Meet our Attendance Officer

Regular attendance is one of the strongest indicators of student achievement and long‑term success, and at Avcol we’re fortunate to have Christina Esau-Elu in our Attendance Office who champions this every day.

Christina and her team work in E Block where they process students signing out, and ensure accurate record keeping of absences.

Planned departures during the school day (such as for doctor's appointments) need to be documented before a student leaves school:

• Parents can send a written note with their child explaining the reason for the absence, or they can complete the E‑form on Family Connection, or email the school directly on absences@avcol.school.nz.

• If they don't have a note they must visit their Dean, a Deputy Principal, the nurse, or a counsellor to have the absence approved before signing out on the tablets at the Attendance Station.

• Phone calls aren’t accepted for planned absences, as written documentation ensures everything is properly recorded.
  

If a student becomes unwell during the school day, the process is just as important. They receive a yellow pass from their teacher to leave class and then head to the nurse, who assesses them and signs them out if they need to go home.

From a legal and health‑and‑safety perspective, the school is responsible for students while they are on site, so it’s essential that the person collecting them matches the information in our system. This ensures every student is accounted for and safe.

Christina says helping your child to grow good habits around attendance is extremely important for their future: "Showing up each day on time is a life skill that they take to work. Being self‑managed and self‑propelling around their own routine is important. Your child is worth it.”