Rules and policies are in place to make sure your child remains safe and well at school.
Visit the NSW Department of Education’s policy library for all current operational policies.
Our school uses the department's School Community Charter to ensure all of our communication is collaborative and respectful.
Attendance and absences
Students must attend school regularly so they can achieve their educational best and increase their career and life options.
In NSW, all children from the age of 6 are legally required to attend school or be registered for home schooling through the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA). All students must complete Year 10, or its equivalent.
Young people below the age of 17 who have completed Year 10 must be:
in school, or registered for home schooling
in approved education or training, such as a traineeship, apprenticeship or TAFE
in full-time paid employment (average 25 hours a week)
in a combination of work, education and/or training (average of 25 hours a week combined).
Students 17 years and over who are enrolled in school must attend school regularly to meet HSC course requirements.
As a parent or carer, you are responsible for ensuring your child attends school every day when they are of compulsory school age. You must explain all absences to the school within 7 days.
For more information about compulsory school attendance, visit:
Missing school means your son/daughter misses out on vital information and maintaining learning routines. This can result in a loss of confidence and missing out on forming vital friendships.
Attendance is recorded each day. As a parent or caregiver you are responsible for ensuring your child attends school every day, including sports days unless your child:
- has an unavoidable medical or dental appointment (preferably these should be made after school or during holidays).
- is required to attend a recognised religious holiday.
- is required to attend an exceptional or urgent family circumstance (such as attending a funeral).
- is sick, or has an infectious illness.
Reporting a student absence to MHS
Please phone or message 0418 245 356 to report absences for your child.
Students need to attend school regularly to meet the course requirements of the Higher School Certificate. If you are having difficulty getting your child to attend school regularly, you might like to talk to the school principal or the school counsellor.
If your child has to be absent from school for any reason, including arriving late or leaving early, please either tell your child's teacher or the administration assistant at our school, or explain the reason by phone, email, or written note as soon as possible and within seven days.
Application for extended student leave
Students can no longer be issued with a 'Certificate of Extended Leave - Travel' for holidays or travel outside of school vacation periods and is no longer considered under the Exemption from School - Procedures. Travel outside of vacations period is now counted as an absence for statistical purpose.
Travel is no longer exempted from school attendance when taken outside of school holiday periods, therefore cannot be exempted from attendance at school. These periods will now be countered as absence for statistical purposes. If a student needs to be on extended leave for 5 or more days, the parent/carer needs to contact the school and make an appointment with the Deputy Principal regarding this matter. If the student is going overseas, original travel documents need to brought with you at the interview.
The principal has the authority to grant some leave and exemptions depending on the circumstances. The parent/carer(s) must still make an 'application for extended leave - travel'. If the leave has been approved a 'certificate of extended leave - travel' will be issed and the absence will be recorded as 'L' leave and if the leave has not been approved the absence will be recorded as 'A' unjustified.
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