Senior School Handbook 2026

Senior School Information Guide

Years 7 to 12

A Message from the Headmaster and Deputy Headmaster

Mr Phil O'Regan - Headmaster

It is with gratitude and pride that I welcome you to the Senior School for 2026 We are a community who are distinguished by high expectations, strong character, and a commitment to personal excellence. Years 7-12 mark a significant stage in each student’s development, where emerging strengths are refined and aspirations take shape within and beyond our school gate.

At Grammar, excellence is understood as a balance of achievement, integrity, and purposeful effort. Students are encouraged to take ownership of their learning, to think deeply, and to pursue their interests with confidence and curiosity. Senior School offers a broad and rigorous program across academic disciplines, STEM, the humanities, the arts, sport, and cocurricular endeavours, ensuring every student has the opportunity to discover and extend their potential.

We are proud to be part of an environment where every student is known, supported, and challenged to achieve individual growth. Our staff are dedicated to guiding students as they develop the skills, wisdom, and selfassurance required for the world beyond school. We are proud of our students, not simply for what they achieve, but for who they become. We look forward to partnering with you as you embark on this important and transformative stage of your journey.

Mr James Bowles - Deputy Headmaster and Head of Senior School

Welcome to Senior School, where character development stands alongside achievement as the measure of success. At Central Coast Grammar School, we believe that who you become matters just as much as what you know. Senior School years are a time to grow in independence, confidence and purpose. You will be challenged to think deeply, act responsibly and contribute meaningfully. We want you to develop strength of character; to show kindness even when it’s not easy, to act with integrity when no one is watching and to bring your best self to every situation.

Our community depends on respect; for yourself, for others and for the school. This means owning your actions, using your voice wisely and understanding that your choices affect more than just you. How you handle success and disappointment, how you treat people and how you respond to challenge will define you far more than any grade ever will.

Senior School offers countless opportunities to lead, serve and grow. Whether in the classroom, on the stage, the field or in service to others, each experience is a chance to practise the values that sit at the heart of our school. So approach the year with curiosity and courage. Be the kind of person who lifts others, who listens and who learns from every experience.

Middle School Staff

Middle School House Coordinators

Senior College Staff

Senior College House Coordinators

Senior School Specialist Staff

Student Leaders

Head Prefects

House Captains

Portfolio Captains

Uniform & Appearance School Blazer

✓ Years 7–12: Blazers are compulsory in Terms 2 and 3 and must be worn to and from school, at all formal events including assemblies, School Service and excursions

✓ Years 7–9: Blazers are optional in Terms 1 and 4 but must be worn to formal events and excursions as required

✓ Years 10–12: Blazers are optional in Terms 1 and 4, but must be worn for all school assemblies, and excursions and other formal occasions as required

✓ In cold weather, jumpers may not be worn outside the school grounds unless covered by a blazer

✓ Jumpers may be worn inside the school grounds without a blazer.

PE Uniform

✓ Year 7 only may come to and from school in their correct PE uniform on the day they have practical PE

✓ Students are not to wear their PE uniform to theory classes

✓ If students have sport after school, they must change back into their school uniform for Period 5 and change back to their PE uniform after school

✓ Students with PE practical in Period 5, who do not have after school sport, must get changed into their school uniform at the end of the day

Sports Jackets

✓ The green fleece, sports/tour jacket and tracksuit top are not to be worn with the school’s formal uniform

School Bags

✓ Students are expected to have the approved school bag and school sports bag sold from the uniform shop. No other bag is to be used by students

Shoes

• Dress shoes must be brown hard leather, traditional in style, polished and in good condition, fully enclosed, lace-up, have a stout sole, heels no greater than 4cm in height without coloured stitching or logo

• Sports shoes must be a cross trainer, lace-up style of shoe (not boot). No other styles are permitted. Sports shoes are never to be worn with the dress uniform unless approval has been granted by the relevant Head of School or Deputy Headmaster

Hats

• Sun hats are compulsory for recess and lunch breaks, House Families and all lessons conducted outside. Hats must be in a good state of repair

Hair

• Hair must be clean, well-groomed and cut in a traditional style. Fringes are not to be below the eyebrows. Untidy or unconventional styles such as mullets, mohawks or long fringes are not acceptable

• In the case of girls, hair that is touching the shoulder or longer must be tied back. Any elastics, ribbons or clips are to be navy blue, green or black.

