Every Day Matters

The government has set a target of 80% of students to be present for more than 90% of the term by 2030. To achieve this, our school has established a Stepped Attendance Response Plan (STAR), setting out our strategy to identify, respond to, and reduce student absences in accordance with the Education and Training Act.

We believe regular attendance is critical to student wellbeing and achievement, and we promote a culture where attendance is valued, monitored, and supported through strong relationships, clear communication, and proactive interventions.

One of the most important things a student can do is also one of the most basic: attend school every day on time! Research has shown that your daughter's regular attendance may be the greatest factor in influencing her academic success. By being present, your daughter doesn't miss out on vital teaching and learning that leads to her best results. Furthermore, a day away not only impacts her individual progress but may affect others, particularly during group projects and collaborative tasks.

Equally important, regular attendance is fundamental for your daughter's wellbeing and sense of belonging. It ensures she is exposed to opportunities and activities that add to her personal growth. By being a consistent part of the Queen’s community, she is learning how to contribute, developing valuable social skills, establishing strong relationships with peers and teachers, and gaining a broader world view. This deep sense of connection is essential for her personal development and will positively impact her future.

It is essential that we know which students are present every day. We take a roll each period, and any unexplained absence is managed through a tiered process. Please ensure your contact details are always up-to-date with the student office.

Whānau Responsibility:

If your daughter is going to be absent for any reason, please notify the school ASAP to avoid an unexplained absence. You must provide your name, your daughter's name, the reason for the absence (not just "away today"), and her likely date of return.

You can notify us via:

• Phone: 03 455 7212 (Press 1 to leave a message).

• Email: reception2@queens.school.nz

• Parent Portal (You will be informed of Parent Portal Login information shortly).

School Absence Notification Process:

1. First Check: An unexplained absence is first checked by a text message.

(replying to this message is completely free as long as you have data available on your device).

2. Follow-Up: If there's no text response, an email is automatically sent to whānau.

3. End-of-Day Contact: If we do not receive a response to either the text or email by the end of the school day, you will receive a phone call to check on her absence.

4. Truancy: If no response or information has been received by the end of the week, your daughter will be marked as Truant.

Procedures for Different Absence Types

1. Sickness: Reporting from Home

Whānau are required to notify the school office each day of absence by 8:45 am. A medical certificate may be expected if an absence is longer than three days. For serious or long-term illness, please contact the Deputy Principal/Assistant Principal/Senior Team member to arrange support, including sending work home where possible.

2. Sickness at School

A student who feels unwell must first report to their class teacher, who will refer them to the student office. Under no circumstances will a student be sent home without prior contact being made with whānau or a designated contact person. If contact cannot be made, the student will be cared for at school.

3. Planned Absences (Holidays, Trips)

Planned extended absences are strongly discouraged due to their effect on education. For planned absences (e.g., whānau holidays, overseas trips), a letter/email requesting leave must be sent to the Principal with dates and details.

• Work Provision: As these requests are generally for reasons of self-interest, staff are not expected to provide work in advance or upon the student's return.

• Assessments: Any assessments held during a student’s absence may result in the student not being able to complete them.

4. Appointments

We recommend making appointments out of school hours where possible. If not possible, a note, appointment card, phone call, or email from a whānau member is required. The student must sign out at the student office before leaving and sign in immediately upon return.

5. Lateness and Punctuality

Punctuality is vital for developing good work habits. When a student arrives late, they must report to the student office and sign in. Failure to do this will result in the student being recorded as Truant.

• Consequences: Frequent or unexplained lateness will be referred to the Dean/Senior Team member and may result in a meeting with whānau, inability to take part in optional school activities, and/or lunchtime/afterschool catch-up sessions.

Co-Curricular Activities

To be involved in extra-curricular activities (including sport, performing arts, and the school formal) that require missing curriculum time, a student is required to meet an attendance rate of 85%.

We understand that working together is key to your daughter's success. Thank you for your continued support in helping us maintain open communication and ensuring your daughter gets the very best education.

In line with the new Ministry of Education Stepped Attendance Response plan we have created the following structure that outlines our procedures for supporting regular attendance at school.