Absences and Tardies

Students are expected to be in their seats and ready to work when the bell rings at 7:50. If your child is not in the building by the time the tardy bell rings, you will be required to park and come into the building and sign your child in at the front desk. So your child does not have to wait in line to sign in and lose more instructional time, they will be allowed to proceed on to class while you sign him/her in at the front desk.

When your child will be absent, please call 919-969-2435, and select Option 1. When you know in advance, please call the absence line before 8:00 a.m. of the day your child will be absent. If this is not possible, call the number at your earliest convenience. This information will be forwarded to your child’s teacher.

Excused absences are defined as:

  1. personal illness or injury which makes the student physically unable to attend school;
  2. isolation ordered by the State Board of Health;
  3. death in immediate family;
  4. medical or dental appointments which cannot be scheduled outside of school time;
  5. participation under subpoena as a witness in a court proceeding;
  6. observance of an event required or suggested by the religion of the student or the student’s parent(s) with prior approval by the principal; or
  7. participation in a valid educational opportunity, such as travel, with prior approval by the principal.

Please note the following information:

  • 3 unexcused tardies of 15 minutes or more equals 1 excused absence.
  • Parent notification will be sent for 3 unexcused absences
  • 6 unexcused absences violate the Compulsory Attendance Law and the Social Worker will be appointed to assist the family.
  • 10 unexcused absences will require further legal actions, if the absences can’t be justified.

Procedures for a “Request for an Excused Absence” for Educational Opportunity

In an effort to make sure we are being equitable in the way McDougle deals with attendance, we are implementing a protocol in determining “excused absences” for the purpose of engaging in an educational opportunity. Parents must request an excused absence by accessing the form on the school website. It is located in the “parent” section. Within this section, click on the “Attendance and Absences” link. There will also be a packet of assignments for each grade level, which must be completed by the child. These assignments can be accessed on the school’s website or in the front office. This packet must be returned to the teacher within a week of the child returning to school. Our data manager will communicate to the parents when all requirements have been met and the dates have been marked “excused”. If you have not heard anything, please check with your teacher to check on the status of the assignments. The absences will not be marked unexcused until all of the requirements are met.


EARLY CHECK OUT

Students will not be released into the custody of someone other than their parents unless the child’s parent has notified the teacher or office by written note, e-mail, or face-to-face conversation, with preferably at least one day notice. If notice is not possible, the receptionist should be notified by noon on the day of the change due to the front office getting busy around dismissal time.

Please refrain from getting your child out of school early, especially between 2:00 -2:30, unless it is absolutely necessary. Even though this is the end of the day, a great deal of instructional time is lost.

Also, if your child attends an off-campus after-school program, please make sure they are aware of when your child will not be in attendance. A great deal of time is spent in the afternoons trying to locate students who either left early from school or were absent.