Attendance Information

School attendance plays a vital role in supporting student achievement and increase their career and life options. Every day of attendance adds to a student's achievements and success at school. Schools in partnership with parents are responsible for promoting the regular attendance of students. 

Each day, our students are building on learning from the day before, which means that every day away from school makes it harder to catch up and can impact everyone in the classroom. Poor school attendance doesn’t just impact student learning. Attending school every day helps students build resilience, develop important connections and establish healthy habits that will follow them into work and life.

Absenteeism is defined as a pattern of habitual absence from school for any reason. While absences are sometimes unavoidable, we want to ensure parents and students are aware that even occasional absences can quickly add up and that attending school every day is important to their child’s education.

Education in NSW is compulsory for all children between the ages of six years and 17 years of age. The Education Act 1990 requires that parents ensure their children of compulsory school age are enrolled at, and regularly attend school, or, are registered with NESA, Teaching and Educational Standards for home-schooling.

The NSW Government provides some helpful information to inform parents of what is expected of them. Some of the key areas are outlined below.

The importance of arriving on time

Arriving at school and class on time:

  • Ensures that students do not miss out on important learning activities scheduled early in the day
  • Helps students learn the importance of punctuality and routine
  • Gives students time to greet their friends before class
  • Reduces classroom disruption.

Student learning is more successful when students are present consistently for the whole school day. Students who arrive “just a few minutes late...” miss out on vital information on the day ahead.

School Operating Times

8:50 till 3.15 pm (Monday to Friday)

What if my child has to be away from school?

On occasion, your child may need to be absent from school. Justified reasons for student absences may include:

  • Being sick, or having an infectious disease
  • Having an unavoidable medical appointment
  • Being required to attend a recognised religious holiday
  • Exceptional or urgent family circumstance (e.g. attending a funeral).

In the case of an absence from school parents should notify the school early in the morning to advise them of the absence. This can be done by calling the College office, or an email to the student services dedicated email - studentservices@lochinvarsj.catholic.edu.au 

Following an absence from school, if notification as described above has not been given, you must ensure that within seven days you provide St Joseph's College with a verbal or written explanation for the absence. If the school has not received an explanation from you within two days, the school may contact you to discuss the absence.

Travel

Families are encouraged to travel during school holidays. If travel during school term is necessary, parents must apply for leave – at least two weeks prior to the leave so as a determination can be made – this will be dependent on scheduled assessment tasks. Please note that students will not be given leave during any scheduled examination block – see the relevant year Assessment Handbook for further details. Absences relating to travel will be marked as leave on the roll and therefore contribute to your child’s total absences for the year. In some circumstances, students may be eligible to enrol in distance education for travel periods over 50 school days.

For further information on compulsory school attendance, visit the NSW Department of Education website.