Attendance
Arrival, Attendance, Early Dismissal and Reporting Absences
The Importance of Regular Attendance
At Hare Krishna School, we believe that regular attendance and punctuality are crucial for student success. The Ministry of Education places a strong emphasis on ensuring every child gets the most out of their education by attending school every day. Every school day is a big day!
Missing school can create learning gaps that can be challenging to bridge later. Excellent attendance is considered to be 90% or higher for the year.
Family and caregiver support is vital in ensuring a child’s regular attendance. We encourage open communication between whānau (family), caregivers, and the school. If there are any challenges that might affect your child’s ability to attend school regularly, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your child’s teacher, the school office team, or Mrs Subhadra Mataji — one of the deputy principals.
The School Day Starts at 8:20 am
Students should arrive at school at 8:20 am and be in their classrooms by 8:30 am for the morning roll call. Those absent without notification will be marked as unaccounted for. We’ll then follow up with parents/caregivers to understand the reason for the absence.
Reporting Student Absences
Please notify the school by 8:30 am on the day of your child’s absence. Preferred methods:
- KAMAR Parent Portal (recommended) — fastest and most convenient way to report absences
- Email: admin@harekrishna.school.nz
- Phone: (09) 412 6325 — speak to a member of our office staff
- In Person: Visit the school office to report an absence
Medical Absences and Overseas Trips
A doctor’s certificate is required for any medical absence of three or more days.
Our recommendation is that family holidays are taken during school holiday periods. Visiting family overseas during school terms for periods longer than 5 days is considered an “explained but unjustified absence”.
If you need to travel overseas during term time to engage in a religious cultural event such as a puja, vrata, parikrama, yajna, or samskara — please inform the school, as such cultural reasons for absence may be considered an “explained and justified absence”.
Arriving Late
Students arriving after 8:35 am must sign in late at the school office using the tablet:
- Select “Learner” and “Lateness”
- Type their name
- Provide a reason for being late
Early Dismissal
Students needing to leave early must have a parent/caregiver sign them out at the office using the tablet:
- Select “Learner” and “Sign Out”
- Type the student’s name
- Provide a reason for early dismissal and name/relationship of the person signing out
An afternoon roll call occurs at 1:15 pm. A missing student triggers school emergency protocols.
Parents/caregivers wishing to authorise others to sign out students must list them as contacts in the school database or provide their details by phone. Minors cannot sign out students.
Please reserve early dismissal for medical/dental appointments or other valid reasons. Frequent early dismissal can disrupt learning and progress.
We encourage open communication with the school. If you have any questions or concerns regarding arrival, attendance, or early dismissal procedures, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Hare Krishna School Stepped Attendance Response Plan
