Attendance

Student Attendance

STUDENT ABSENCES:

• ATTENDANCE:  WCS Board Policy 4400 addresses student attendance expectations.  All students are expected to attend school daily unless they are ill.

• In the event of an absence, a written excuse signed by a parent or guardian must be presented to the student’s teacher within five (5) days of returning after the absence.  Parents should ensure that the student's first and last name and the date of the absence are written on the note.   

• Please see WCS Board Policy 4400 for a list of excused absences.  Please note that prior approval by the principal is required to excuse an absence for participation in a valid educational opportunity.

• Students who accumulate repeated absences or tardies will be asked to provide evidence of a doctor’s appointment or other medical reason for being tardy or leaving early. Parent notes to excuse absences for sickness will not be accepted after the 10th absence; a doctor's note will be required. 

• For excessive absences or tardies/early pick-ups, the problem may be turned over to the school’s social worker. The social worker will be asked to investigate and help the child/family develop a plan to get the child to school on time and a plan to ensure the student remains in school for the entire instructional day. 

​CREDIT FOR ATTENDANCE:

• To be counted present for the school day, a student shall be in attendance at least one-half of the student school day. 

• A student shall be considered present for that portion of the day that he is present to attend an official school activity at a place other than the school with the approval of the principal (ex. field trips, battle of the books).

• Students who check out of school before 11:30 AM or arrive after 11:30 AM will be counted absent for the day.

​TARDINESS:

• A student shall be seated or at their assigned station for work at the time appointed for the school day or class to begin, or be recorded as tardy for the day or class.  

• Students who arrive at school after the beginning of the school day (8:00AM) or leave school prior to the end of the school day (3:00PM) will receive a tardy.

• Students who arrive late to school (after the 8:00AM bell) must be signed into the front office by a parent/guardian.  They should not be dropped off at the curb or escorted by siblings.    

INSTRUCTIONAL TIME:  Instructional time is a very valuable resource for our students. Using the intercom or going to the door of classes to get students before the school day is over is a waste of valuable instructional time. EVEN 5 MINUTES A DAY BY ONE PARENT ROBS ALL STUDENTS IN THAT CLASSROOM OF 15 HOURS OF INSTRUCTIONAL TIME EACH YEAR. That is similar to being absent for 3 days. Multiply that by 3 or 4 parents and students have lost more than a week of precious instructional time.  Please help us avoid interruptions by planning ahead so your child and their teachers know how they will get home from school, schedule appointments on non-school days or after school hours, and avoid late arrivals and early check-outs.