Attendance

Students are expected to attend punctually all classes in which they are enrolled, as well as daily registration, and Gathering, Assembly, Collect and Long Tutor. Where students are absent for legitimate reasons, it is still expected that they notify their teacher and/or tutor and find out what work they have missed. Where students have unapproved absences (including taking holidays during term time), they need to be aware that teachers are not obliged to provide them with ‘catch up’ time. Where a student misses a class or any of the above events without good reason, or is habitually late, they will be spoken to by their tutor, who will contact the student’s parent/guardian.

Dental and medical appointments and driving lessons should be scheduled after school or during school holidays whenever possible. When a student has to leave school early, or for part of the School day, their parent should contact the school by phone or email or send a written note beforehand. As students leave, and when they return to school, they are to present their library cards at the Senior School Office for electronic recording and provide evidence of their reason for leaving.

It is our requirement that all Year 11 and 12 students attend at least 90% of classes for each subject. Should a student fall below this level of attendance s/he will be required to attend a meeting with the school leaders and their tutor. The purpose of this meeting will be to establish the reasons for these absences, to decide how the student may be supported to avoid future absences and to assess how far these absences jeopardise the student’s chances of passing this or these subjects. It is possible that a formal warning may be issued to ensure class attendance in cases where there are no legitimate reasons for the absence. If a student is required to attend such a meeting then parents will be informed. Further unexplained and unauthorised absences will lead to parents being asked to attend an interview.

Assemblies

Assemblies are an important part of life in the Senior School and as such require compulsory attendance. They are organised by staff and students and are conducted mainly by members of the Senior School Council. They are usually held on Monday mornings.

Every week there is either Long Tutor or ‘Collect’, which all students attend and at which important information regarding important events, universities, student activities and so on, is shared.

Gathering for reflection is usually held. Whole School Assemblies, where the School community from Kindergarten – Year 12, including parents, friends and board members meet together, are held at least twice a year.

Attendance at all the gatherings mentioned above is compulsory, unless permission has been sought from a school leader.

Canteen

The canteen is available for the general purchase of food and drink daily during scheduled break times.

Pathways Advisors

The Pathways Advisors assist students with subject and careers advice, work experience programs and pathways counselling. Students are helped with decisions about appropriate career choices and how to balance work, leisure and studies with a strong emphasis on self-direction and increasing motivation towards studies that will advance their chosen career.

The Pathways Advisors' office is situated in the WN Oats building next to the Senior School Office.

Friends' Certificate

The aims of the Certificate are to recognise that education neither begins nor ends in the classroom, to complement and balance academic development, to foster student wellbeing and to give practical meaning to the Purpose and Concerns and the motto of The Friends’ School: To Let Your Life Speak.

To gain the Friends' Certificate a student must complete 150 hours of Creativity, Action and Service over a period of up to four years. At least 30 hours over two years needs to be committed to each of the following areas: Creativity, Action and Service (at least 15 hours within the community in each area). Students are responsible for keeping records and writing a reflective essay.

Year 12 students aiming to receive the Friends' Certificate need to submit their forms and essay by the first week of September. Record sheets need to be signed by the appropriate supervisor. If students require further information about the Certificate they should talk with their Tutor.

School Psychologist

The School Psychologist, Annabelle Black, is a qualified Educational Psychologist. She works with students who need assistance to cope with learning, behavioural or social/emotional difficulties. Students can be referred by themselves, their parents, teachers and doctors. Counselling may be provided on a one-to-one, small group or family basis. Assessment of students’ intellectual, educational and emotional functioning is offered, if necessary, for diagnosing underlying reasons for learning or behavioural problems. Consultation with parents and teachers is often critical in ensuring joint responsibility for the development of action.

The Psychologist's office is situated in the in the WN Oats building next to the Senior School Office.

Home - School Communication

Absences

Parents are requested to notify the Senior School Office before 9.00am if their child will be absent from School for any reason. Calls can be made from 8.15am on 6210 2255. If a message concerning a child’s absence is not received and the student is still absent at morning registration, an automatic email will be sent to the parents to inform them. The School has an answering machine for out-of-hours calls. Where students will be absent for longer periods of time for family or community events, parents are requested to discuss this with a school leader well in advance, to ensure good planning. Please note that changes to the State Education Act require the School to record any absences due to holidays taken in term time as an “unapproved absence”.

Excursions

Parents will be informed through Paperly of excursions organised as part of the normal Curriculum program. Where these excursions are outside Hobart and/or involve a higher degree of risk, a letter will be sent home seeking parental permission for the student to participate and any recent medical information.

SEQTA

SEQTA Learn is used by students as a central point of access for online components of classes, feedback from assessment and information such as bulletins and links to other online school services. SEQTA Learn is accessed at www.learn.friends.tas.edu.au or via an iOS or Android app.

SEQTA Engage provides parents access to information such as links to school online services, regular feedback to students that is made available to parents, the school calendar and Publications (What’s On, Primary School Newsletters, Rose and Waratah), your child’s timetable (including teacher email contacts and attendance recorded). SEQTA Engage is accessed at www.engage.friends.tas.edu.au and requests for an account can be sent to engage@friends.tas.edu.au

Paperly

Paperly is used by parents to share a medical profile of the children with the school, as well as complete permission forms. A request to share the medical profile is made as part of the enrolment process.

