February 10

February 17

February 20

February 21

February 22

Commencement Mass

College Swimming Carnival

Year 7 Vaccinations

Year 10 Vaccinations

Ash Wednesday

NSW Term Dates 2012

Term 1 commences on Tuesday 31 January and concludes on Thursday 5 April

Term 2 commences on Monday 23 April and concludes on Friday 29 June

Term 3 commences on Monday 16 July and concludes on Friday 21 September

Term 4 commences on Monday 8 October and concludes on Friday 21 December

State regulations regarding attendance at school have changed.

Acceptable excuses for absence are much stricter

Must I send my child every day? YES

New guidelines for record keeping have been legislated.

• Parents/Carers must provide a written explanation for absences, Dated, signed, and including the reason for the absence.

• This must be on a separate piece of paper and kept for seven years by the school. Very few reasons are acceptable (see below).

• Family holidays are not among them.

What if my child has to stay away from school?

• send a note, fax or email to the school, or
• telephone the school, this is to be followed by a written explanation; or
• visit the school.

What are school Principals responsible for?

• Principals have to keep accurate records of student attendance and the reasons for any absences
• Principals are responsible for accepting or not accepting a parent's explanations for their child's absences

A small number of absences may be accepted by the principal. For example, if your child has to:

• go to a special religious ceremony
• is required to attend to a serious and/or urgent family situation (eg. a funeral)
• is too sick to go to school or has an infectious illness.

What might happen if my child continues to have unacceptable absences?

• Attendance meetings and compulsory attendance conferences
• Applications to the Children's Court - A Compulsory Schooling Order
• Prosecution in the Local Court