Attendance Procedures and Guidelines

At WRMS, we believe a student has to be present to learn what we have to teach. Every time a student is late, leaves early, or doesn't come to school at all, they miss valuable instructional time and find themselves behind when they return. The more they are out, the further behind they get and the more difficult it is for them to catch up with their peers, often causing other concerns including behavioral issues, low/incomplete assignments, required after school and/or summer support, and an inability to move on/graduate. We ask parents and students to work hard to schedule around school hours and minimize absences whenever and wherever possible.

Please see our school board attendance policy by clicking here.

Absences

An absence is anytime a student misses a half day of school or more. There are two types of absences accepted by the school:

An Excused Absence is when a child must miss school due to an illness, or other unavoidable reason. In order for an absence to be excused, a parent will need to provide a note signed by a professional linked to the absence explaining the situation. Failure to turn in a signed note will result in the absence becoming an unexcused absence.
An Unexcused Absence is when a child misses school for any reason without a note from a professional. Parents have the right to keep a child out of school for up to 5 full days of school with only a parent note. Once a student misses any time beyond the 5th day without proper notification, the school will have to revert to its truancy policy.

TO REPORT A STUDENT ABSENCE:

Call 286-7143, ext. 2630 or email blabranche@wrsdsau59.org. Please provide your child's name and the reason for his/her absence. It is the responsibility of the parent to call the school any time their student is going to be absent, tardy, or dismissed.

Please note that If the school does not hear from a parent, all attempts will be made to reach the individuals on the contact list provided by the parent. If no-one can be reached, a request will be made to the school resource officer or a member of the local police department to conduct a well-child check.

Response to Excessive Absences:

After 5 unexcused absences, a representative of the school will make an effort to reach out to parents and explain that the next unexcused absence will make the child habitually truant under district policy and discuss possible solutions to remedy the situation.
After 6 or more unexcused absences, a letter with be sent home explaining the truancy policy and possible consequences if absences continue.
6 or more unexcused absences may lead to well child check visits by the school resource officer.
At 10 unexcused absences, administration will contact the parents by either phone, letter, or e-mail requesting a meeting to discuss how home and school will collaborate and remedy the situation.
11-14 unexcused absences will lead to more well child check visits by the school resource officer.
At 15 or more unexcused absences, the Department of Youth and Family Services (D.C.Y.F.) could/will be contacted.
Interventions for habitually absent students:
Ongoing student conversations
Ongoing Parent Contact
Attendance Contract
Referral to Orange Team
School Counseling Services
School Resource Officer (SRO)
Youth Assistance Program (Northfield and Tilton residents). Diversion (Sanbornton)

Tardies

Being tardy to school is any time a student arrives at school after the 7:34 bell has rung.

Excused Tardy - If the child is tardy for a reason from the excused absence list (ex. went to the doctors) a note should be provided by the professional and the tardy will be excused.
Unexcused Tardy - Any time the child is tardy without a note from a professional. Notes from parents while appreciated, are still considered unexcused tardies.
Response to Excessive Tardiness:
The third time that a student has an unexcused tardy, a representative of the school will make an effort to reach out to parents to try and remedy the situation.
Should the student continue to be tardy following this effort, arrangements will be made for the student to make up the missed time.
Missed time could be made up at:
5-10 days tardy = lunch detention.
11-15 days tardy = after school detention.
Every 4 days tardy after day 15 will result in a 3 hour Friday Evening Detention (FED).
Interventions for habitually tardy students:
Ongoing student conversations
Ongoing Parent Contact
Attendance Contract
Referral to Orange Team
School Counseling Services
School Resource Officer (SRO)
Youth Assistance Program (Northfield and Tilton residents). Diversion (Sanbornton)

Dismissals

Students should only leave school and arrive late to school because of medical appointments, emergencies, or court appearances. Before leaving, an authorized adult needs to sign out the student in the Main Office.
Attendance in regards to WRMS extracurricular activities:
Winnisquam Regional School District believes that extracurricular activities enrich a student’s academic career and can open doors to an abundance of skills and opportunities. They promote personal responsibility, collaboration, and goal- setting. For a student to participate in extracurricular events (including practices, games, rehearsals, concerts, performances, dances, and other school-sponsored activities) on a given day, he/she must:
- A. Have attended school on that day (or, in the case of events that take place on non-school days, have attended on the most recent day of school). Exceptions to this practice will be made by the principal or his/her designee on a case-by-case basis.
- B. Have arrived at school prior to 8:00 am unless special and/or prearranged permission has been granted by the principal or his/her designee (such as for students who have been granted privilege, a medical appointment accompanied by a note, a school-sponsored field trip, etc.). If a student is unable to adhere to this practice and report to school by 8:00 am as a result of injury or illness, he/she will be considered physically unfit to participate on that day.
- C. Have remained at school through the entirety of the school day unless special and/or prearranged permission has been granted by the principal or his/her designee. Students who have been dismissed must provide documentation of an approved appointment to be eligible for after-school participation.
- D. Have not served any portion of the school day in ISS (or have been suspended out of school).
- E. Have not been dismissed from school (by the nurse or otherwise) for illness.

Report abuse