Absences / Attendance

ABSENCE

• Parents are to advise the school by phone:   544 8427, email:   office@hope.school.nz   text:   027 5448427 or the Skool Loop App (download from the Apple App Store or Google Play) by 9am on the day of their child's absence.

• A check of absences is made daily, shortly after commencement of class.

• If your child is absent and no message has been received, you will be rung to check why your child has not arrived at school.

• It saves a lot of time if parents can remember to notify the school. This system is in place to protect your child so we need your co-operation

• If your child is to be collected from school by someone other than the usual person/people, please let the office or your child's teacher know, before the collection takes place.

ATTENDANCE

It is a legal responsibility for parents to ensure their children attend school whenever it is open for instruction.  Family holidays and long weekends should be arranged during the school vacations.  Children miss out on important learning opportunities and activities when they are absent.  We do however acknowledge that there are times when your children will not be able to attend, particularly due to illness.

Hope School currently uses the following codes to record children’s absences for the Ministry of Education:

• P    –    Present in class

• L    –    Late – arrived after the school roll has been marked *see note below

• M  –    Sick/Injured, unable to attend school

• D   –    Doctor/Dentist appointment

• Q   –    Attending a school trip/camp

• A   –    Attending alternative education (One Day School, RDA)

• O   –    Overseas

• J    –    Justified Explained Absence

There are many occasions that fit into ‘Justified’ absence, some of these are;  custody arrangements, sick relatives, funerals, arrival of new family members and relatives visiting from overseas.  These are events that cannot be ‘planned for’ during weekends and term holidays.

• G   –       Holiday During School Term

• E    –    Unjustified but Explained Absence

• T     –    Unjustified and Unexplained Absence/No Reason Given

Again there are many occasions that fit into ‘Unjustified’ absence, some of these are; family holidays and long weekends during term time,  shopping and birthday events. These are events that should take place during weekends and term holidays. If you choose to take your child out of school for these activities it could be classed as ‘parental condoned truancy’.