Attendance 

Attendance is a crucial aspect of a student's academic journey and plays a significant role in their overall educational success. Regular attendance is a key factor in students' achievement in areas of social and emotional development, habit formation, academic engagement, and overall responsibility. As parents and educators, we have a shared responsibility to emphasise the importance of consistent attendance. 

Attendance Expectations: We expect that students will aim towards 100% attendance. We understand that “life happens,” and so we will work with families as needed. Attendance that falls below the 80% mark may result in a meeting with the Principal. If a student misses more than 20% of the school year, their promotion to the next year's group will be reviewed, and the Principal may determine that a child should be retained in the current year level. 

Punctuality is an important part of attendance and will be counted in with the overall attendance record. Late arrivals are monitored by the school office. If lateness exceeds 3 occurrences within a term, the family will be contacted by the school office. 

Excused Absences: Illness, death in the family, medical appointments with a doctor’s note, or visa-related issues are counted as excused absence. If your child is unwell for 3 days or more, a medical note will be required. Excessive incidents of illness may require a meeting with the Principal to develop a wellness support plan for the child. 

Some children engage in high-level competition outside of school, and these opportunities enrich and extend their life while contributing to the achievement of the Panyaden Profile. In the case of high-level competition that requires absence from school, Panyaden can authorise up to 3 days as excused absence, if given prior notice. Students are still expected to meet their learning goals within the school. If the absence is more than 3 days, the remaining days may count as “unexcused.” 

Unexcused Absences: Anything that falls outside of the school “excused absences” will count as “unexcused.” Excessive unexcused absences may impact the offering of promotion for the following year.

Reporting an Absence: Please email the classroom teacher and the Primary School Receptionist by 08:15 on the day of the absence. If your child has a communicable illness, please also include the Nurse in your communication. 

Extended Absence: If it is necessary for parents to take their children out of school during term time for any reason other than family emergency or illness, parents are asked to inform the school in writing as soon as possible, no later than 14 days in advance. 

Temporary Withdrawal: If a student temporarily withdraws from the school, or misses an extended period of school, placement into the next year level will be reviewed by the principal to determine if year-level promotion is offered. Please also note that extended withdrawal from school may impact the school’s ability to sponsor visas under Panyaden.

Remote Learning for Extended Absences: Learning happens best when students are in the classroom. Our hands-on approach to learning is not easily replicated through remote learning experiences, and we do not want to divert the teachers’ focus away from providing quality teaching and learning in the classroom. Therefore, outside of the school’s calendared option for remote learning, we do not regularly provide learning for extended absences unless approved by the principal.

In situations such as a family emergency, we may agree to provide learning packets. We will not provide learning for extended vacations. 

If you would like the school to consider providing learning for extended absences, please submit your request via email to the homeroom teacher and principal with as much advance notice as possible.