Attendance
Expectations
Students are expected to attend school each day and to be punctual. Students must be present throughout the whole school day and must not leave the school for any reason without specific permission. Each day commences with roll call at 8.30am and finishes at 3.00pm.
School Bytes Online Forms
Digital versions of attendance forms are available via School Bytes. This allows parents/carers to digitally sign and submit forms using their laptop, device or mobile phone.
Online School Bytes forms include:
- Whole Day Absence Form
- Early Leaver Request
- Late Arrival
- Change of Details
- BYOD User Charter
- Laptop Loan Request
To access the forms within your School Bytes account https://portal.schoolbytes.education, click on the Forms tab and then select the relevant form.
Alternative Options
Leaving Early - Planned
If a student needs to leave school early, they must provide a signed note from their parent/carer giving reasons for the partial absence. Students must hand the note in at the student reception before 8.30am (or at recess) where they will be issued with a leave pass. They present this leave pass to their class teacher and leave school at the approved time.
Leaving Early - Unplanned
Parents MUST contact the school in person or by telephone (not by email) to arrange for students to leave early on short notice. The school will pass on the message to the child. The student must then collect their leave pass from the front office before leaving the school.
Students must NOT contact parents to arrange to go home. All contact regarding early leave MUST go through the front office.
Arriving Late
All students arriving to school after 8.40am must sign in at the student reception, WITH THEIR STUDENT ID CARD, where they will be issued with a late note. All late arrivals are required to have a signed note from their parent/carer giving reasons for being late. No note or an unjustified reason results in a detention.
Notes Explaining Absences
If a student is absent for any reason, parents/carers are required to send a note to school explaining the reason for the absence, unless an explanation has been given in reply to a text message from the school (see below). Notes must be signed and dated and clearly state the student’s full name, school year and roll class. This note should be placed in the Absence/Late Notes box at the student reception. Please be advised, any days where a note is not provided, including late arrivals, will be recorded as an Unexplained Absence on the student’s semester report.
Students who are absent for four or more consecutive school days due to illness or injury are required to provide a medical certificate on their return to school.
Notification of Absences by Text Messaging
Cherrybrook Technology High School uses text messaging software to notify parents or carers of their child’s whole or partial absence from school. Parents/carers can respond to the text message to explain the reason for their child’s absence from school. However, this is a stand-alone process and ONLY for the purpose of absentees. Please DO NOT text the school unless a message is received from CTHS and DO NOT use this system for any other communication. It is essential parents notify the school if their mobile phone number changes.
Unexplained Absences
Parents will be notified of any unexplained absence and continued lateness to school. Persistent unjustified absences and lateness may result in a student’s placement on a level and detention. All absences will be recorded on the student’s semester report.
Fractional Truancy
Fractional truancy is when a student is out of class without written permission from a teacher or member of staff. This will result in a level and an after-school detention.
Extended Leave
Parents wishing their child to apply for extended leave (four or more consecutive school days) can email the school via cths.school@det.nsw.edu.au, with all the details and documentation pertaining to their circumstances. The application takes two weeks to process.
Have a question for our principal or teachers?
Our friendly office team can help you get in touch.