ATTENDANCE
Regular attendance with a strong work ethic will provide the best opportunity for success and is expected of all students. Since excessive absence from school may result in failure in school subjects, every effort should be made to maintain an excellent attendance record. An absence of three or more days in succession will require remittance by the school nurse. Additionally, a student must be present for at least half of the day to be counted as a school day. A day in session shall consist of not less than four hours, exclusive of recess and lunch periods
Whenever a student is absent from school, parents should notify the attendance office before 8:20 a.m. on the day of the absence. Students must bring a note from their parents on the day of their return and present it to their homeroom teacher. The note must be dated and include the student’s full name, date(s) of the absence, reason for the absence and parents or guardian’s signature. When a doctor requires that your child remain home from school, please obtain a doctor’s note. The doctor’s note must be submitted to the attendance office. A note is required even if a telephone call has been received concerning the absence. Any doctor's note turned in should state, “Please excuse the following individual_________ from school on the following (day or days)_____.” Absence due to illness is not considered an excused absence. For more details on what qualifies as excused or unexcused absences, please see the “Excused & Unexcused Absences” section below.
This attendance procedure is in accordance with the State Law (NJAC6:20-1.3;NJJA-18A: 38-25 et. seq), State Department of Education recommendations. It is designed to guarantee the maximum educational opportunity for all students.
Attendance will be taken/recorded on a daily basis and all subsequent parent/school contacts will be recorded accordingly.
Parents of absent students will be called if no confirming notice (phone call) has been received by 8:30am.
Parents will receive written notification of a possible attendance problem.
Letters will be sent home in the following order:
Reaching and exceeding “chronic absenteeism” monthly averages (which is averaging 2 or more per month). For example, 2 absences by the end of a month of the first month of school indicates a chronic absentee average and will result in a letter being sent home.
A formal “Five Day Notice” requiring the student to attend school within the next five days may be sent home as a result of continued absences.
Seven day absence notice for unexcused absences.
Please note that 10 “unexcused absences” from school may result in truancy being filed, a formal filing with the Municipal Court.
When applicable, a meeting will be scheduled between the school (Administration, Guidance, etc.) and the parent. NOTE: This intervention may involve the Child Study Team, Division of Youth and Family Services, Probation Department, etc.
A student who has not met district standards for attendance (170 days) may not be promoted. Cases involving extenuating circumstances will be reviewed by the school’s Attendance Review Committee.
The State of New Jersey only recognizes a select few excused absences. (N.J.A.C. 6A:32-8.13)
The following are the only state accepted excused absences for 6-8th graders:
Religious observance listed by the state of New Jersey and upon the written request signed by the parent or guardian
Participation in observance of Veterans Day
Participation in district board of election membership activities
Take Our Children to Work Day
Participation in a civic event, up to one day per school year for students in grades six through 12, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:36-33.1 and 33.2.
All other absences not listed above are considered unexcused according to the State of New Jersey, including personal illness. Doctor notes and other reasons for absence should still be formally filed with the attendance secretary so accurate records can be kept. Verified absences that are due to extenuating circumstances such as illness or bereavement are taken into consideration when determining chronic absenteeism status and truancy charges.
Chronic Absenteeism & Truancy
According to the New Jersey Department of Education: “Chronic absenteeism is defined as being absent for 10% or more of the days enrolled during the school year. A student who is not present for any reason, whether excused, unexcused, or for disciplinary action, is considered absent unless permitted by state statute or regulations.”
Absence without parent's/guardian's knowledge, or leaving the building without authorization from the office, will be considered a truancy. Truancy will result in a multiple detention assignment, and/or in-school suspension, referral to the district attendance officer and possible legal action through the juvenile courts.
Continued failure to improve negative attendance patterns will result in the formal filing of truancy charges may be filed in Municipal Court by the building Principal or designee once 10 unexcused absences are reached.
It will be the student's responsibility to contact teachers regarding makeup work, and to complete all missed assignments. Students will have one additional school day to make up missed work for each day absent. Two days out equals two days to make up the work, etc. For example, work assigned on a one day absence occurring on Monday that is due by Tuesday for their peers will be due on Wednesday for that student. Two day absence that occurs on a Monday & Tuesday will result in work being due Friday & the following Monday. All other arrangements are made between teacher and student directly. Additionally, assignment timelines documented in a student's IEP or 504 plan will remain applicable.
Home instruction is available to students who are absent for an extended period of time. An arrangement is made whereby a teacher visits the home to keep the student current with their studies. Parents may call the School Counselor’s Office to obtain further information regarding placement on home instruction.
Students who are absent from school are not to be on school property and may not attend or participate in after school activities on the day of their absence.
