Attendance at School

Ss Peter & Paul’s Attendance Response

Attendance Management Plan 2026

We ask parents and caregivers to please contact the school if your child is going to be absent from school and let us know the reason. 

• A text is sent at 9:15am if your child is absent without reason.
• A further text is sent at 10:15am if there is still no reply.
• A phone call is made at 10:30am if there is still no reply.

If no response is received, the student is absent without explanation or permission from a parent/caregiver and is coded as T – truant.

Please note that an email to the principal is required for extended absences of five days or more.

For all unexplained absences

• Your child’s teacher will email you.
• The Area Leader may be in contact.

Up to 10 days absence in a term could result in one or more of the following:

• The Area Leader will be in contact.
• Parents are invited into school for a meeting.
• An attendance plan is created.

Up to 15 days absence in a term could result in one or both of the following:

• Parent meeting.
• Referral to Attendance Support or other support agencies.

Special circumstances

There are special circumstances where these steps would not apply. An example would be an extended illness or recovery from an injury.

We are very appreciative of your support with our attendance response. Following the systems we have in place will ensure teacher and office staff time and effort is well spent and we can quickly address any attendance issues. 

Working together we can influence positive school attendance. You can read more about this new Government strategy here STAR.                 

Absent from School   

When your child is absent from school the school must be notified. 

You can do this by:

• Sending an absence notification from our website – under the Contact tab.
• Notify an absence through our school parent portal.
• Leaving a message on our absence line at 04 569 5759, then press 1.

Please state clearly and slowly the student’s first name, surname, room number, and the reason for their absence.

Students Leaving Early or Arriving To School Late   

Leaving during the school day or arriving to school late? Please sign In/out at the office using Vistab. We appreciate advance notice where possible by emailing the office on admin@stpeterpaul.school.nz. 

Signing In/Out Using the Vistab Device

Student lateness is recorded through the vistab device. This device can be found on the main reception counter. All our student’s names are already entered in the system so it will recognise a student once he/she signs in/out. This system keeps a log of all students that leave the school for any reason. In an emergency we will know exactly who should be at school and who has checked out.

Parents must sign their child out.                                            

Request for Extended Leave   

Parents are asked to try and plan their family holidays during the set school holidays. Requests for leave during the school term should be directed in writing to the Principal:

principal@stpeterpaul.school.nz