Firstly, a huge well done to all the school community for your engagement and attendance during Smart Start and again at the start of this year. It has been fantastic to see so many students showing up every day and giving themselves the best possible start.

According to John Hattie, who is arguably the world's leading researcher into the impact of education on young people's lives, strong attendance at school significantly increases a young person's likelihood of a higher wage, better mental and physical health, stronger relationships and higher levels of self-reported happiness later in life. In simple terms: being at school consistently matters - not just for marks, but for life outcomes.

Attendance is also about building habits. Each day at school contributes to:

• Stronger literacy and numeracy foundations
• Greater confidence in learning
• Deeper friendships and belonging
• Reduced stress about falling behind
• A sense of responsibility and resilience

Research consistently shows that even missing one day per fortnight can have a significant impact over time. Gaps in learning accumulate quickly and it becomes harder for students to feel confident and connected.

As a school, we are committed to creating classrooms where students feel safe, known and challenged. We will continue to monitor attendance closely, follow up quickly on unexplained absences and work in partnership with families where attendance becomes a concern. We want to understand barriers early and work together to address them.

Families play a crucial role in reinforcing the message that everyday counts. Simple routines - consistent bedtimes, preparing bags the night before, and scheduling appointments outside school hours where possible - make a powerful difference. Parents should also regularly check attendance on Compass as absences can quickly add up and become a barrier to learning.

At VCE all students must have over 90% to achieve a pass and students in Year 7 - 10 should be aiming above this. A significant proportion of students at Geelong High School finish the year with 100% attendance - a fantastic effort by them and their families.

Our students should be proud of the strong start they have made this year and it has been fantastic to see all students with an attendance goal this year. Let's continue to build a culture where attending school every day is the norm, where students understand that their presence matters and where together we set them up not only for academic success. but for thriving, purposeful lives beyond school.