Meredith Trofinoff, Data Manager

School Hours

     7:45 AM  Students may enter building   

     8:15 AM  Instruction begins/ Tardy Bell rings

     3:00 PM   Dismissal 

Office Hours: 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM 

ABSENCE PROCEDURES 

The Cabarrus County School Board has defined the following absences as lawful: illness or injury; quarantine; medical or dental appointments; death in the immediate family; court or administrative proceedings; religious observances; educational opportunities.  See the complete list below.

For an absence to be considered excused, a parent must supply one of the following:

• Patriots STEM Elementary Absence Excuse Form (under the Parents Tab, then select attendance option)

• written note, the day the child returns to school

• email teacher

A student must be in attendance more than one-half of the school day (11:35 am) before he or she can be counted present for that day. For extended absences, your child’s assignments may be collected before, during or after the absence. Please contact your child's teacher to make these arrangements.  Completion of work missed during an absence is determined by the individual needs of the student.   Please notify the school if your child has a contagious disease or an extended illness. 

Students need to be in school every day. Regular attendance is essential to the learning process. In addition, students who are absent from school are deprived of a variety of educational experiences shared with their peers. Students can make up missed work due to absence upon their return to school. However, there is no way to reproduce or recapture classroom activities.  

EXCUSED ABSENCES

• Illness or Injury - student illness or injury prevents physically being able to attend school 

• Death in Immediate Family – death of an immediate family member (e.g. grandparent, parent, brother, sister) 

• Medical or Dental Appointment of student 

• Court or Administrative Proceedings – attendance at court proceedings, or student is party to action or under subpoena as a witness 

• Religious Observances – observances required by faith of the student or the student’s parent. 

• Educational Opportunity – valid education opportunity with prior approval by principal prior to absence (e.g., college visitation, service as a legislative or governor’s page) 

• Local School Board Policy – temporary or occasional absences in accordance with local school board policies 

• Absence Related to Deployment Activities-student visits parent/legal guardian who is on active military duty and called to duty, on leave, or immediately returned from deployment to combat zone or combat support posting at the discretion of superintendent/designee 

UNEXCUSED ABSENCES

• A student’s willful absence from school with or without the knowledge of a parent; or 

• A student’s absence from school for any reason other than those listed in ‘EXCUSED ABSENCE’; or 

• A student not permitted to attend school because he/she lack proper immunizations 

REQUEST FOR EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY

• If it is necessary for your child to miss school for an educational opportunity, please go to the Patriots STEM Elementary webpage click the attendance link under the parents tab and complete a Patriots Elementary Educational Opportunity form online. Once submitted,  the form will be sent to the Data Manager for final approval.  The designee will determine if the absence(s) will be excused according to the criteria outlined on the form, as well as prior attendance record. This form should be completed a minimum of  3 days prior to the absence(s). 

TARDY PROCEDURES

• Students are expected to be in class prior to the 8:15 tardy bell.  

• Students arriving on campus after 8:10 are most likely not going to be in class by 8:15 AM. Therefore, we ask that car riders are on campus before 8:10 to ensure ample time to get to class.

• When a Cabarrus County bus is late and students ride that bus, they are not counted as tardy. 

• If a student arrives by car after the 8:15 bell, both the parent and the student must come to the office and sign in. A tardy slip will be issued at this time. 

• If staff members are not present outside, DO NOT drop off student. Parent must park and walk their student into the school.

• All tardies and early checkouts from school will be recorded and tracked and listed on the student’s report card under the heading of Tardies.  In addition to absences, Excessive tardiness (and early checkouts) may result in a referral to the school social worker for investigation and/or scheduled “make up” hours. 

NOTE - Students must arrive in their classroom (not the school building) by the 8:15 bell in order to be counted present.  If a student arrives in the classroom after the 8:15 bell, they will be counted tardy.

EARLY DISMISSALS

• Cabarrus County Schools defines Tardy as a late arrival or an early dismissal.

• Students will not be released to anyone other than their parent/legal guardian unless prior written notice has been given to the school.  

• A photo ID is required to pick up any student. 

• Children are to be picked up at the school office after they have been signed out. 

• Should the student return to school again that same day before the afternoon dismissal, the student shall report first to the office before going to the classroom. 

• Students must arrive before 11:15 AM or be dismissed after 12:00 pm to be counted present for the day.

• If it is necessary to take your child out of school early, please do so before 2:30 PM. 

• Parents are not permitted to check out students after 2:30.  

WITHDRAWAL PROCEDURES

• Parents who are planning on moving or changing schools should notify the office at least a week in advance if they intend to withdraw their child from Patriots.  

• Technology devices, library books and fees must be paid/returned prior to withdrawal.