We keep all those members of our community and our school who have recently passed away in our hearts and prayers-including Joseph Bianchini, and former Marian and Catholic High School students Dallas Brown, Jabez Tietie, Ethan Griffiths, and Andrea Ielasi.

Short Litany to Our Blessed Mother

Our Lady, Queen of Peace, pray for us. Our Lady, Comforter of the Afflicted, pray for us. Our Lady, Help of Christians, pray for us. Our Lady, Health of the Sick, pray for us. Our Lady, Seat of Wisdom, pray for us. Our Lady, Queen of Heaven and Earth, pray for us.

Amen.

Why School Attendance Matters

It has been known for a long time that school attendance has a significant impact on student achievement and overall outcomes. Non-attendance is connected with lower academic achievement and overall outcomes. The impacts of this on a young person’s life may extend well beyond their teens and early adulthood. Generally students who attend school regularly achieve three months ahead of their peers from year 7 to 9, while NAPLAN scores for literacy and numeracy are higher.

The learning provided at school goes beyond literacy and numeracy however, important though these may be. The education provided by schools includes general engagement in community, civic and sport, arts , spiritual, wellbeing and social opportunities, friendships and activities. These also impact on the social and wellbeing outcomes for young people at a very important developmental stage.

Types of absence that families may apply for at school

A) Applications for Leave/extended leave

Including a clear and justified reason for the absence is important. The school may approve applications for Extended Leave for between 5-10 or 10-20 days based on an assessment of the reasons provided. Approved extended leave is usually given for reasons including:

Illness/medical/wellbeing (with supporting documentation from a health professional)
Compassionate reasons
Special family reasons or circumstances
Attendance at high level sport, arts or performance events or training (eg regional or state level).

The school may approve applications for Extended Leave for between 5-10 or 10-20 days based on an assessment and justification of the reasons provided.
Leave of beyond 20 days requires assessment and approval from Catholic Education-Diocese of Wagga Wagga in consultation with the school.

B) Exemptions and Partial exemptions from school

Parents can apply for exemptions or partial exemptions from school for their child on special grounds. Approved exemptions are not counted as absences. Reasons for exemptions and special exemptions include:

Participation in Elite sports and Arts (events at National and International level).
Employment in approved entertainment industries.
NSW Sport and Recreation Talent Identification Programs
Exceptional circumstances-(including health where sick leave or alternative enrolment is not appropriate.)

C) Applications for leave that are not approved

Reasons for extended leave may be deemed as unjustified leave on educational grounds, because the reasons provided do not justify the impact of the absence.

This is because the school holiday period is the designated break time for students. Taking weeks off during term time can mean that your child misses a significant amount of school and assessment at an important time in their education. It may be very difficult for your child to catch up on missed learning, particularly when you consider the range of subjects they are studying. It can impact their ongoing engagement with school and formal learning.
It is up to the student and family to address concerns with missed learning or important assessment while away although some work and course materials may be available on our online learning platform. Teachers and the school are not required to provide distance or flexible options in addition to providing the regular teaching and learning for school.
If students attend TAFE or other forms of training or are attending senior studies (Year 10-12), the leave may result in them failing a course for attendance reasons both at school and with training providers. This will be on their reports, and may appear on Records of School Achievement.

When assessing the reason, registering the leave as unjustified indicates that we have concerns about the time away from school and its impact on your child.

D) Applying for leave

For parents who wish to apply for leave for their child, we have forms for each type of leave. Our helpful office team will be able to assist with any inquiries about general attendance, absence processes, applications for leave or special exemptions.

E) When students begin to disengage from schooling-attendance/lates

If your child is reluctant or struggling to attend school please reach out to pastoral staff or the office team to make an appointment to discuss. We know there are many complex reasons that might be behind a reason a young person does not wish to attend and we will work in partnership with you to provide support and/or address any concerns.

Centre for Education Statistics and Evaluation (2022), Understanding attendance – A review of the drivers of school attendance and best practice approaches, NSW Department of Education, education.nsw.gov.au/cese

Dr Penny Ludicke

MCC Newsletter

The Way, The Truth, The Life

Issue 13 · 29 Aug 2025

In this issue