• Hair must not be a colour other than your natural colour. It must not be two-toned. Students who come to school with an unconventional or unacceptable style or colouring may be required to have it corrected immediately

• Boys’ hair is to be above the collar line at the back, above the top of the ear on the sides and above the eyebrows in the front when not swept to the side

• Cuts less than a No. 4 are not permitted

• No facial hair or sideburns longer than the ear lobe

Jewellery

• Students may wear plain silver/gold non-jewelled sleepers or studs, one in each ear lobe if ears are pierced. Additional piercings are NOT permitted

• Necklaces, chains, bracelets, anklets, and wristbands are not to be worn to school, whether or not they can be seen

• Watches and medical alert bracelets may be worn

• No body piercing or body art is permitted (excluding pierced ears as stated above)

• Jewellery that is worn to school will be confiscated and available for collection at the end of the day.

Other Requirements

•Clear nail varnish may be worn. Coloured varnish and/or acrylic nails are not permissible. Other than this, no makeup is permitted

•For safety and health reasons, aerosols are not permitted at school

•Skirts and dresses are to be worn no shorter than knee length

•Skirts are not to be modified in any way i.e. side splits, tapering outside seams and/or pleats

•Skirts are not to be rolled or folded at the waist

• Trousers are to be worn mid-rise. Low rise is NOT acceptable

•The Year 12 Jersey is permissible as part of the school sports uniform inside Grammar school grounds. As an outer garment, they are not to be worn outside school grounds

General Information

Before and after school classes

Students in Senior School may attend after school classes as indicated above. Students can turn up unannounced with work or questions they feel they may benefit from having some additional support. Students are permitted to spend time in both subjects offered on the same afternoon. Please contact your child’s subject teacher, the Head of Department or the Middle School/Senior College office for additional information. There is no cost for after school classes.

Canteen

Both recess and lunch orders are to be placed via the online ordering system by 9:00 am each day. Funds must be added to your child’s account and can be topped up at any time.

You can find the canteen page on MyCCGS

• Recess is 10:54 am to 11:13 am

• Lunch is 1:19 pm to 1:57 pm

The canteen is operated by Mrs Lynn Loughman, Canteen Manager, with assistance from parent volunteers. If you wish to volunteer, please contact Lynn at 4365 8424.

Interviews

Should you wish to discuss the progress or behaviour of your child with the School, then please telephone or email for an appointment with your child’s House Coordinator in the first instance. Parent/Student/Teacher conferences are held for each year group and pertinent details will be advised on MyCCGS.

Learning Enrichment

Learning Enrichment operates from K to 12 and draws on the expertise of specialist staff who work with teachers to monitor each student’s core learning as they journey through school, offering support or extension where needed.

We endeavour to create individual pathways for students to ensure their educational experience is challenging and comprehensive.

Some students need more support than others to ultimately achieve their full potential. Others thrive within an enriched curriculum that supports their talents. Through comprehensive tracking processes, we can focus on individual learning needs.

Our specialist Learning Enrichment team ensure the highest quality educational experience within an academically rigorous curriculum. They offer inclusive support and extension within the classroom setting. Learning Enrichment is delivered in collaboration with class teachers. The Learning Enrichment team targets remedial, extension and gifted and talented needs. Staff utilise collaborative planning, team teaching and small group interventions within programs to deliver support in the classroom.

Lost Property

Money, mobile phones, and other valuables must not be left unattended in clothing, bags or unlocked lockers. Large amounts of money and other valuables should not be brought to school. If there is a need to do so, it should be handed to the relevant administration office for safekeeping. Where an item is lost, the School will make every effort to help recover the item, but no responsibility can be accepted.

Clearly labelled items will be returned to students via their Roll Call teacher. Unnamed items will be held in cupboards outside the uniform shop until the end of term.

Lockers

All students are provided with a locker and a combination lock when they commence school Middle School and Senior College. It is the responsibility of the students to keep their code confidential. Students must ensure all their belongings are safely secured in the locker. Lockers are to be kept locked at all times.

Mobile Phone Guidelines

The school aims to provide effective teaching and learning in a safe and caring environment. Mobile phones and digital devices are an integral part of young people’s culture and way of life and can have considerable value, particularly in relation to individual safety. We recognise most Senior School students possess a mobile phone which potentially is a powerful educational tool as well as a distraction issue. The School’s policy on mobile phones is that students are not permitted to use their phones at Grammar unless for an approved medical condition or teacher directed educational purposes. It is an expectation student phones are switched off when entering school grounds and placed in their locked locker during the school day, including before school, recess and lunch to avoid disrupting teaching and learning and to promote social interaction. Students may turn their mobile phone on at the conclusion of the school day at 3:00 pm.

