SMS Messaging
At Westfields Sports, student attendance and safety is a high priority. Westfields Sports will notify Parents/Caregivers by an SMS on their mobile phones if a student is absent or late to school without reason.
On receiving a message parents/caregivers can reply by stating the following:
student's full name, year, roll call, date of absence and the reason for absence or lateness.
eg. Shauna Smith 07R01 sick 13/3
Please do not use abbreviations or preferred names.
Parents and caregivers may ring the school to advise of student absence or provide a note. However, reply SMS is the school's preferred option.
Parents and caregivers of students involved in approved school activities, including sport, will not receive an SMS.
Parents and caregivers are asked to ensure that current mobile numbers are provided to the school.
Absences
Missing school means your child 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.
Students need to attend school regularly to meet the course requirements for 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 counselor.
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 administrative assistant at our school, or explain the reason by phone, email, or write a note as soon as possible and within seven days.
Absentee Note (pdf, 61 KB)
In the case of non-English speakers, languages other than English may be used. Notes must be written and signed by parents/caregivers.
Sickness in excess of 4 school days requires a doctor's certificate detailing the nature of sickness and duration of sickness.
Parents/caregivers may contact the school in advance if they know their child is to be absent.
Appointments with doctors, dentists etc., should be made, where possible, outside of school time.