Attendance at school is compulsory. Each day is important and children should not be absent at any stage without a valid reason. Schools are required to report on unexplained absences, and as part of this procedure, letters from the school will be forwarded to parents and caregivers on a regular basis, requesting explanations for any unexplained absences.
In the event of an absence, please forward a written note to your child’s class teacher or telephone the school on the Student Absence Line 49235 260, which is open 24 hours per day. Details should give the student’s name, class, the reason for absence, the date of the absence, and who is calling. (If a note is written this should be signed by the parent or caregiver and be handed to the teacher on the day the child returns to the school). Explaining absences also helps the school to combat truancy.
If your child is going to be absent for an extended period of time, please contact the school for work, which the child may complete at home.
SECTION 176 of the EDUCATION (GENERAL PROVISIONS) ACT 2006“176 Obligation of each parent:
(1)Each parent of a child who is of compulsory school age must—
(a) ensure the child is enrolled at a State school or non-State school; and
(b) ensure the child attends the State school or non-State school, on every school day, for the educational program in which the child is enrolled; unless the parent has a reasonable excuse.
Maximum penalty—
(a) for a first offence—6 penalty units; or
(b) for a second or subsequent offence, whether or not relating to the same child of the parent—12 penalty units.
(2) Without limiting subsection (1), it is a reasonable excuse for a parent (the relevant parent) that—
(a) the child lives with another parent and the relevant parent believes, on reasonable grounds, that the other parent is complying with subsection (1); or
(b) in all the circumstances, the relevant parent is not reasonably able to control the child’s behaviour to the extent necessary to comply with subsection (1).
(3) Subsection (1) applies subject to parts 2 to 4.16”
16 Parts 2 (Flexible arrangements), 3 (Exemption from compliance with compulsory schooling requirement) and 4 (Other circumstances in which compulsory schooling requirement does not apply)
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
Students should not enter the school grounds before 8.20 a.m. Those who do, must sit in the Covered Games Area until the 8.20 a.m. bell. School commences at 8.45 a.m. and concludes at 2.45 p.m. No set supervision is provided before school. Students should leave before 3.00 p.m. unless other arrangements have been made with the Office staff. Please be aware that school finishes at 2:45pm and that there is an expectation that all students will have left the grounds by 3:00pm. It is very important that parents and caregivers ensure that students are collected by 3:00pm as no adult supervision is provided after this time. Students not collected by 3.00pm will be brought to the office. Children who are walking and/or riding home should leave the grounds as soon as they are released from class. Normal school rules apply during the before and after school periods. So that they are not implicated in vandalism, no person is allowed on school premises on weekends or after hours without the written permission of the Principal. A policy outlining use of school facilities is available at the office.
Preparatory children should be accompanied to and from Prep by an adult.
LATE ARRIVALS
Parents need to provide an explanation as to the reason for their children being late. This can be done via a note or a telephone call. All children (including Prep students) arriving after 8.45 a.m. must report to the office for a late slip.
PERMISSION TO LEAVE SCHOOL GROUNDS
Once children have arrived they will not be allowed to leave the school grounds unless parental/caregiver permission has been obtained and the Principal’s permission granted. (Should it be necessary for your child or children to leave the school grounds, they must be first signed out in our “Student Departures/Returns From/To School” register located at the office. On their return to the school the child must be signed in again by the parent/caregiver).
Children permitted to leave the school grounds during second lunch will be issued with a pass after a letter has been received from parents/caregivers requesting that such a pass be issued.
The only other occasion when students are permitted to leave the school grounds is when they are participating in an official school excursion.