1 Rockford Manor Presentation Secondary School Stradbrook Road, Blackrock, Co. Dublin Statement of Strategy for School Attendance 2019 Strategy for School Attendance, Rockford Manor, 2019.
2 School Roll Number 60081P Mission Statement: ‘The provision of a Christian environment where learning and teaching nurture the personal development of every student’. Therefore this strategy must be interpreted in conjunction with all school policy documents. The school’s vision and values in relat ion to attendance Rockford Manor Secondary School belongs to a worldwide community of the Presentation Congregation. The school is an all-girls secondary school, based on the vision of Nano Nagle of providing a holistic Christian education based on Gospel values. The Presentation Ethos requires each school to foster and build a community where each individual student feels a sense of worth and belonging. At Rockford Manor, we are committed to encouraging our students to develop a pattern of regular and punctual attendance in order to benefit fully from the education provided in our school. Good attendance is habit forming and makes school a meaningful experience for every student. It not only improves performance in academic subjects but aids all other areas of school life; the nourishing of interests, sports and life-long learning, and promotes feelings of inclusiveness, self-esteem, resilience and confidence. It is seen as one of the most significant factors in a student’s success in school and beyond. Good attendance helps pupils obtain secure employment and allows others to perceive them as mature, reliable and responsible citizens. Good attendance complements our ethos which stresses the significance of “providing an education of the highest quality in an intimate and caring environment where there is an emphasis on individuality, personal contact and affirmation” . The school’s high expectations around attendance Rationale: To work to protect, in conjunction with all other aspects of school life, the care and welfare of our students. To facilitate continuity and progression in the learning processes. To ensure all parents/guardians, students and teachers are aware of their responsibilities to ensure high levels of attendance and punctuality. To ensure the school fulfils its legal obligations in accordance with the Education (Welfare) Act 2000 and other relevant Acts. Under the Act, Education Welfare Boards have been established to oversee school attendance nationwide and each school has been assigned an Education Welfare Service whose duty it is to liaise with the school in relation to any attendance problems which may emerge. The Principal must inform the Education Welfare Service (TUSLA) where any of the following occur: Strategy for School Attendance, Rockford Manor, 2019.
3 1. The aggregate number of school days on which a student is absent from school during the school year is 20 days or more. 2. A student, in the opinion of the Principal of the school in which she/he is registered, is not attending school regularly. 3. A student is suspended from school for a period of six days or more. Goals To develop a positive approach to attendance and punctuality. To encourage students to take responsibility for their own attendance and punctuality. To maintain accurate records of students’ whereabouts throughout the scho ol day. To achieve early detection and correction of poor attendance patterns. To impress upon parents/ guardians, the vital role they play in their daughter’s school attendance. To employ measures to encourage good attendance and punctuality and reduce the rate of absenteeism. To encourage full participation in class. Strategy for School Attendance, Rockford Manor, 2019.
4 Summary of the main elements of the school’s approach to attendance: If absent from 1. Roll is called school … If absent a text is sent to in each class parent/guardian On return to school If a student is absent for 20 parent/guardian , days, has irregular attendance provides a written or is suspended a report is sent explanation for to TUSLA absence Explanation is updated on VSware If a student takes ill in school… 1. Student asks Staff will permission contact from class parent / teacher to go guardian to main office Parent / Guardian collects On return to school parent / sick student from the guardian provides a written school, (if not the student explanation for absence returns to class) VSware is updated Strategy for School Attendance, Rockford Manor, 2019.
5 Summary of the main elements of the school’s approach to attendance: If late for school or class… Provide a 1. Student written must sign explanation the late from parent / book in the guardian on Main Office the day Docket VSware is issued for updated unexplained from absent to late late student joins class group, teacher ensures student is registered as late If a student, needs to be excused early from school… 1.Notify school Stating clearly if parent in writing / via is collecting student or App of: date, if parent will meet time & reason student at venue On return later that day sign Student signs out in main back in and VSware will be office updated VSware is updated Strategy for School Attendance, Rockford Manor, 2019.
6 How attendance will be monitored VSware is used to record and monitor attendance and punctuality in every class throughout the day. A text indicating absence is sent to parents of students absent for the first class, by the School Secretary. Students who arrive late to school are required to sign in at the main office, stating time of arrival and provide a note explaining their reason for lateness. Students proceed immediately to their timetabled class. The student will be entered as late on VSware. If they have previously been marked as absent this will be changed to LATE. Students who leave school during the school day due to appointments can only do so with the written permission of a parent/guardian. An early exit is note available in the school journal. The student must then sign out and deposit their permission note in the box provided, the VSware will be amended accordingly. Parents/guardians must collect their daughter directly from the school if she needs to leave before the end of the school day (unless the parent / guardian state that the student can leave unaccompanied). If the student returns to school later in the school day they must sign back in at the main office. If a student falls ill during the school day parents /guardians will be contacted by the main office and asked to come and collect their daughter if she is no longer able to participate in school. Where students are absent from school for school-related extra-curricular activities, this is entered in the system by the School Secretary as a school activity. The teacher who oversees the activity prepares a list of the names and prior to departure provides a copy of the list to the main office. If a student is absent from the trip, the teacher will notify the School Secretary of the same. When attending events outside of school: attendance should be taken prior to departure (if a private coach is used) or at a meeting point at the venue if the students are making their own way to the event. A second roll call/check out roll call will be taken by the teachers in charge at the event or prior to departure of the school group from the event. Failure to present individually for roll call will be treated as an absence without permission due to the seriousness of the situation and may also result in a student not attending such events with the school in the future. Positive approach to attendance Good attendance is promoted in Rockford Manor by a culture of high expectations, encouraging each student to take responsibility for her own learning and achieve her full potential through regular presence in class. Students are made aware of the incremental nature of learning and the implications for them of irregular attendance during assemblies, general classes and in SPHE. The Dean of Year and members of the Care Team meet with students for whom attendance or punctuality has been identified as an issue. Reports to parents/guardians include a detailed breakdown of attendance and punctuality for the period in question. Records of attendance and punctuality are available to view on VSware by logging in using the unique password for that student. Strategy for School Attendance, Rockford Manor, 2019.
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