I am writing regarding student leave for all our K-12 students. If your child is unwell and unable to attend school please contact our Student Absence team on absences@hillsgrammar.nsw.edu.au on the morning of or the evening before the absence. This ensures that we can accurately complete our school rolls each day.
If you choose to inform your child’s Class Teacher, please ensure the Absence Team is copied into the same email. As teachers are often engaged in teaching and other duties throughout the day, they may not be able to respond promptly. For all notifications regarding early departures, late arrivals, full-day absences, or medical leave, we kindly ask that communication be directed to the Absence Team in the first instance.
Attendance at school every day is a requirement of the Education Act unless your child is unwell or if your child is on approved leave. There are provisions for the School to grant leave for reasons of domestic or international travel, family emergency, significant cultural or religious events and other extenuating circumstances. In all instances prior notice must be provided as leave can not be granted retrospectively. I ask that you provide us with at least 10 school days of notice of leave unless where leave is for an emergency. Applications for leave of 5 or less days can be made by an email. Where your child needs leave of 6 or more school days a leave request form must be completed and accompanying documents (such as travel documentation provided). The leave application for 6 or more days leave is found here.
Please note that it is the School’s expectation that family holidays will be scheduled during school holiday periods rather than during term time. Attendance at school each day is essential for consolidating your child’s learning. We ask that you support your child’s learning and it is important that leave requests are for exceptional circumstances only. Please note that teachers can not be expected to provide work while students are on leave, especially for reasons of travel and senior school students are expected to ensure that assessment tasks are not missed.