Living Arrangements

Should a family find itself in a position where they are considering putting their son or daughter into accommodation other than their family home with parent(s)/guardian(s) or into the School boarding house, this should only happen after prior consultation with the school leadership.

Learning Conferences

The Home–School partnership needs to be a close one for students to receive the best possible education. School leaders are readily available to discuss matters with parents. If a problem arises where parents feel that the School can assist, contact with the Tutor or school leaders can be established very quickly, and immediate action taken.

Throughout the year there will be various occasions when parents have the opportunity to meet with staff. The Tutor usually makes contact with the parents of each child in their group early in Term 1 to establish a regular pattern of communication. There is also a Parent/Tutor evening held early in the year. Parents and the Tutor may meet on other occasions during the year to ensure that a close relationship and understanding develop. Subject teachers are available for interviews following the distribution of Progress Reports in Term 1 and Subject Reports in Term 2.

Supportive School Environment

The focus of all rules and guidelines in the Senior School is to promote safety, learning and positive interpersonal relationships, and to cultivate self-discipline and self-awareness in each student.

Underlying this focus is the belief that students in the Senior School are able to understand the impact of their actions on themselves and others and therefore accept responsibility for these actions and their consequences, within a supportive home and school environment.

Hours

School starts in the Senior School daily at 8.30am and finishes at 3.30pm, except on Mondays when, for most students, formal school finishes at 2.30pm. Optional enrichment activities, as well as study groups and peer mentoring are provided from 2.30pm to 3.30pm on Mondays. The campus is open and staff are present from 8.15am each day. The Senior School campus is open for private study until 4pm on school days.

Student Leadership

The Senior School Council is elected each year and consists of students from Years 9 – 12 including the Head Students of the School. There are also two nominated positions each for new students and international students. The Council is responsible for service and social activities and for suggesting changes, improvements and modifications to school policy and facilities. Staff members assist the Council in its deliberations and meetings, which usually take place on Monday afternoon after school or Tuesdays before school.

Library

The Library is available to all members of the school community as a place for study, research and recreational reading. It is also the management centre for resources and materials other than books. Open times are school days from 8am to 4pm, including lunch and recess times.

Lockers

Lockers are available to all students. All students will be given a combination lock. Replacement combination locks cost $10. Students must keep their locker tidy and report any damage. They should leave them clean and empty at the end of the school year and return their lock.

Medical Care

Students who become unwell or hurt during School hours should let a teacher know immediately. The Senior School Office has limited medical facilities where students are able to lie down and be cared for while parents are contacted. In the event of an emergency, when parents cannot be reached, the School will take responsibility for ensuring that the student receives appropriate medical care. This may involve the calling of an ambulance. We are not able to look after sick children for prolonged periods of time and ask that parents ensure we are kept up to date with any changes to the contact and medical information noted on Paperly so that we can provide the best possible care.

Mobile Phones

The Senior School takes its responsibility for the wellbeing and personal development of students in our care seriously and aims to take a shared approach with students and parents to educate students on the responsible use of mobile phones.

Friends’ approach to mobile phone use, is evidence based, aligns with the State Government policy which has been in place since 2020 and is also in line with similar policies in all mainland states. The protocol states that students in Years 7 to 10 should have their mobile phones 'off and away' during the school day. Students should store phones in lockers to check briefly during break times (recess and lunch) or to make purchases during break times at the canteen. Smart watches are required to be in 'flight mode’.

Friends’ recognises that mobile phones can enhance some learning experiences in the classroom and teachers may instruct students to use their phones under supervision in the classroom as part of an organised educational activity. Similarly, students with additional needs may be granted permission to use their devices on occasions as an assistive technology.

Friends’ recognises the importance of developing student skills in self-management in the senior secondary years to help navigate life after school and in the workplace. As such, students in Years 11 and 12 will be granted increased autonomy to use mobile phones during Study Periods and break times. Parents and guardians are requested to contact the Senior School office with any urgent messages for students. We acknowledge that this is a significant change to the current policy and we appreciate your support in making the wellbeing and focus on learning a priority for all students.

Mobile phones may be used in classes at Senior School for educational purposes or as assistive technologies to support student learning. In these cases, this will be at the discretion and direction of classroom teachers. At other times, students are required to have phones 'off and away' stored securely in lockers, however Year 11 and Year 12 students may use phones in the WNO building or Sanctum during break times and Study Periods as required. Staff reserve the right to confiscate phones when students are not adhering to the agreed expectations.

Visitors and Volunteering at Friends’

Because child safety is at the core of the School’s values, we strive to create an environment where all children feel safe. As such, we have a range of ways that we achieve this for all that come on campus or who are engaging with children –

• visitors are escorted by a staff member at all times;

• volunteers are registered, and

• everyone signs in electronically before proceeding onto the campus.

If you are visiting the School, please sign in at the Morris Office. Once signed in you will be met and escorted by a staff member while on campus. While visitors do not need to hold a Working with Vulnerable People Registration to be on campus and/or engaging with children, you will not be left unsupervised with children.

The School has many opportunities for parents and the wider community to volunteer at Friends’. This may be helping in the classroom, accompanying an excursion, coaching or support students or with co-curricular activities. All volunteers need to complete a volunteer registration form and further information about this process is available here.

Policies & Guidelines