Students who plan to transfer from school during the school year, must inform the Guidance Office at least five (5) days in advance of their withdrawal. This should be done in a letter from parents or guardian indicating the last day of attendance and the new school which the student will be attending. A transfer card will be issued after all books and other school property have been returned, and all other obligations, including lunch money owed, have been satisfied.
It is the responsibility of the student to arrive to classes on time. Any student detained after class by a teacher, should ask for an admission pass to the next class. Students who are tardy to class and not in possession of a teacher pass, will receive a teacher detention of five (5) minutes for each one (1) minute of lateness. Lateness to class of more than five (5) minutes or out of the classroom for more than ten (10+) minutes will be considered as a class cut.
Late students will be sent to the main office to be marked “Tardy” and receive a late pass. Excessive lates (after 2nd late each marking period) result in accumulating a demerit point for each day tardy.
Persistent tardiness will be referred to the District Attendance Officer to be handled in accordance with Board of Education policy and New Jersey State law which could result in a court appearance and fine.
You have been absent:
If you were absent due to illness, bring in a doctor's note to the main office to document the absence in the event an Attendance Review Committee is needed. (Other absence reasons should also be filed in writing with the Attendance secretary).
Check in with your teachers to see what you have missed.
You are late to school:
report to the Main Office before going to class.
Any student arriving after 8:15 must be escorted in and signed in by a parent.
You are uncertain whether or not school is in session due to inclement weather:
A RealTime alert would be sent to your parents via phone and text. Check for a missed call/text.
We also will note it on our district webpage.
You have forgotten your lunch or lunch money:
Obtain a pass DURING HOMEROOM
report to the Main Office to make a call home
All lunch loans should be borrowed from the cafeteria and repaid to the cafeteria within one (1) week.
You need to phone a parent for emergency reasons:
Request a pass from your teacher to go to the office for permission to use the telephone.
You feel sick in school:
Ask your teacher if you may go to the Nurse's Office.
You must have a pass to go to the nurse. You must have permission from the principal or school nurse and your parent/guardian to leave the school grounds at any time.
You are unable to participate in physical education for medical reasons:
Bring a parental note or doctor's excuse note to the Nurse's Office.
Another student hassles you:
Think smart and handle the situation the best way possible so everyone “wins.”
Go immediately to a teacher, the school counselor, or an administrator. They are always ready to help you or listen to your problem.
You find books, a coat, etc:
bring the article directly to the Main Office.
You are moving out of town:
inform the School Counselor or Guidance Secretary as soon as you are certain you will be moving.
DROP OFF ZONE DO’S AND DON’T’S
Enter the MacKinnon parking lot from the westbound side of East Central Avenue.
Pull up to the vehicle in front of you while waiting to discharge or pick up your child(ren). Students can be discharged from vehicle anywhere on the sidewalk or the front of MacKinnon. Essentially we can have 10-15 vehicles unloading at once while maintaining a line.
Discharge students from the passenger side of your vehicle.
Exit the drop-off/pick-up line to the left once you have discharged or picked up students.
Obey the directions of the Crossing Guard and district staff in the parking lot.
Park your vehicle in available spaces if you choose to exit your vehicle.
Ask your child(ren) to cross to the parking lot to your parked vehicle at the direction of the Crossing Guard at the crosswalk. Students are to walk on the side walk on the left facing away from the building, look for moving cars, wait, and then cut straight across to the parked vehicles. When students exit they can also go to to the right and utilize the crossing guard and the cross walk to access the parked cars.
Ask your child(ren) to remain inside the orange cones when walking in the parking lot.
Heed to pedestrians at the Drop-Off Zone Crosswalk, the Entrance and the Exit.
Obey the yellow curb markings when parking on East Central Avenue.
Exercise patience and courtesy.
Enter the parking lot from the Eastbound side of East Central Avenue by making a left-hand turn into the lot.
Execute K-Turns or U-Turns while in the parking lot or on East Central Avenue.
Discharge students on the driver’s side of your vehicle.
Drop off your child in the enter of the parking lot while pulling through where the parking spots are on both sides.
Allow your child to cross the parking lot between waiting vehicles or run in the parking lot.
Pass to the right of any vehicle in the parking lot or on East Central Avenue.
Leave your vehicle unattended while waiting in the drop-off/pick-up line.
Block the path of pedestrians along the sidewalk.
Pick up or discharge students on East Central Avenue between the entrance and exit driveways to the MacKinnon parking lot.
Pick up or discharge students on the eastbound of East Central Avenue.
Engage in arguments or rude behavior with students or other adults while waiting to discharge or pick up students.
Double park in the parking lot.
YOUR COOPERATION IN ADHERING TO THESE RULES
WILL MAKE THE DROP-OFF/PICK-UP ZONE MORE SAFE FOR STUDENTS AND DRIVERS