In New Zealand, parents must legally make sure that their child goes to school each day under the Education Act 1989. For further information regarding your legal responsibilities – follow this link: Attendance
On-going lateness and absenteeism is monitored by the school. The Principal must regularly report to the Board of Trustees about any absences of concern.
Reporting Absences Procedure:
Contact the school if your child is sick, has an appointment or needs to attend a tangi or funeral either by email – here, text message 027 311 5610 or call 09 378 6883, or via our school app Hero. See this page for information on how to set up a Hero Account and report an absence on Hero
- Let the office know as soon as you are aware that your child needs to be away and for how long.
- If your child is absent more than 3 days a doctor’s certificate is required.
- If your child is going to have a long period of time off school you must request leave in writing, prior to the date of leave, and gain approval from the Principal. Send your requests via the school office email.
Can I take my child out of school during term time to go on holiday?
No, a holiday is not a good enough reason to take your child out of school, so holidays should be planned outside of term time. Events like a birthday or a special day’s shopping aren’t considered valid reasons for being away from school either.
If you feel that the reason for your child’s absence has the potential to enhance their educational progress, you may choose to write a letter to the principal requesting special dispensation, outlining the educational benefits of such a trip. It is at the principal’s discretion whether to approve such leave. Send your requests via the school office email.
Lateness:
All teachers check for children’s absences between 8.55am – 9.00am using an online application that reports directly to the school office. After 9.00am the responsibility for marking anyone late as ‘at school’ rests with the School Office. It is for this reason that if your child is dropped off after 9.00am, they must report to Julie McGrail, our office secretary, to receive a late pass. Your child is not in trouble, but Julie needs to ensure your child is marked as ‘at school’. She will also write a late pass for your child. Your child hands it to the teacher so they know that your child is now officially recorded as being ‘at school’ and the teacher does not need to take any further action. Failure to follow this procedure will almost certainly result in a phone call from Julie to you asking where your child is. This strict procedure is for your child’s personal safety, ensuring your child has indeed arrived safely at school and is not missing. We appreciate Julie’s vigilance in this process as there have been children in the past that have been unaccounted for and required a search from the school staff, parents, and the police. Julie’s vigilance ensures a fast reaction if a child is found to be missing.