The College encourages parents to take holidays with their child during school holiday periods.
In general, the taking of leave during term time is discouraged.
Holidays or travel during term time will not normally be accepted as a valid reason for absence from College or for non-submission of assessment tasks.
College fees continue to be payable during these absences.
Teachers are unable to provide detailed work for extended periods but can make suggestions for study whilst the student is away.
APPLICATION FOR EXTENDED LEAVE (INCLUDING TRAVEL)
Parents should apply online using the Application for Extended Leave including travel Application Form available on the College Website. Wherever possible, the form should be submitted 10 working days in advance.
When the leave request is submitted, it will be checked for completeness by Student Reception (who will follow up any missing information). For Senior School students, the application will be reviewed by the Academic Dean of Students for assessment and learning implications.
The application and further information from the Academic Dean of Students (where relevant) is then sent to the Head of Junior School or Head of Senior School for approval. When the period of leave requested is extensive, the student must demonstrate to the relevant Deputy Principal that outcomes in each course will be achieved.
The principal (or delegate) will not accept a reason for leave during the school term if it is not in the best interests of the student. Educational, social and participation reasons will be considered. A request will not be accepted if the student has been the subject of contact with the Department of Communities and Justice and for whom unresolved issues concerning risk of harm remain. Where the travel period exceeds 50 school days, access to Distance Education or enrolment in another school must be considered.
APPROVAL OR DECLINING OF EXTENDED LEAVE APPLICATION
Where the principal (or delegate) approves the leave, a Certificate is issued and emailed to inform parents of approval. Special conditions may be associated with the Certificate. Examples of conditions for lengthy leave may include (but not limited to):
- completion of set tasks
- loss of marks due to missed assessments
- alternative assessments
- assessment of the student to ascertain which grade to return.
The Certificate will note that the College is not expected to provide work for the student during the time of the extended leave and that the care and responsibility of the student resides with the parent. The Certificate will be placed on the students file and Code “L” will be entered into Edumate for the leave.
Where the Principal declines the application, a letter declining the application is issued and emailed to inform parents. If the principal declines the leave, but the student still takes the leave, the absence is recorded in Edumate as unjustified (code “A”).
ASSESSMENT IMPLICATIONS
See “ASSESSMENT EXPECTATIONS FOR EXTENDED LEAVE ABSENCES AND ATTENDANCE EXEMPTIONS”
The College Principal may grant exemptions from attendance due to elite arts of sporting participation.
College fees continue to be payable during these absences. Teachers are unable to provide detailed work for extended periods but can make suggestions for study whilst the student is away.
APPLICATION FOR ATTENDANCE EXEMPTION
Parents should apply online using the Application Form available on the College Website. Wherever possible, the form should be submitted a full month in advance.
The application will be reviewed by Administration to ensure it is completed accurately before submitting to the Principal for completion. The Academic Dean of Students for Senior School will also review the submission and provide details of assessments to the Principal so that full consideration to the impact on learning can be assessed.
A Certificate of Exemption will only be granted:
- when it has been clearly demonstrated by the applicant that an exemption is in the student’s best interests in the short and long term.
- alternatives to exemption should have been fully explored. For example, it may be in the student’s best interests and be more appropriate to access Distance Education.
A request will not be accepted if the student has been the subject of contact with the Department of Communities and Justice and for whom unresolved issues concerning risk of harm remain.
Certificates of Exemptions granted by the Principal will:
- include the specific conditions that apply to the exemption
- state that the exemption may be cancelled if these conditions are not met or cease to apply
- specify the dates for which the exemption has been granted, including the hours of program participation in the case of a part-day exemption period.
APPROVAL OR DECLINING OF ATTENDANCE EXEMPTION
Once approved by the Principal, the original Certificate of Exemption will be provided to parents. A copy of the Certificate will be placed on the students file and Code “M” or “P/M” will be entered into Edumate for the leave.
Certificates of exemption issued by the Principal may be cancelled by the Principal.
ASSESSMENT IMPLICATIONS
See “ASSESSMENT EXPECTATIONS FOR EXTENDED LEAVE ABSENCES AND ATTENDANCE EXEMPTIONS”
The College Principal may grant exemptions from attendance due to exceptional circumstances (including the health of the student where sick leave or alternative enrolment is not appropriate).
College fees continue to be payable during these absences. Teachers are unable to provide detailed work for extended periods but can make suggestions for study whilst the student is away.
APPLICATION FOR ATTENDANCE EXEMPTION
Parents should apply online using the Application Form available on the College Website. Wherever possible, the form should be submitted a full month in advance.
The application will be reviewed by Administration to ensure it is completed accurately before submitting to the Principal for completion. The Academic Dean of Students for Senior School will also review the submission and provide details of assessments to the Principal so that full consideration to the impact on learning can be assessed.
A Certificate of Exemption will only be granted:
- when it has been clearly demonstrated by the applicant that an exemption is in the student’s best interests in the short and long term.
