sick/contagious, please keep them at home until they are well enough to return.
• Transport backup plan: Have a backup plan in case your child misses transport; consider involving a family member, neighbour or friend. We have bike racks for those who cycle, and we promote students walking to school where possible.
• Communication about difficulties: If you and your child are facing challenges with school attendance, call us, email us, or reach out.
• Check in on the VS Ware App: This will give you a clear insight into your child’s attendance and punctuality throughout each school day.

Together, we can help every child succeed – starting with great attendance!