Attendance

Attendance

It is your responsibility to send your child to school every day. If your child is absent from school, you must send in a written explanation as soon as your child returns to school, or reply to the text message you will receive. Our rolls are legal documents and if this explanation is not received within seven [7] days of the absence, the absence is permanently recorded as being unexplained and cannot legally be changed. 

There are very few legitimate, reasons for keeping your child away from school. Your explanation must be specific and will only be considered satisfactory if your child: 

• is too sick to come to school or has been injured

• has an infectious illness e.g. chickenpox, mumps, measles

• has to go to a special religious ceremony

• is unable to attend because of a serious family situation eg funeral, court case 

It is not, however, acceptable to keep your child away from school for activities such as: birthdays, pension days, shopping, minding other children, haircuts, etc.

Please be aware that you cannot just take your children away on family holidays during the school term and expect or even assume that it will be marked in the rolls as approved leave. You must discuss your plans first with the Principal, or any of the Deputy Principals.

The school will generally send an SMS message to your mobile number when your child is absent from school. If you receive one of these messages and you believe your child should be at school, please contact the office staff on 6925 3611.

If your child has to leave school during the day, you must send them in with a signed note clearly stating the child’s name, year, roll group number, the reason for the absence, times of departure and expected return. This note must then be handed in at the office before school. The leave pass is then collected at recess and handed back in on your return to school.

The details of students arriving late to school are also recorded in the rolls. If your child is late to school, it is your responsibility to send in a written explanation for the lateness. The student will have to sign the late book in the office and hand in the note from home. 

If for some reason, your child is reluctant to attend school, you should contact the Student Adviser or the Deputy Principal, Mr Gunter. If you wish to take your child out of school for an extended period of time, you must write to the Principal to obtain permission.