At Westlake Girls High School, we know that regular attendance supports strong learning, wellbeing, and a sense of belonging. We actively promote excellent attendance by working in partnership with students, whānau, and staff.
This Attendance Management Plan sets out our shared expectations and responsibilities.
We do not approve holidays taken during term time as justified leave. Parents and caregivers must notify the school whenever their daughter is absent.
The Ministry of Education requires all students to attend school unless there are exceptional circumstances, such as illness or bereavement. Students are expected to maintain an attendance rate of at least 80%.
Updated Contact Details are Important
Please keep your contact details updated, so that we can contact you in an emergency.
Daily Absences
Parents and caregivers must notify the school of a student’s absence each day, in line with Ministry of Education requirements. This ensures we record attendance accurately. Please report any absences or leave passes for appointments by 9.00am.
If your daughter is absent due to illness or a medical procedure, use the Sick/Illness/Medical button. If she will be away for the full day because of a medical or dental appointment, select Doctor/Dentist. For any other full-day appointments, use the Appointment button. For bereavement or attendance at a tangi or funeral, select the Bereavement button.
The school will contact parents and caregivers by text message or email if an absence or lateness has not been explained. Please reply with the reason for your daughter’s absence so we can code it correctly. If we do not receive an explanation, we will record the absence as truant and one of your daughter’s House Deans will follow up.
Appointments During the Day
Please ensure any appointments are made at times which enable your daughter to attend school most of the day. Use the SchoolBridge app to request an EXIT pass for all appointments. You need to include the reason for the appointment and time your daughter needs to leave, and if/when she will be returning to school afterwards.
Students must sign out on the iPad at Reception before leaving the school grounds. Reception will print a leave pass, which students must carry and present to any staff member who asks why they are out of class. If a student leaves school without parental consent, the school will follow up with parents and caregivers by email.
Occasionally, families need to arrange appointments at short notice. Please note that it is not always possible to locate students in class immediately. Without advance warning, it may take 30 minutes or longer for the school to make the necessary arrangements. Please do not arrive at school expecting your daughter to be released from class straight away.
Late Arrivals
Students who arrive at school after 8.40am must sign in at Reception before going to class. This timestamps their arrival and prevents unnecessary absence notifications being sent home. Parents and caregivers must notify the school of the reason for the lateness by selecting the Late option in the SchoolBridge app, or by emailing the school, so we can record the correct attendance code.
Unwell During the Day
Students who become unwell during the school day must report to the Health Centre near Reception. Registered nurses will assess the student and provide appropriate care. If the student needs to leave school, the nurses will contact parents or caregivers and organise the required sign-out process.
If students are unwell during class time, they need to let the teacher know and they will be given a note to visit the Health Centre. At any other time of the day students are free to walk in for treatment.
Students should not be using phones in class or leaving school grounds without following the correct process.
Holiday / Extended Leave (3 or more days)
We do not generally approve extended periods of leave. Extended time away from school disadvantages students by interrupting learning and connection.
If the absence cannot be avoided, then parents/caregivers need to advise the school at least 2 weeks before the leave. Students need to collect a pink leave form and have their teachers, dean and Senior Leadership staff member sign it off. This is not to approve the leave. It is to ensure students are aware of any work or assignments they are missing during this time.
Medical Certification
Medical certificates are required for any medical absence of 4 or more consecutive days off. Please email these directly to [email protected]
