Principal's Message Week 2 Term Two

Attendance

There are some fundamental requirements for learning to take place. One of the most basic of which, is turning up. You can’t learn if you’re not at school. Boys at ATC have (on average) 175 school days each year. This is 35 weeks of formal lessons. They therefore have 17 weeks of holidays. I am sure most will agree that there is plenty of time for recreation, rejuvenation and relaxation.

When school is in session, it is essential that boys attend, on time, every single day and for the whole day. Of course, there will be exceptions due to illness or family emergency, and these are plausible reasons for being away.

According to our Annual School Report for 2024, the average percentage attendance at school across the college was 82.86%. This equates to basically just shy of one day off school per week, per student. I must confess to being a little astounded at this statistic. I am generally used to attendance for students across the school being (at a minimum) better than 90%, and much higher for students in Years 11 and 12.

Coming to school each day is about committing to learning. But it is much more than that. We cannot build a healthy, supportive, inclusive community with character, belonging, and a sense of pride in our community, if we are part-time attendees. If we individually as well as collectively do not commit to making a positive and healthy contribution to the culture we all want to see thriving at our college, then that culture will not exist. Our senior boys make a tremendous effort to build school spirit, and pride. I am proud of the culture they themselves are driving among their peers.

I implore every parent to commit to the routine and discipline for their child in turning up. Every day. I see no reason for students to be excused on a carnival or community day. I see no reason why school holidays should commence a day or two before the end of term. Being given permission to miss community and liturgical events sends messages that these things are not an essential and important part of the offering here, and rather, that they are optional. That is not my view of a holistic, Catholic education.

On the last day of Term 1, we held our Easter Liturgy. This was on Holy Thursday. One of the most important days, in the most important week in the Christian Calendar. More than 37% of our student population was excused from attending school on that day. This was extremely dispiriting.

I want every boy to thrive, and to flourish. I want this to happen in partnership with the school and your home. I want every family to want to belong to our broader culture, faith life, and to embrace the myriad opportunities for formal, informal, and extra-curricular learning. And importantly, I want all of our boys to be invested in their own learning; to set goals for incremental improvement day-on-day. This happens best when the child is in class, being actively taught.

Please help us help your child with his academic, faith, and pastoral development by insisting he attends school punctually and regularly. It will set him up for university/TAFE/the workforce. And for life. As the old saying goes, it’s not ok to be away.

Dr Craig Wattam