Attendance Policy
Regular attendance at school is critical for student learning. All students are required by law to attend school up until the age of 18 years.
Students are to arrive at the time indicated on their timetable. For Middle School students, the day begins at 8:25am and ends at 3:30pm Senior School students begin at 8:55am, and end at 4:00pm All students must remain in the school during classes, unless authorized by a staff member to leave. Grade 9 to 12 students have the privilege to leave the school at the lunch hour, except when music students must attend band practice. Grade 11 and 12 students have the privilege to leave the school or be absent from school during spares, where such spares occur at the beginning or end of the day. Students who are late for either the beginning of the day or a class must sign in at reception, indicating the time of their arrival, and receive a late slip. A student who receives a late slip from reception must proceed directly to the class and give the late slip to the teacher. Students who are repeatedly late will be counselled by their homeroom teacher or advisor, and may be asked to meet with the Principal, who may impose an earlier start time and/or detention.
Students who miss a test or performance task because of illness or for a legitimate unexpected reason must present a note signed by their parent or guardian when they return excusing their absence, or an email or phone call from their parent, and must complete the test or performance task on the day of their return, generally at 7:45am, unless the teacher arranges an alternate time. Students who are scheduled to attend an event which causes them to miss a test or performance task must, prior to the day, negotiate an alternate date and time for the test or performance task to be completed with their teacher.
Students who have been given written authorization to leave the school during the day must visit reception where the student must display the written authorization, and write down their name and the time of their leaving.
Where a student is going to be absent and the parent is aware of this, they should call reception to report the absence and the reasons for the absence before the beginning of school. Where a student’s absence is unexplained, the School will attempt to contact the parent as soon as possible, before the end of the day.