Regular attendance and punctuality contribute to student success and achievement.  Attendance and punctuality are related to developing character traits such as respect, responsibility and integrity and are linked to learning skills such as work habits and initiative. The less class time students miss, the less likely they are to fall behind in course expectations and requirements.  Therefore, the staff and administration expect students to make every effort to attend all classes and be on time for each subject.

If attendance and/or punctuality impacts student achievement, a teacher will take the steps necessary to remedy the problem.  These may include:

• Review of expectations;

• Student-initiated plan for improvement;

• Detention; and 

• Parental contact by phone or e-mail.

If attendance and/or punctuality continue to impact student achievement, following the teacher’s initial attempts to remedy the problem, he/she will refer the matter to a vice-principal. The administration, teacher, student, parent/guardian, and where necessary, the school social worker, will work together to develop a plan of action to assist the student in improving his/her attendance or punctuality.  Being on time is essential to being successful.  It is not acceptable to be consistently late for class.

ATTENDANCE PROCEDURE:  

If a student is going to be absent for the day, the school must be informed before 8:45a.m. by the parent/guardian with an appropriate reason for the absence by:

1. Calling (905) 477-8503 

2. Emailing - billcrothersss.attendance@yrdsb.ca from the parent’s email address.  

3. A note from his/her parent/guardian stating an appropriate reason must be submitted to the attendance secretary immediately upon return to school in order to obtain an admit slip.  

Students and parents need to ensure that students arrive at school by 8:30 am or earlier.  The school driveway is very busy in the morning and being late for class impacts student achievement.

CONCUSSIONS AND OTHER INJURIES

As a school we wish to provide all students with the supports that they need when they have been injured inside and outside of school hours. All concussions and all other injuries must be reported to the main office so that we may ensure that appropriate supports are in place to ensure that students may access their classes and receive the supports that they may require.

REPORTING AN ILLNESS / SIGNING OUT

All students must sign out through the attendance office.  If you are feeling ill you are to report to the office.  Your parent/guardian will be contacted and you may be allowed to go home with their approval.  Students are not permitted to sign out when they have a summative test or assignment due that day.  If a student becomes ill during the day and is unable to complete a summative, a medical note must be obtained and the student must speak with the teacher prior to signing out. The student is expected to complete the test on the day they return to schoolor or at a time deemed appropriate by the teacher. School personnel are not allowed to dispense medication e.g. aspirin, tylenol.  If a long term illness or injury occurs, please contact a vice-principal as early as possible. No student may leave school for any reason without signing out with main office staff.

STUDENT EXPECTATIONS REGARDING ATTENDANCE

• All students turning 18 must meet with a vice-principal. Students 18 years or older may sign out of school for medical,  dental or exceptional circumstances. If an 18 year old student signs out more than three times in a school year, they must meet with a Vice Principal to discuss their absences and reason for early leaves. (e.g. illness or medical appointment);               

• Communicating with teachers prior to a known absence (e.g. Doctor’s appt., field trip, school event, sporting competition);

• Communicating with the attendance office by phone, note or email to billcrothersss.attendance@yrdsb.ca 

• Demonstrate initiative by completing all missed work.

• Attend all assessments on scheduled day; and 

• Be aware of and prepare for adverse weather conditions                                                                

• Any student absent for a test or summative report, without prior arrangements being made, will be required to submit a doctor’s note.

• All students must meet with a vice-principal if they are removing consent from their parents to communicate with the school.

Lates

Dealing with students arriving late to class is the responsibility of the classroom teacher who will follow a progressive plan of discipline. 

Extended Absences for Sport Participation

Students who know they will be absent for three or more consecutive days for reasons other than illness, are requested to complete an “Anticipated Extended Absence” form from the main office. 

Students shall notify individual course teachers five days in advance of the absence in order to facilitate the collection of homework and assignments missed during the extended absence. If this situation does arise it is the responsibility of the student to fill in an extended absence form as well as complete all assigned work. This ensures completion of Ministry course expectations.

Extra Curricular Activity Absences

Students are strongly encouraged to participate in extracurricular activities which are an integral component of their education, but students must remember that regular attendance is the key to success in the classroom. Students must provide ongoing communication with their subject teacher regarding any absences.  Participation in school activities is a privilege and students must adhere to the coach’s/mentor’s expectations, as well as meet the school academic, behavioral and attendance expectations. A contract will be signed for each sport/activity a student is involved with. 

Senior Students on Spare   

While on spare senior students are permitted to work in the library, cafeteria (inside only) or in the main foyer. There should be no student lingering in any hallway or in an unsupervised area within the school at any time. 

SIGNIFICANT FAITH DAYS

Absences due to York Region District School Board recognized significant faith days, and school sponsored activities will not be included in the total absences from a class.  Students are responsible for work missed during all absences, and must complete and hand in all missed work. International trips scheduled during holidays and over faith days, are subject to board approval.

VACATIONS

Teachers are focused on our mission in supporting student-athlete’s academics and absences as a result of training and/or competitions. For all of our student-athletes we recommend that they are conscious of minimizing absences as this may impact their academic results and ultimately their future pathways. Vacations are not supported outside of the designated school breaks. Teachers are not required to provide work, additional assignments/projects, create alternative assessments, or spend time re-teaching missed course concepts. Parents may not request that assignments be submitted after the due date(s), or that summative assessments be moved to accommodate their child’s withdrawal from school. When students are withdrawn from school during instructional days, gaps are created in learning and achievement is negatively impacted.