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:
Absenteeism
On occasion your child may need to be absent from school. Justified reasons for student absences may include:
- being sick, or having an infectious disease
- having an unavoidable medical appointment
- being required to attend a recognised religious ceremony
- exceptional or urgent family circumstance, such as attending a funeral.
Parents are encouraged to plan family holidays with their children during school vacation periods. Any student taking leave for a holiday when an assessment task is scheduled will not have the task re-scheduled at an alternative time. This will result in zero for that particular assessment task. Please contact the school if you need further clarification regarding this policy.
Student absences can be advised by:
- responding to the text message or email sent when your child is absent.
- phoning the school on (02) 9639 7422, extension 200 and leaving a message detailing your name and contact number, the name of your student and their year, the date of absence and the reason for their absence.
- emailing details of the absence crestwood-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au.
- writing a note and giving to the home room teacher or handing the note in to the student services window.
- using the parent portal on Sentral.
Parents must provide an explaination to the school within 7 days of the first day of any absence period. If your child is absent for more than 3 days they need to supply a letter signed by their parent/carer upon their return.
More information on compulsory school attendance can be found in our school attendance (PDF 129KB) document.
Lateness
Regular attendance at Crestwood High School is important for students to reach their potential. Students should endeavour to be at school on time, every day.
School starts at 8:30am and students must move to their home group immediately. If they arrive in home group after 8:33am they must go to the student services window with a valid explanation.
If student arrives to school after the completion of home group they must:
- report to the Student Services window before 9am or reception after 9am with a note explaining their absence or the parent/carer should call the school to advise lateness before 10am.
- receive a late slip.
- show their late slip to the classroom teacher on arriving to class.
School lateness policy
Students who do not have a valid reason to be late will be given a lunch detention.
Early leavers
If a student needs to leave school early they should:
- Bring a parental note stating why and when the student is required to leave school.
- Take the note to the a Deputy for signing, then to the Student Services window before home room.
- Show their classroom teacher the early leavers pass when leaving class.
All appointments should be made outside of school times. Students are not permitted to leave the grounds without permission. All parents must produce ID when collecting their child from school.
Exemption from attendance at school
This applies to students of compulsory school age who are enrolled at a school where an exemption is sought from the legal requirement to attend school.
Certificates of exemption from compulsory education requirements of the act may be granted when it has been clearly demonstrated by the applicant that an exemption is in the student's best interests.
To gain approval for a school exemption an application for exemption from attendance at school must be completed prior to the intended leave being taken and returned to the school as soon as possible. If the exemption is approved by the principal the parents will be issued with a certificate of exemption. Download the application for exemption (PDF 57KB) for further information.
Certificate of extended leave
Attendance at school for every student is essential if students are to achieve their potential, and increase their careers and life options. Parents are encouraged to plan family holidays with their children during school vacation periods. Travel outside of vacation period is counted as an absence and will not be approved. It is strongly recommended that should family travel be necessary during term that parents seek advice from the school regarding scheduled assessment tasks prior to booking travel.
Any student taking leave for a holiday when an assessment task is scheduled will not have the task re-scheduled at an alternative time. This will result in zero for that particular assessment task. Please contact the school if you need further clarification regarding this policy.
Attendance concerns
The Department of Education and Communities requires a minimum of 85% attendance.
Attendance concerns will be addressed by the school by one of the following:
- a phone call or a letter of concern may be sent.
- parents/caregiver's may be called to the school for an interview.
- home school liaison officer (HSLO) may be called in to investigate and/or visit the home where attendance is a problem.
- for students in receipt of youth allowance, an education liaison officer from Centrelink may investigate.