• Students are not permitted to use their mobile phones at school unless for an approved medical condition or teacher directed educational purpose

• If there is a need for students to use their mobile phones for a learning-related activity, the class teacher will request students bring the device to class or collect it from their locker when the lesson commences

• Students are not permitted to make or take calls or texts during the school day

• Students must place their smart watches in aeroplane mode so phone calls and messages cannot be sent or received during the school day

• Headphones, AirPods, Bluetooth devices or any other listening apparatus must be off the body and out of sight before students enter the school grounds

• If a student is using a mobile phone in class for any other reason, the class teacher will confiscate the phone and take it to the Middle School/Senior College office. The student can collect it from the office at the end of the school day. The Middle School/Senior College will notify parents of this infringement. This incident is documented on the student wellbeing system

• In the case of repeated non-compliance with mobile phone expectations, a student can expect to

✓ Receive an Order Mark

✓ Hand in their mobile phone, before roll call, at the Middle School/Senior College office and collect their mobile phone from the appropriate school office at 3:00 pm

• Mobile phones and portable listening devices are the responsibility of the student. The school accepts no responsibility for their damage or theft

Students may use their mobile phones to:

(Under the direct supervision of their class teacher)

• Check timetables

• Check calendars

• Check news items in MyCCGS

• Take a photograph of work recorded on the whiteboard

• Video group work performances

Mobile phones are never to be used to:

• SMS messages of bullying and harassing nature to other students, staff or parents

•Photograph/video other students or staff

• Distribute photograph/video to another person or people

Parental/Student Contact

If parents need to contact their child during the day, or a student needs to contact a parent, the Middle School/Senior College office should be contacted and a message left with the Administration Manager who will endeavour to relay the message to the student or parent. In the case of an extreme emergency, the School will get the student to the phone as quickly as possible.

Parking Privilege Permits

Year 12 students wishing to drive to school and park in the allocated car park must hold a current Driver’s License and a Parking Privilege Permit. Applications for a permit are obtained from the Deputy Head of Senior College and students must agree to several conditions before the permit is issued.

Students may not apply for a permit until they have begun year 12.

Students who are found driving in an unsafe and dangerous manner or carrying unauthorised passengers will have their permits suspended.

Senior School Diary

• Is distributed on the first day of Term 1 during roll call or a student’s first day of school

• Is an official publication of Central Coast Grammar School

The diary must be maintained in excellent condition. Defacing the diary is not permitted. For example:

• No pictures are to be stuck into the diary

• No graffiti is to appear in the diary

Absences

Attendance during each lesson plays a significant role in the academic success of the student. The School monitors attendance closely and parents may expect to be formally contacted after three days of unexplained absence.

Daily Absence

✓ Parents manage student daily absences, via the online Services Hub on the MyCCGS Dashboard or Mobile Phone App.

✓ If you do not have access to an online device you can telephone the school on 4367 6766 on the morning of the absence and send in a note the following day to explain the absence.

✓ Student attendance is recorded in Roll Call. If a student is absent, parents will receive an SMS advising of an unexplained absence with a request to update the online Services Hub with details of the absence.

✓ Please record your absence before 9:00am.

Student Leave from School - Exemption from Attendance

Students are expected to be in attendance for the duration of each school term. Only in extreme circumstances will permission be granted for a student to be exempt from attendance.

Applications for Exemption from Attendance must be made using the appropriate form on MyCCGS. This must be made to the Head of Middle School or Senior College at least two working weeks in advance of the exemption date.

Applications may be made for the following reasons:

• Exceptional domestic circumstances

• Elite sporting event or arts program or employment in the entertainment industry

• Extended leave travel due to exceptional circumstances (families are expected to holiday or travel during the vacation periods)

Once the application is received by the School and processed parents/carers will receive a Certificate of Exemption from Attendance at School under Section 25 of the Education Act 1990 if the application is approved.

If the application is not approved (Unapproved Leave) parents/carers will also be notified. Please note extended leave requests may not be approved if submitted with less than 2 weeks notice.

Exeats

A student leaving school during the day must obtain an exeat from either the main reception, Middle School or Senior College. The exeat can only be issued with good reason and we ask wherever possible a student request for an exeat be accompanied by notification from the parent via email or written explanation in the school diary. Where such notice is not received, the school reserves the right to contact the parent/caregiver by telephone to confirm. In the case where this is not possible, the school reserves the right to refuse an exeat. Students are not permitted to leave school for any reason without permission.

Swimming and athletic carnivals are full school days and any exeat that might be required must be obtained from the relevant administration office before the carnival day. Exeats will NOT be issued on the day of the carnival.

Excessive Absences

The Education Act (1990) requires parents to ensure that children of compulsory school age attend school each day. Further detail can be provided from the school directly if you require details or clarification on the process and procedures around absences.

Arundel Road, Erina Heights NSW 2260, Australia

Telephone: +61 2 4367 6766

Email: info@ccgs.nsw.edu.au

Website: www.ccgs.nsw.edu.au