Attendance

Attendance

School Board Policy 6000 states, "Attendance in school is central to educational achievement and school success." Every student is encouraged to attend school every day possible. To be counted present, a student shall be in attendance at least one-half of the instructional school day. Phone calls will be made to the homes of absent students to verify the absence. Parents are encouraged to call the school (557-2727) before 8 AM to report absences. When a student returns to school after an absence, policy requires a dated note from a parent/guardian within two days stating the reason for the absence. The student should present this note to the designated staff member in the cafeteria from 7:45 to 8:08 AM and receive an admission slip to show to teachers of the classes missed. For an absence to be excused, the reason must meet the standards of WCPSS Board Policy.

When a student has accumulated unlawful or questionable absences, a letter will be mailed to the home of the student. Students who are absent excessively may risk not being promoted to the next grade. A doctor's note may be required in cases of repeated or chronic illness. We encourage families to use the school calendar for planning trips. If it becomes necessary for a student to miss school due to a trip, parents are required to make a written request to the principal prior to the absence. For all absences, the student shall complete all work in a timely manner in consultation with the teacher. The student is responsible for all missed assignments for every absence.

Return to School

When a student has been absent, upon returning to school the student should come to the cafeteria between 7:45 - 8:08 a.m. to receive an admit slip. A student must present this admit slip to every teacher whose class has been missed.

A student has two days after returning to school to submit an explanatory note from a parent or guardian to the staff member in the cafeteria. Failure to comply will result in the absence being recorded as unexcused.

The explanatory note from the parent must contain:

  • student's first and last name
  • grade level
  • date of absence(s)
  • reason for the absence(s)
  • home and work number for the parent
  • parent signature

The Data Manager will verify the legitimacy of the parent note. The classroom teacher will receive information if a note has been falsified so the teacher’s attendance record can be changed.

Late Arrival (8:15-8:30 am)

Students arriving on campus after the morning bell should report to the Main Office to sign in and get a note to class.

Early Arrival (7:45-8:15 am)

Students arriving before the first bell should report to their grade level’s designated area or to the cafeteria for breakfast. 6th grade students should report to the auditorium. 7th and 8th grade students will report to the gym.

Absence for Educational or Religious Reason

Absences for educational purposes such as college visits, participation in civic and educational religious programs, and court appearances must be arranged at least one week in advance by parents and students. Pre-approval forms may be obtained in the Attendance Office and must be returned to the grade level administrator at least one week in advance.

Makeup Work

Schools shall establish and communicate to students and parents their procedures for making up work following an unexcused absence. Make-up work shall be graded at a standard consistent with the original work. Credit equivalent to not less than 70% of the original value of the work shall be awarded for make-up work completed within the school’s established procedures. In making final determinations about credit, the procedures should take into account the following:

  • The past performance of the student,
  • Circumstances that may have made the unexcused absence unavoidable,
  • Unusual family circumstances,
  • Nature of the specific learning activity,
  • Other issues that the teacher determines to be relevant to the situation.

Absences resulting from out-of-school suspensions are considered unexcused, and the same policy for make-up work applies. Full credit must be given for quarter, semester or grading period examinations in the case of short-term suspensions.

Schoolwork will be made up for excused absences under the following conditions:

If the absence is approved in advance and/or if the work is assigned by the teacher in advance, all make-up work, including tests assigned for the day of return, is due upon the student's return to school. Teachers should use discretion and may make exceptions in the case of students whose excused absences were not planned in advance, were beyond the student’s control, and the nature of which would not support make-up work the day of return (e.g., death in the immediate family, serious illness).

If the make-up work has not been assigned in advance, for absences of one (1) to three (3) days, the student will have one day for each day absent. For absences exceeding three (3) days, the student may have two (2) days for each day absent to make up work. Special consideration should be given in the case of extended absences due to injury or chronic illness.

The student is responsible for securing make-up work at the secondary level. At the elementary level, the teacher is responsible for assigning make-up work.

During any short-term out of school suspension a student SHALL be provided:

1. The opportunity to take textbooks home for the duration of the suspension

2. The right to inquire about homework assignments for the duration of the suspension

3. The opportunity to take any quarterly, semester, or grading period exams missed during the suspension period

Checking Out Early

Any student who must leave before the school day ends is required to sign out at the front office. Students are asked to bring a note explaining the reason for early departure and give it to the receptionist at the front office upon arrival to school. If a student returns to school, he/she must sign in at the front office for an admit slip. Due to front office demands at the end of the day, we will not check students out between 2:50 PM and 3:00 PM.

Tardy Policy

Punctuality to school and class is essential for a student’s success. Students who are late miss and interrupt instruction. A student is considered late if he/she is not at his/her assigned area when the tardy bell rings. Students who arrive to school after first period begins should report to the front office with a note to sign in and get an admission slip. The procedure for determining tardiness status (excused and unexcused) will be the same as with absences. When a student arrives late for a class, he/she is to be admitted and the tardiness recorded as excused or unexcused. Tardiness is handled on a quarterly basis by individual classes. For unexcused tardiness to classes and/or school, students should expect to receive a consequence from their teacher or administrator.