School hours and attendance
All children of compulsory school age must be enrolled in school and attend every day – that is the law. This is from the beginning of the year in which a child reaches the age of 5 years 6 months until the end of the year in which the child reaches the age of 17 years 6 months or turns 18, whichever happens first. While Kindergarten is an optional year, once enrolled, it is compulsory to attend.
Monday – Friday 8.45am to 2.55pm
The school office is open during term Monday to Friday between 8.15am and 3.30pm.
Students need to be collected by parents or an approved person promptly at 2.45pm for kindergarten and at 2.55pm for Pre-primary. Year 1 – 6 students will be dismissed from their classrooms at 2:55 pm.
It’s important to please contact the school if you are running late for pick up and we’ll do our best to have your child sent to the office. We encourage parents to have a standard pick – up spot for their children because this may assist us with locating them after the siren. The school may need to contact alternate emergency contacts should a student not be collected and notification has not been received.
Students are encouraged to leave the school site promptly at the end of the day and to make their way home. All students, parents and visitors are requested to leave the school site by 3:10pm.
‘Duty of Care’ responsibilities are significant for school staff, and there’s still a level of duty of care, even when parents/visitors are on site.
Staff are not available to supervise students after school as their work continues with finalising the day’s lesson evaluations, attending collaborative meetings, meeting with parents, cleaning, and preparing lessons for the following day. Uninterrupted time afterschool is essential for our staff to complete their duties and responsibilities.
Hillarys PS has contracted both Before and After School Care and extra-curriculum programs to support our students and families. These contracted arrangements require exclusive use of the school grounds during these times. This is an additional reason for our arrival and exit times.
Years 1 – 6 students arriving between 8:20 am and 8:30 am may wait outside the library where a staff member will be available to supervise them. Students enter classrooms at 8:30 am.
Kindergarten school hours
Hours – 8.45am – 2.45pm
All children enrolled in a Kindergarten program in Western Australian public school will attend for approximately 15 hours per week.
2025 Kindy Calendar
Punctuality
Children who arrive at school on time are more relaxed and feel more organised so we encourage you to assist your child in learning skills that will enable them to be punctual.
Likewise, if you are going to be late picking your child up at the end of the day, please call the school office as soon as possible on 9306 0550.
Absences
Every day your child attends school, they will learn something new so it is very important that they come to school every day. In Australia, attendance at school is compulsory from Pre-Primary onwards.
If your child is absent, please send a note of explanation via Compass or contact the school before 0900am on 9306 0550.
If your child’s attendance is sporadic without explanation and is deemed ‘at risk’, we may have to refer the matter to the District Attendance Officer.
Picking up children early
For the safety of all children we will not permit them to leave school grounds during school hours unless they have written permission from you, the Principal or Associate Principals.
Should you need to pick your child up early, you are legally required to complete a simple form at the school office prior to collecting your child.
