Rules and policies are in place to make sure your child remains safe and well at school.
Visit the NSW Department of Education’s policy library for all current operational policies.
Our school uses the department's School Community Charter to ensure all of our communication is collaborative and respectful.
Attendance and absences
Students must attend school regularly so they can achieve their educational best and increase their career and life options.
In NSW, all children from the age of 6 are legally required to attend school or be registered for home schooling through the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA). All students must complete Year 10, or its equivalent.
Young people below the age of 17 who have completed Year 10 must be:
in school, or registered for home schooling
in approved education or training, such as a traineeship, apprenticeship or TAFE
in full-time paid employment (average 25 hours a week)
in a combination of work, education and/or training (average of 25 hours a week combined).
Students 17 years and over who are enrolled in school must attend school regularly to meet HSC course requirements.
As a parent or carer, you are responsible for ensuring your child attends school every day when they are of compulsory school age. You must explain all absences to the school within 7 days.
For more information about compulsory school attendance, visit:
Millers Intensive English Centre absences
If students are absent they should bring a note to school, signed by a parent or guardian on the day of return following the absence. Notes which are signed by the student will not be accepted.
If it is known that a student is going to be absent for three or more days, the parent or guardian should contact the IEC on 96072751.
If a student is absent for three days without any reason being provided to the IEC, it is necessary for the IEC to contact the parents or guardians by phone or letter to ask for an explanation.
Centrelink advises that if a student has accumulated 5 unexplained absences in one term, payments may be suspended until such time that the absences are explained.
If students are absent for more than 5 days per term, they need to provide a Doctor's certificate for each subsequent absence.
Absence explanation note
If a student is absent, they have to explain their absence to the school. They will need to get a copy of the absence note from their roll call teacher. Notes must be filled in by parents or caregiver and signed by them, then returned to school as soon as possible. If a student is sick and visiting a doctor, it is advisable that they get a Doctor's certificate.
All students' absence records will be kept for 5 years for legal purposes, so please take this matter seriously for your child's safety.
School frameworks (school rules)
As well as following the department’s operational policies, we have developed frameworks for our students in line with our school’s values and commitments.
In order to maximize students' learning, students must follow the following school rules at all times:
- wear school uniform everyday
- wear Sports Uniform when required
- follow instructions at all times
- be respectful
- come to school and class on time (if they are late, they must go to the office to get a late note)
- do not eat or drink in class (including chewing gum and lollies)
- bring all the necessary equipment to every lesson
- do not bully anyone
- do not use drugs, e.g. cigarettes
- obtain permission if they need to leave early (in the morning, they must bring a note from their parents or guardians explaining why they are leaving early)
- do not leave the school without permission
- do all assigned class work and homework
Lateness policy
Government legislation requires all students to attend school regularly on each day that the school is open. It is the policy of Miller Technology High School that all students arrive before the warning bell at 8.55am each school day. Repeated lateness to school disrupts the required learning experiences of students and may make the student ineligible of achieving course outcomes.
The following is an outline of the procedures to ensure students’ arrive to school on time:
- lateness with or without an adequate written explanation from a parent/caregiver at the time of arrival to school will be monitored
- parents/Caregivers will be notified via SMS text message, phone calls, emails and/or letters home when their child is late. Stipulating the arrival time at school and whether a written explanation was received.
- when a student is late to school without an adequate written explanation, that student will receive a lunch time detention on that same day.
- if a student receives three or more lunch time detentions, that student will be placed on a level 3 card by the Head Teacher.
The privledge of participation in extra curricular activities such as sporting teams, excursions and performances may become at risk if students’ lateness is of a concern.
Homework Policy
Homework is an important component of the teaching and learning process but Miller IEC recognises that it is also important for students to have time for play, leisure and physical activities outside of school.
The benefits of homework
Homework is valuable because it:
- strengthens home-school links
- allows for practising, extending and consolidating work done in class
- teaches students how to plan and organize their time
- develops students' research skills
- establishes habits of study, concentration and self-discipline which will serve students for the rest of their lives
- reaffirms the role of parents and caregivers as partners in education
- provides parents and caregivers with insights into what is being taught in the classroom and the progress of their children
- challenges and extends gifted and talented children
- provides students with regular feedback.
Sun safety
Schools are concerned that Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world. Miller IEC takes sun safety seriously and runs programs to make students aware of the damaging effects of the sun.
Miller IEC provides a safe environment for students and staff.
Stay in the shade
Students are encouraged to protect their skin by:
- reducing their exposure to the sun, wherever possible
- wearing broad-brimmed hats in the playground to protect the face, neck and ears, and playing in shaded areas
- wearing clothing (preferably of closely woven fabric) with collars and long sleeves to provide maximum sun protection
- remaining in the shade whenever possible, particularly during peak ultraviolet radiation (UVR) times
- participating in sun protection activities using 15+ broad-spectrum sunscreen as well as the other sun protection measures
- Sunscreens should be applied before going outside and reapplied frequently.
Sun safety is also important outside of school. Whether in the back yard or on the beach, children should wear a hat and sunscreen. By practicing sun safety at home, parents and caregivers can help teachers to enforce sun safety rules in school. Children will come to appreciate the importance of sun protection not only during their schooling, but also throughout their lives.