Regular and punctual attendance at school is necessary for students to learn effectively and to achieve success in their learning. The school has a range of procedures to monitor attendance and promote students’ skills of self-organisation. There is an expectation that there will be communication between the home and the school when students are absent.
Punctuality
Students are expected to arrive at school by 8.50am and to punctually attend all lessons.
If students arrive late to school on any day, they are required to go to Student Services Reception to have their time of arrival and daily attendance recorded.
Leaving school during the day
If a student needs to leave the school grounds for a medical or other appointment, they should present a note from their parents to the subject teacher and then report to Student Services Reception before signing out.
Students register their departure at Student Services Reception. On returning, the student signs in again at Student Services Reception.
Students are not permitted to leave the school grounds without registering their departure.
Absence from school
All official records of attendance are managed by Student Services Reception staff.
If students are absent from school due to illness or other unavoidable circumstances, parents are required to telephone the school’s absence phone line on 9247 0223 on the morning of the absence. Alternatively, parents may email the school at balga.shs@education.wa.edu.aupreferably by 9am on the day of the absence, and include the child’s full name, Form Teacher, reason for their absence and when they are expected to return to school.
In addition to this, parents are requested to send a written note of the explanation for absence on the next day of attendance.
Parents / students may be required to provide a medical certificate to explain absence which exceeds three consecutive days.
Extended absence from school (non-medical reasons)
If parents wish to apply for permission for a student to be absent from school in excess of four days, an exemption form is required from the Principal prior to absence. Exemption forms are available from Student Services Reception.
Leaving class during a lesson
Students who are given permission to leave class during a lesson must receive an “OUT OF CLASS PASS” from the teacher and carry it with the. Movement around the school during lesson time should be minimal.
Homework
Homework is often ongoing assignment work that gives students valuable practice in working independently, consolidating and applying their learning. It is an integral part of the curriculum that is essential to encourage and support progress in each subject.
Parents are asked to support students in planning and completing homework.
Students are expected to contribute to a litter free school environment.
Students must cooperate with staff requests to clean up when asked.
Travel to and from school
Whether walking, riding or travelling to and from school by bus or train, students should be conscious of their own safety and respect the rights of other travellers.
Bicycle safety should be observed and riders must wear safety helmets and lock bicycles when storing bikes in bike racks.
Any student who is a passenger in a car driven by another student, must have written parent permission. Parent permission for both drivers and passengers is required.
Department for Education schools in Western Australia do not have insurance to cover damage to, or theft of bikes and cars parked on the school grounds.
