(Reference: OJR School Board Policy # 204 - Attendance)
Regular school attendance is essential. The Administration and Staff of Owen J. Roberts Middle School recognize that there is a positive correlation between attendance and success in school. For participation in any school activity, field trip, or social event, students must be in attendance by 9:45 AM.
Reporting Absences
Communications for reporting student absences will only be accepted from the authorized parents/guardians by telephone. ** The procedures are as follows:
The evening before or the morning of the absence (prior to 9:30 AM) the parent/guardian should call 610-469-5688.
The system will direct the caller to the appropriate building extension.
At the tone, the caller states his/her name, relationship to the student, the child’s full name, grade, the reason for the absence or tardiness, teacher/homeroom name, and return telephone number.
If the student is absent for more than one day, the parent/guardian should call the attendance line for each subsequent day unless instructed otherwise by the building attendance secretary.
A record of all telephone calls received will be maintained in the Attendance Office and shall be considered the official record of documentation provided by this means.
In those cases where the student is absent and the parent has not called, the school will attempt to call the parent at home or place of work and, if necessary, leave a message.
Any student who is absent for more than three consecutive days is required to present a physician’s excuse to validate the absences.
** Written excuse cards, e-mail, or fax communications will continue to be accepted.
Excused Absences
For an absence to be excused, the Attendance Secretary must receive notification from the parent/guardian by the start of the school day. The reason for the absence must be stated via the telephone, a written correspondence, or an electronic (fax) communication. Excuse cards are to be returned to the Attendance Office prior to the start of first period. Additional excuse cards are available in the Attendance Office. Failure to comply with these procedures may result in the absence being recorded as illegal. In these cases, the compulsory school attendance laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania shall be applied accordingly.
The mere fact that a parent has sent a written explanation does not necessarily mean that the absence is an excused absence. Excused absences may be granted for illness, quarantine, death in the immediate family, impassable roads, school-sanctioned educational trips, approved non-school sponsored travel, religious holidays, and exceptionally urgent reasons which affect the child. Such reasons as “missing the bus,” “car problems,” “personal,” “academic reasons,” or “oversleeping” are classified as illegal absences. Absences for other reasons will also be considered illegal.
Illegal Absences
An undocumented or non-qualifying absence will be considered an illegal absence for all students of compulsory attendance age (from first grade until age 17). If the parent/guardian has not called or submitted a form of written communication within 3 days of the student’s absence, the absence will be documented as illegal. In addition, failure to meet the requirement of submitting a physician’s excuse for three or more consecutive days of absence will result in the absences being classified as illegal.
Truancy
The Pennsylvania School Code requires school districts to take legal action after 3 days of documented illegal attendance. Students considered truant (and their parents) are subject to legal citations and other penalties as determined by the District Magistrate. Students who are truant from school are also subject to school disciplinary action. Students who are repeatedly truant from school will be referred to the school’s intervention team and to Chester County Children Youth and Family Services.
Excessive Absences
After an accumulation of 10 days of absence per year, a physician’s excuse will be required for any additional absence. Absences not covered by the appropriate documentation will be considered illegal. Attendance at a funeral or absences due to approved non-school sponsored travel will be included in the 10-day limit after which a physician’s excuse is required.
In addition, when a student accumulates 25 days or more of absence, excused or illegal, a building administrator may review the student’s record to determine continued participation in school activities.
Lateness to School
Students are expected to report to school on time each day. A warning bell sounded at 7:55 AM alerts students to the need to be in class. Homeroom begins promptly at 8:00 AM. Students are to be present in the classroom, seated, and quiet in preparation for the morning announcements. Students who arrive to homeroom after 8:00 AM will be considered late to school for the day.
Parents/guardians will be contacted when a pattern of tardiness becomes evident. Students who are late to school must report directly to the Attendance Office to sign in and to receive a pass. Students who accumulate more than three illegal late arrivals will be assigned a consequence. Continued late arrivals to school could be met with an increase in the severity of school consequences and/or a suspension of privileges. In addition, illegal lateness to school will be cumulative throughout the school year and will convert to days of illegal absence for purposes of enforcing school attendance and truancy.
If a student arrives at school after 8:00 AM, but before 9:45 AM, the lateness will be recorded as excused if a parent note (maximum three times per year) or other documentation verifying an appointment is provided. Students arriving to school after 11:30 AM will be charged with a half day absence, excused or illegal, based on the documentation provided. The absence will be deducted from the ten days per year permitted to be excused by parent communications.