Over the course of a school year, students may be absent for short periods of time for a variety of reasons. Extended absences, for reasons other than student health, should be carefully considered by families. To ensure that our students miss as little time as possible from school, we ask for parents’ cooperation in scheduling family holidays outside of school time.

Schools are not in a position to approve or deny permission for student absences for family holidays or other extended absences. This decision lies with the parent/guardian. Please do inform the office and teacher in advance of the absence so they are aware. Should parents wish to remove their child from school for a lengthy period of time, consideration should be given to the implication this may have to their child’s education. Important learning is missed by students during any absence which puts them at a disadvantage compared with those in regular attendance.

Should a family decide to remove their child for an extended absence, the school is not required to provide educational materials. Being present and engaged in the school setting goes beyond the materials provided. Teachers are not able to replicate the school experience by providing homework. Please note that teachers are not obliged to provide learning materials or assignments during an extended vacation absence. Should a student be absent for a significant period of time and therefore is not able to demonstrate the learning outcomes for a particular course, it may not be possible to provide an appropriate proficiency scale in reporting on their learning.