- alternatives to exemption should have been fully explored. For example, it may be in the student’s best interests and be more appropriate to access Distance Education.
A request will not be accepted if the student has been the subject of contact with the Department of Communities and Justice and for whom unresolved issues concerning risk of harm remain.
Certificates of Exemptions granted by the Principal will:
- include the specific conditions that apply to the exemption
- state that the exemption may be cancelled if these conditions are not met or cease to apply
- specify the dates for which the exemption has been granted, including the hours of program participation in the case of a part-day exemption period.
APPROVAL OR DECLINING OF ATTENDANCE EXEMPTION
Once approved by the Principal, the original Certificate of Exemption will be provided to parents. A copy of the Certificate will be placed on the students file and Code “M” or “P/M” will be entered into Edumate for the leave.
Certificates of exemption issued by the Principal may be cancelled by the Principal.
ASSESSMENT IMPLICATIONS
See “ASSESSMENT EXPECTATIONS FOR EXTENDED LEAVE ABSENCES AND ATTENDANCE EXEMPTIONS”
The College Principal may grant exemptions from attendance due to employment in the entertainment industry.
College fees continue to be payable during these absences. Teachers are unable to provide detailed work for extended periods but can make suggestions for study whilst the student is away.
APPLICATION FOR ATTENDANCE EXEMPTION
Parents should apply online using the Application Form available on the College Website. Wherever possible, the form should be submitted a full month in advance.
The application will be reviewed by Administration to ensure it is completed accurately before submitting to the Principal for completion. The Academic Dean of Students for Senior School will also review the submission and provide details of assessments to the Principal so that full consideration to the impact on learning can be assessed.
A Certificate of Exemption will only be granted:
- when it has been clearly demonstrated by the applicant that an exemption is in the student’s best interests in the short and long term.
- alternatives to exemption should have been fully explored. For example, it may be in the student’s best interests and be more appropriate to access Distance Education.
A request will not be accepted if the student has been the subject of contact with the Department of Communities and Justice and for whom unresolved issues concerning risk of harm remain.
Certificates of Exemptions granted by the Principal will:
- include the specific conditions that apply to the exemption
- state that the exemption may be cancelled if these conditions are not met or cease to apply
- specify the dates for which the exemption has been granted, including the hours of program participation in the case of a part-day exemption period.
APPROVAL OR DECLINING OF ATTENDANCE EXEMPTION
Once approved by the Principal, the original Certificate of Exemption will be provided to parents. A copy of the Certificate will be placed on the students file and Code “M” or “P/M” will be entered into Edumate for the leave.
Certificates of exemption issued by the Principal may be cancelled by the Principal.
ASSESSMENT IMPLICATIONS
See “ASSESSMENT EXPECTATIONS FOR EXTENDED LEAVE ABSENCES AND ATTENDANCE EXEMPTIONS”
Leave during Years 10 to 12 is extremely difficult because of NESA Assessment requirements. Breaches of NESA requirements can result in the non-award of external certificates (ie Higher School Certificate or Record of School Achievement).
Students/parents who are seeking leave will need to consult with the Academic Dean of Students, to determine how they might complete all NESA Assessment and Coursework requirements well before plans and bookings are made for any exemption or absence.
Formal documentary evidence will need to be provided to justify leave when an assessment task is scheduled during the leave period.
APPROVED EXTENDED LEAVE ABSENCE OR ATTENDANCE EXEMPTION
If the absence or exemption is approved, any hand-in assessment task that falls within the leave period must be completed prior to departure or submitted by the due date electronically unless a suitable arrangement can be made with the Academic Dean of Students, to complete the task at a later date.
Any class work must be caught up.
UNAPPROVED EXTENDED LEAVE ABSENCE OR ATTENDANCE EXEMPTION
If a student takes leave that is not approved, they will receive a mark of zero for any hand-in assessment task that is not submitted by the due date or any in-class task or examination that falls in that period. In addition, students must still complete the missed task upon their return to College.
Any class work must be caught up.
Students in Years 7 to 9 are also required to meet sufficient course outcomes and complete scheduled assessment tasks.
APPROVED EXTENDED LEAVE ABSENCE OR ATTENDANCE EXEMPTION
If the absence or exemption is approved, any hand-in tasks which are due during the period for which leave has been granted, must be submitted prior to departure. Where an in-class assessment task is scheduled during this period, the task is to be completed prior to departure, whenever possible. If this is not possible, parents must write to the Subject Coordinator requesting a rescheduling of the task and the student will complete an alternative task upon return to school for each subject impacted. The date for the rescheduled task must be arranged with the Subject Coordinator prior to departure. The mark for this alternative task will be the basis of an estimate.
Any class work must be caught up.
UNAPPROVED EXTENDED LEAVE ABSENCE OR ATTENDANCE EXEMPTION
If leave has not been granted, and a student misses an Assessment Task, a mark of zero will be recorded.
Any class work must be caught up.