Attendance

In Western Australia it is compulsory for students to remain in full-time attendance at school until the end of the year in which they turn 16 years of age. In special circumstances some students will be exempted from attendance at school, but only The Minister of Education or his/her delegate can give exemption. Young people beyond the compulsory school age may enrol at this school to complete their secondary schooling provided they agree to abide by the school's policies, procedures and practices.

It is important for students to attend school at all times and to be punctual in their attendance. Research shows that this will enhance learning. Frequently, students who have high rates of absenteeism and poor punctuality are also the students who underachieve.

Absences from School
The law requires students to attend school unless they are too ill to attend or they have to attend to family business, which cannot be conducted during out-of-school hours.

The parents/guardians of a student who is absent from school

• should telephone the school as early in the day as possible to tell the school that the student will be absent and for how many days the student is likely to be absent, and,

• write an explanation for the absence and send it to the student's tutor group teacher on the day the student returns to school. The explanation must include the student's name, the day and the reason for the absence. Where applicable, medical certificates should be attached to the note. When sickness is the reason for the absence the school may request that a medical certificate be provided to support the claim.

Unsatisfactory attendance will be referred to the School Welfare Officer.

Punctuality
The school does not rely on bells or sirens to indicate the beginning and end of the timetabled periods. This places on students the onus of arriving punctually at school and class.

Students should arrive at school in sufficient time to place lunch orders at the canteen (if necessary), to organise their books and equipment and to complete other activities before arriving at the classrooms prior to 8.30 a.m. Students are expected to move quickly from one class to the next between periods.