Senior College Handbook - St Andrew's College

1. Attendance Requirement for TermsStudents are expected to attend all theirscheduled classes and be on time. Any more thanthree unjustified absences in any single term willresult in Terms not being awarded. The attainmentor non-attainment of Terms attendancerequirements will be determined by currentCollege absence and late systems.Please note:• Teachers will record unjustified absences and latearrivals. Three late arrivals will be considered theequivalent of one unjustified absence;• An adjusted weekly cumulative list of unjustifiedabsences and late arrivals will be posted in theSenior College;• It is the student’s responsibility to check theunjustified absence and late arrivals list and takewhatever action they think necessary;• The Attendance Officer, Senior College PA andYear 12 and 13 Deans will peruse the weekly listof unjustified absences and late arrivals and senda letter to parents where necessary;• If a student’s unjustified or explained absencesare in excess of what is reasonably expectedthen a contract based around attendance may beimposed immediately.Clarification around the use of “terms” –in particular attendance“Terms” is also an expression used to describethe ability of students to miss a limited number ofscheduled classes in order to undertake self-directedstudy. In the interests of clarity, this form of “terms”is represented here in quotation marks.• If a student chooses to miss an academic periodto take “terms”, it must be spent on academicstudy;• “terms” can be taken for a maximum of threeperiods in Terms 1, 2 and 3. Any student whohas not been awarded Terms is unable to take“terms”;• If a student intends to take “terms” it is expectedthey will first explain to the teacher whose classthey will miss;• No student is to ask to take “terms” in any onesubject more than once per term;• The teacher allowing “terms” to be taken hasevery right to insist that the student catchesup on work missed and provides evidence thatthis has occurred. Should a student fail to meetthis commitment, the teacher should issue aconsequence, such as not allowing “terms”to be taken in that subject for a period of timeat the teacher’s discretion, a Senior Collegeconsequence or referral of the matter to theDean;• No student can use “terms” to miss a class wherethere is any formative or summative assessmentbeing completed or due to be handed in;• “terms” cannot be used to miss options (Mondayperiod 6), RE, PE, Life Skills, Chapel or study(Year 12);• “terms” cannot be used to leave the Collegegrounds, socialise or prepare for a sporting orcultural commitment;• Any student who takes “terms” inappropriatelymay have the privilege withdrawn for a period oftime decided by Deans and/or HOSC. Parents willbe informed.2. Academic Standard Requirement for Terms• Students are required to meet the minimumstandard as set out in the Student CourseOutline and Assessment Schedule. The nonattainmentof these academic requirementswill be communicated to parents or guardiansby letter, advising of the non-completion and/ornon-attendance of summative achievement orunit standard assessment included as part of thatsubject’s assessment schedule. HOD discretionprevails;• Students are required to obtain an average scoreof 2.90 or higher in their Personal Learning Skillsacross all subjects in their interim, mid-year andend-of-year (Year 12 only) reports.16