Every day that a child is absent, a parent or guardian should call the main office by 8:00 a.m. (610-670-0180 ext. 1316: West; ext. 1410: Southern). A student who is absent from school must, upon his/her return, present a note stating the reason for the absence, the date(s) of such absence, and the signature of the parent/guardian. All notes directed to the attendance office should include the student’s first name, last name, and grade, along with a legible parent/guardian signature. For convenience, the school provides printed absentee notes which may be obtained in homeroom or in the main office. The note must be received by the school within three (3) days after the student’s return or the absence will be classified as unlawful.
School law permits absence due only to illness, religious observances, approved vacation, inclement weather that would endanger the well-being of a child and other urgent reasons. School law requires an“urgent reason” to be strictly construed and clearly documented. When a pupil’s attendance is questionable or irregular, a physician’s excuse may be required in addition to an excuse signed by a parent.
A physician’s excuse must be presented, regardless of the number of days absent, for the following communicable diseases: measles, whooping cough, respiratory streptococcal infections (strep throat included), scarlet fever, mumps, impetigo, pink-eye, ringworm, scabies, meningitis and infectious mononucleosis. If a student has been absent because of chickenpox or pediculosis (head lice), a parent’s note is sufficient; but, upon return to school, student must first report to the school nurse to be checked before reentering the classroom.
If a student has been ill for three or more consecutive days and has not been seen by a physician, a written excuse by a parent or guardian must be received in the office and student must report to the school nurse to be checked before being readmitted to school. If a student has been absent for three or more consecutive days and has obtained a physician’s excuse, a visit to the school nurse will not be necessary. Upon return to school, the student is to be certain to ask his/her teachers about making up missed work. This is the student’s responsibility.
When students are absent from school, they may log onto the Wilson Web Site (www.wilsonsd.org) to get up to the minute information on assignments (choose “Homework Hotline” link on the right hand side of the school’s main page) for all academic classes.
Any student who is of compulsory school age and is absent without a valid excuse or has failed to submit an excuse within the specified time, shall be considered unlawfully absent. Students who are unlawfully absent are subject to arrest by the district's attendance officer under the provision of section 1343 of the school code. Following three days of unlawful absence, parents or guardians will be notified in writing of the penalties for further violation of the Compulsory Attendance Law (section 1333).
If parents or guardians are found guilty of an infraction of the law regarding attendance, they can be fined up to $300, required to complete a "parenting program," and required to complete up to six (6) months of community service to the District.
Students may also be at risk for attendance violations. If parents or guardians can show that they took every reasonable step to ensure attendance for children 13 years of age or older, the student can be fined $300.00, referred to delinquency proceedings, adjudicated and/or lose driving privileges for ninety (90) days to six (6) months. Students under 13 years of age can be referred to delinquency procedures.
The school will notify parents or guardians in writing when their child has accumulated seven (7) days of absence not covered by a written physician's excuse or other approved absence to inform them that a written reason from their physician will be required for every day of absence that exceeds ten (10) days. All unverifiable days beyond the 10 days will be treated as illegal or unlawful absences.
If parents or guardians desire a student to be excused early for part of/or the remainder of the day, the student must present to the principal’s office a written request from the parent / guardian stating the date, time, and reason for being excused. This request must be handed in to the office prior to 7:45 a.m. on the day they are to be excused. The student's name will be typed on the daily bulletin indicating the time of dismissal. The student must sign out in the office before leaving and sign in upon returning. They will be issued a pass to return to class.
When picking up their child prior to dismissal time, a parent or guardian must report to the office to sign out their student. Upon return to school, a doctor’s note from the visit is required. Except in extreme emergencies, permission for early dismissal will only be granted for medical or legal reasons.
If students fail to return to school after appointments or fail to report to school prior to appointments, the half day missed will be coded unexcused and unlawful.
Tardiness shall be defined as any portion of a class period or school day missed. Habitual tardiness for reasons that clearly constitute unjustified partial absence from school will be treated with the same seriousness as an unexcused or unlawful absence with similar consequences. Excessive tardiness will accumulate into days of unexcused absences. If students arrive after 7:33 a.m., but before 9:10 a.m., they are considered tardy for the morning session. If students arrive from 9:11 until 11:00 a.m., they are considered absent a half day. Students may be late due to a medical appointment. This constitutes an excused late arrival up to 9:10 a.m. and an excused half day absence after 9:31 a.m. In all cases of tardiness, students must report to the office for a tardy pass to be admitted to class. Unexcused minutes of tardiness may be accumulated into equivalent days to count toward days of unexcused absence or tardiness. Unsatisfactory excuse examples include but are not limited to: Automobile failure, missing the bus, road conditions, heavy traffic, and failure to arrange for childcare, family problems and oversleeping. There will be consequences (see below) for excessive accumulated tardies. This process starts with the 3rd occurrence of tardiness.
3 times late = written warning
6 times late = lunch detention
9 times late = 2 lunch detentions
12 times late = after school detention
15 times late = 2 after school detentions
18 times late = In-school suspension (day in the reflection room)
This process will repeat, starting with lunch detention, if a student goes beyond 18 late arrivals.
Truancy Elimination Plan
Children who are habitually truant may be placed on a truancy elimination plan. Service Access Management (SAM) may be contacted in order to improve school attendance if necessary.
Educational Trips
The following guidelines have been established by the district for requesting students to be excused from school:
1. Secure the application from the principal's office.
2. Complete the application, including: clearly defined purpose, itinerary and educational aspects of the trip.
3. Return the completed application to the principal's office prior to the trip. Allow enough time for your child to obtain assignments.
4. Someone from the principal's office will be in contact with you concerning the absence.
5. Upon returning from the trip, the student is responsible to make up any work missed while absent.
6. Students will be permitted up to five days for non-educational trips.
7. Trips will not be approved during the first or last five days of school year and during PSSA Testing.