Attendance

Importance of regular Attendance 

All learning experiences that take place in the classroom are meaningful and an essential part of a student’s education. It is not possible to replicate the learning opportunities and experiences that occur daily in the classrooms. Therefore, regular and continuous attendance is an integral part of a student’s learning experience for which make-up work is no substitute.

ICS realizes that at times a student may be absent due to illness, family emergency, or participation in school-sponsored trips. ICS also realizes that in an international community, families must occasionally travel. However, the school discourages extended vacations and other recreational travel that interfere with student learning.

In the middle school it is important to develop the habits of regular attendance to ensure they are setup for success in the high school. Once a student moves to high school, attendance challenges may have a direct impact on transcripts and graduation. 

monitoring Attendance 

The MS leadership team continuously monitors attendance throughout the year. If students are at risk of developing negative patterns of attendance that will compromise their ability to be successful, the MS counsellors will contact home in the first instance with an offer to support. Continued absences will result in communication and meeting with the Deputy Principal to discuss a plan to support more consistent engagement in school.

Teachers will record attendance in PowerSchool at the start of each class period.  The following codes will be used to record attendance:

• Present:  Student is inside the classroom at the published start of the period.

• Late Unexcused:  Student arrives to class after the scheduled start time of class without a pass from a counsellor, or a notice shared by teacher or administrator through the attendance chat.

  • • If students are late to lessons, lunch facilities will be restricted the following week.

• Absent Unexcused:  The student did not attend class, and the school has not been notified of their absence, or the absence does not fall under the Excused Absence category (see below).  

• The administrative assistant will enter Absent Excused in PowerSchool to acknowledge the appropriate contact from the parents or guardians.

Excused Absence

An excused absence is one for which a parent or guardian has informed the MS office with a valid excuse.  Any absence or tardy is considered unexcused, except where the administration is satisfied that the absence is for a valid reason. Valid reasons for being absent are as follows:

• Personal Illness

• Family Emergencies

• Dental or Medical appointments

• Parents are urged to make medical appointments outside of school hours.

Excused absences may also be granted for religious holidays, exceptional educational opportunities, travel difficulties, or for any other reason which the Principal deems to be valid, provided that all such absences have been requested by the parent or guardian.

In the case of an absence that impacts specific learning experiences, or an assessment, the student must work with the specific teacher(s) to ensure a new time has been arranged to complete the missed tasks.

Students who need to go to the Health Office during the school day must obtain a pass from their teacher.  If a student wishes to go to the Health Office during a break, then the pass should be obtained from the teacher whose class starts immediately following break or lunch.  The Health Office will send a student back to class with a pass.