ATTENDANCE
The only excused absences are illness, doctor’s or dentist’s appointment, death in the family, religious holidays or school related activities. Absences from class for reasons other than those named above are considered unexcused and work cannot be made up.
· Every absence should be followed by a note from the parent or doctor explaining the nature of the absence. In case of illness, the nature of the illness should be stated.
· When a student is absent for two consecutive days, the school should be contacted by phone to explain the reason for the absence.
· Any student who accumulates five (5) or more unexcused absences may be subject to the withholding of grades, pending an Attendance Review Committee Conference to review all absences. This may affect promotion to the next grade.
Children should not come to school if they are suffering from running sores, head lice, nausea, fever, or any communicable disease or condition.
TARDIES
A student who is not in the classroom by 8:35 a.m. is considered tardy. Your child should arrive at the classroom between 8:20 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. If your child arrives after 8:35 a.m. he/she must report to the office for a late pass. Students who have excessive tardies (more than five per grading period) may require a visit from a social worker to verify correct living address. Tardies become part of the student’s permanent record.
Excused School and Class Absences and Tardies
1. Student illness: students missing 5 or more consecutive days of school due to illness or injury are required to provide a written statement from a health care provider. The written statement must include all days the student has been absent from school. If a student is continually sick and repeatedly absent from school due to a specific medical condition, he/she must be under the supervision of a health care provider in order to receive excused absences from school.
2. Medical appointment: if a student is absent from school due to a medical appointment, a written statement from a health care provider indicating the date and time of the appointment, must be submitted to the principal.
3. Death in immediate family.
4. Observance of a religious holiday or service when it is mandated for all members of a faith that such a holiday or service is observed.
5. School-sponsored event or educational enrichment activity that is not a school-sponsored event, as determined and approved by the principal or principal’s designee: examples of special events include: public functions, conferences and region, state and national competitions.
6. Subpoena by law enforcement agency or mandatory court appearance.
7. Outdoor suspensions
8. Other individual student absences beyond the control of the parent/guardian or student, as determined and approved by the principal or the principal’s designee. The principal shall require documentation related to the condition.
Unexcused School Absence
Any absence that does not fall into one of the above excused absence categories is to be considered unexcused. Any student who has been absent from school will be marked unexcused until he/she submits required documentation as specified above. Failure to provide required documentation within three school days upon return to school will result in an unexcused absence. Unauthorized absences include: 1. Absences due to vacations, personal services, local non-school event, program or sporting activity.2. Absences due to older students providing day care services for siblings.3. Absences due to illness of others.4. Absences due to non-compliance with immunization requirements (unless lawfully exempted).
