Over the last three months the College has been trialling new functionality to help streamline the reporting of absences. This functionality provides parents / caregivers with the ability to instantly explain an absence by replying to the SMS that is sent from the College on the day of the absence.
The College will now apply the following procedures for managing absences:
On the day of an absence
An SMS is sent to the student’s parents/caregivers. The SMS message states that your son is marked absent and requests a reply of 1 for Sick or 2 for Family Reasons. Your response to the SMS meets the College’s requirements for an explanation of an absence so you are no longer required to send in a written note.
Important: Please only reply with the relevant number. Do not include additional information in your SMS reply. If you need to provide additional information to the College about an absence, please contact the relevant office (see below). If you need to provide a medical certificate it can be emailed to or handed to the relevant office on your son’s return.
If you prefer you can call or email the relevant office early in the morning on the day your son is not attending school. If you do this before 10am you will not receive an SMS message.
Planned Leave
If you know in advance that your son will be away from school, please send an email to the relevant office. Please include the nature of the leave and the dates your son is expected to be away. Please note, you will need to request leave from the Principal if the period of absence is longer than 5 consecutive days.
Leave during the School Day
If your son needs to leave the College during a school day (e.g. to attend an appointment) please ensure that you advise the College beforehand by emailing or calling the relevant office or by giving your son a note to hand in prior to the appointment.
Following up on Absences
Your son’s tutor/class teacher will follow up on outstanding unexplained absences. This follow up process will include the College sending correspondence listing all of the dates that have not been explained.
Important: Please ensure that you reply to any notifications about absences in a timely manner as it is a legal requirement that parents/carers provide the College with an explanation for every student absences. Please also note that unexplained absences are recorded on student end of semester academic reports.
Questions or Concerns
Please contact the relevant office if you have any questions or concerns about student absences.
Junior School (Years 4 to 6)
Junior School Reception
02 6239 0608
juniorschool@stedmunds.act.edu.au
Student Services (Years 7 to 12)
Student Services
02 6239 0694
studentservices@stedmunds.act.edu.au