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:
Education for our children is important and regular attendance at school is essential for your child to achieve their educational best and increase their career and life options. Schools in the Cessnock Principal Network are working in partnership with parents to encourage and support regular attendance of children and young people.
Did you know, if your child misses as little as 8 days in a school term, by the end of primary school they will have missed over a year of school? We know that when your child attends school every day, learning becomes easier and your child will build and maintain friendships with other children.
Research tells us that for students to succeed at school and beyond, attendance is of utmost importance. KKHS staff work tirelessly to engage students in meaningful learning activities, creating a safe and supportive learning environment where students can Connect, Succeed and Thrive.
Student attendance at KKHS is closely monitored by all staff, who mark rolls for each lesson to ensure students are where they're meant to be. Text messages and emails are sent to parents and carers each day by 11am to notify them of unexplained absences and late arrivals, as an additional support mechanism for our community.
Fiona Reynolds (Attendance Office Administration) assumes the responsibility of attendance issues at the school, overseen by Ms Sara Da Silva (HT Engagement).
To report an absence, the preferred method is via the Parent Portal. If you cannot access the portal an email is acceptable or send your student with a note. Please only call to report an absence if you cannot do any of the above.
Absentee text messages are sent home as soon as possible after 9.15am. It is essential that late arrivals sign in at the Attendance Office or main office to clear the absence from their record.
Compulsory School Attendance Information for Parents (PDF - 404KB)
Early Leavers Pass Process
Request for Early Leaver Pass must be submitted (Text message, phone call, email) to the Attendance Office between 8.30 - 8.55am on the day the pass is required.
Early Leaver Pass Request must include:
- Student Name and Year
- Time and date for Early Leaver Pass
- Parent name and contact
- Reason for pass request
- Name, contact and time of appointment
Early Leaver Pass will be either provided immediately or made available for pick up at Lunch 1 at the Attendance Office
Request for an Early Leaver Pass after 8.55am:
- Parent/Guardian is to report to the Front Office and complete a Request for Early Leaver Pass form.
- Once the form is completed and approved, the student will be called to the front office at the earliest convenience.
Please Note:
- No student will be able to leave the school grounds early without an approved Early Leavers Pass (unless they are a senior with a flexible timetable and have followed sign-out processes)
- No Early Leaver Passes will be approved by parent/guardian phone call from the car outside the school.
- No Early Leaver Passes will be approved from a student mobile phone contact to parent/guardian
- No Early Leaver Passes will be approved for a student to attend paid employment. It is illegal.
Department of Education Policy and Procedure excerpt:
Parents must ensure their children who are enrolled at school attend every day the school is open for their instruction.
Regular attendance at school is essential to assist students to maximise their potential.
Request Slip for Early Leaver Pass (Front office parent request) (PDF - 110KB)
Any further enquiries can be made to Head Teacher Engagement Ms Sara Da Silva Phone: 02 4937 1877 or email: Sara.DaSilva@det.nsw.edu.au
School frameworks (school rules)
As well as following the department’s operational policies, we have developed frameworks for our students in line with our school’s values and commitments.