Attendance

ABSENT FROM SCHOOL SMS NOTIFICATION

If your child is absent from school and we have not previously been informed, you will receive an SMS advising you they are absent.

Please be aware you CANNOT reply to this SMS, instead, parents are asked to click on the link in the SMS (the link is now active for 7 days); phone the school (6628 1009); or email (alstp@lism.catholic.edu.au), with an explanation for the absence.

In the case of shared care of a student, both parents will receive an SMS but we ask the parent who has the child in their care that morning respond to it. If you need clarification with this issue, please speak to the Principal.

NOTIFYING SCHOOL OF ABSENCE

WHOLE SCHOOL DAY ABSENCE

Parents can use the Compass App to advise the school if their child will be absent from school for the WHOLE DAY. If this is received by the school prior to 10am you will not receive an SMS.

If you are advising in advance that your child will be absent from school (e.g. family holiday, planned medical procedure etc.), please be careful to enter the date/s of absence which reflect the actual date/s your child will be absent and not the date you are submitting the Attendance Note. You also have the ability to include a Start and Finish date range, if applicable. This date range feature can also be used if you know your child will be away for consecutive days due to illness.

PARTIAL SCHOOL DAY ABSENCE

If your child will be late to school or leaving early, please email (alstp@lism.catholic.edu.au) or phone (02 6628 1009) the school.

Please DO NOT use the Compass App for partial absences.

If your child arrives after 10am, you will still receive an SMS. You can disregard this. We will update your child’s attendance record at the time of their arrival or departure.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION TO NOTE

If you do not advise the reason for your child’s absence, you will receive a letter from the school requesting an explanation which we ask you to return within 7 days.

Legally, we cannot assume the reason for your child’s absence. You may, for example, notify us on day 1 that your child is sick, but neglect to respond to the SMS for the subsequent days; or your child may be participating in a Representative sport at Zone or Diocesan level, where we cannot assume they have arrived at the event as they may be sick on the day. By responding to the SMS link in Compass or contacting the school, you ensure that your child’s attendance record is accurate. If we don’t hear from you a letter will be sent home requesting an explanation for our records.

Please DO NOT use the Attendance feature to send general messages to school (e.g. changes to home time arrangements). Please email or phone the school (not teachers), in these circumstances.

ADDING DOCUMENTATION TO AN ABSENCE

Parents can add documentation to an absence (eg medical certificates) This can ONLY be done at the time you submit an Attendance Note and only in the desktop/browser version of Compass. You can not upload documentation in the app. Alternatively, please email the school (alstp@lism.catholic.edu.au) with relevant documentation.