Reporting Absences
The importance of regular school attendance cannot be stressed too
much. It affects both individual student progress at school and the
status of our school funding, which is based on daily attendance
figures. When a student is absent from school, the absence is either
classified as excused (necessary because of illness or injury,
vision, dental and medical appointments, quarantine and bereavement) or
unexcused (reasons that may include vacations, babysitting
problems, etc.). If your child must be absent from school, please
- Call the school office prior to 9:30 a.m. on the day when your
child is absent. A reason for the absence is a legal requirement by
the State for its verification report, If the absence is verified by
phone, a note is appreciated but not necessary.
- If your child will be out of school for an extended time, please
notify the school so arrangements can be made in advance for
possible independent study or home instruction.
Excessive absences and tardies will be referred to the School
Attendance and Review board (SARB) for further action.
Tardiness
Being on time to school everyday is very important for several
reasons. First, punctuality for your child insures that he/she is not
missing any part of the instructional day. Second, when all students are
on time in the morning, classroom interruptions are minimized thereby
maximizing the best possible use of each instructional minute. |
Please help your child to be on time for
school everyday. Plan your family's morning routine to allow your child
to arrive on campus between 8:00 and 8:15 a.m. (grades 1-5). The morning
kindergarten session will begin promptly at 8:15 a.m. and the afternoon
kindergarten session will begin promptly at 11:00a.m.
A student is considered tardy if he/she is not ready to enter the
classroom with his/her classmates when the 8:15 a.m. bell rings.
Every late student must report to the office to explain the reason for
the tardy and to get an admittance slip from the office staff before
entering the classroom. At this time, the student must also inform
the office staff if he/she is buying a cafeteria lunch in order to
ensure an accurate lunch count. Students with repeated tardies may be
required to serve recess or after-school detention as a consequence.
Excessive tardies will be reported to the principal for the appropriate
follow-up. Tardies are also reported quarterly on students' report
cards.
Truancy
A new city ordinance took effect January 12, 1996. This ordinance
makes it unlawful for any minor, who has not graduated from high school,
to loiter in public between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on days
when school is in session. Any student found in violation of this
truancy law will be issued a citation and the student's parents will be
expected to pay a fine and/or appear in court. |
