EVERY DAY COUNTS

Holy Cross has a policy of encouraging 100% student attendance – all day, every day. 

School absenteeism and truancy can impact significantly on students' learning and wellbeing. Research shows that, higher student attendance is associated, on average, with higher student achievement. Additionally, attending school every day helps children to build social and emotional skills such as communication, teamwork and resilience.

Every student absence requires a valid reason for absence. Acceptable reasons for non-attendance include illness, or significant medical treatment, participating in a school or regional sporting or other event, or attendance at a significant family event such as a funeral.

When a child is absent for any reason, the school must be informed via the MyCE App, Parent Portal, telephone, email, or personal contact from a parent/guardian. Verbal explanations, by a student or sibling, are not adequate. If there are unexplained absences, the school will contact parents via text, to ensure that parents are aware of the absence.

Unacceptable reasons include birthdays, shopping, visiting family and friends, sleeping in, looking after other children, minor medical check-ups or procedures, haircuts or leaving early for travel on school holidays (or returning late from school holidays). It is also unacceptable to miss school on a sports day or on a day when the school is celebrating a liturgy or Mass. These are normal school days and students and their parents must treat them as such - opting out is not an option.

Extended family holidays or temporary relocations that occur during the school term need to be communicated with the Principal. Absences may impact on student learning and assessment tasks, and will be noted in written reports.

Having problems getting your child to school for some of these reasons?

Having problems getting your child to school for some of these reasons?

• won’t get out of bed in the morning
• won’t go to bed at night
• can’t find their uniform, books, school bag …
• slow to eat breakfast
• haven’t done their homework
• watching TV
• have a test or presentation to do, have an assignment to hand in
• it’s their birthday.

A set routine can help

• have a set time to go to bed
• have a set time to get out of bed
• have uniform and school bag ready the night before
• have a set time for starting and finishing breakfast
• set a time for daily homework activities
• speak about school positively
• be firm, send your child to school every school day including their birthday and the last day of term!

What should I do if my child won’t go to school?

You should contact the school as soon as possible for advice and support.