Rules and policies are in place to make sure your child remains safe and well at school.
Visit the NSW Department of Education’s policy library for all current operational policies.
Our school uses the department's School Community Charter to ensure all of our communication is collaborative and respectful.
Attendance and absences
Students must attend school regularly so they can achieve their educational best and increase their career and life options.
In NSW, all children from the age of 6 are legally required to attend school or be registered for home schooling through the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA). All students must complete Year 10, or its equivalent.
Young people below the age of 17 who have completed Year 10 must be:
in school, or registered for home schooling
in approved education or training, such as a traineeship, apprenticeship or TAFE
in full-time paid employment (average 25 hours a week)
in a combination of work, education and/or training (average of 25 hours a week combined).
Students 17 years and over who are enrolled in school must attend school regularly to meet HSC course requirements.
As a parent or carer, you are responsible for ensuring your child attends school every day when they are of compulsory school age. You must explain all absences to the school within 7 days.
For more information about compulsory school attendance, visit:
When a student is absent from school
Parents/carers will receive an automated SMS or e-mail regarding their child' absence. On their return to school, the student needs to bring a note written and signed by their parent/carer explaining their absence. The note should have their name, year, date/s absent and reason. This note must be given to the front office within seven (7) days of their return to school.
When a student is late for school
Students who arrive at school late must report to the front office on arrival with a note from their parent/carer with an explanation to avoid receiving an automated SMS or e-mail regarding the late arrival. You may phone the school office beforehand with an explanation. Students must sign in at the Attendance Desk at the Front Office and collect a late pass that must be given to their teacher to allow entry to class.
Year 12 students
Senior students who have study periods during Period 1 (or Periods 1 and 2) or Period 5 (or Periods 4 and 5) have permission from the school to study at home before coming to school or after leaving school. Upon arrival or prior to departure, all senior students must sign in or out at the front office. No senior student has permission to leave the school if they have study periods outside of these times. Please refer to the Senior Study Agreement for more information.
Explaining your child's absence
It is important to tell the school if your child has to be absent from school and to provide a reason for the absence.
Principals are legally responsible for keeping accurate records of student attendance.
Principals are also responsible for deciding if the reason given for an absence is justified.
Wherever possible, parents and carers are encouraged to provide an explanation for absences before the absences occur.
The Principal of the school has the right to question parents’ requests for their child to be absent from school. The Principal also has the right to question an explanation given for a child’s absence from school.
To explain an absence parents and carers may:
- send a note, fax or email to the school
- telephone the school, or
- reply to the the school's Automatic Absence Notification sent by email or SMS, or
- visit the school.
Possible reasons for absence
Medical reason:
- Flu
- Stomach-ache
- Diarrhoea
- Cold
- Headache/Migraine
- Strong pain
- Fever
- Broken bone
- Vomiting
- Infectious illness e.g. chicken pox
- Nose bleed
- Asthma
- Rash
- Injury
- Medical appointment
- Dental appointment
- Optometry appointment
- Physiotherapy appointment
- Specialist appointment
- Other - I will telephone the school to explain
Family reason:
- Funeral
- Moving residence
- Arrival or departure of an immediate relative from overseas
- Unavoidable involvement in a serious family incident
- Other - I will telephone the school to explain
Other reason:
- Misadventure and unforeseen events e.g. fire, flood
- Participation in special event, e.g. attendance at a religious ceremony
- Family holiday
- Transport difficulty
- Unavoidable delay
- Other - I will telephone
School frameworks (school rules)
As well as following the department’s operational policies, we have developed frameworks for our students in line with our school’s values and commitments.