Attendance

ATTENDANCE

Absences and Tardiness

 It is extremely important to call the school between 8:00 and 9:00 A.M. on the first day of any illness. Absentee notes should be brought in the day the child returns to school. If your child develops a communicable disease, please notify the school as soon as possible. Excessive tardiness will result in disciplinary consequences and a parent conference.

The Board of Education has an obligation to require that students of this district be present at school so they may be educated appropriately. An elementary pupil will be retained at grade level, in accordance with Policy No. 5410, when he/she has been absent eighteen (18) or more school days. This policy is for the benefit of the students, their parents/guardians, and the community at large. This policy is based on the belief that a student must attend class on a regular basis if he/she is to receive the maximum benefit from classroom instruction and to profit from the exchange of ideas within the classroom. Absences, for any reason, restrict and inhibit the ability of the student to master and complete the prescribed curriculum requirements and the various subject proficiencies. The Westwood Regional Board of Education and staff recognize and accept the responsibility to provide a thorough and efficient education for every student and expect the cooperation of parents/guardians and students in this endeavor.

For further information, refer to Attendance Policy 5200 on the district website.

New for the 2025-2026 School Year

One of our top priorities for the 2025–2026 school year is improving student attendance. Research consistently shows that regular school attendance is one of the strongest predictors of academic success. This level of absenteeism is associated with lower achievement, increased learning gaps, and reduced chances of on-time graduation.

To address this, we have updated our district attendance policy to align with state guidelines and reinforce the importance of daily attendance. According to the New Jersey Department of Education, all absences count toward chronic absenteeism calculations except for the following:

• Religious observances

• Veteran’s Day observances

• Election-related activities

• Take Your Child to Work Day

• Up to three college visits (for 11th and 12th grade students)

• Participation in civic events

All other absences, regardless of reason, will be reviewed and categorized as excused or unexcused. *Doctor's notes will now be required to excuse a student for illness*

Please note, a parent phone call or email no longer counts as an excused absence AND a doctor's note must be submitted within five (5) days of returning to school. 

Excessive unexcused absences may result in retention in grades K–8 and loss of class credit at the high school level, which could ultimately impact a student’s ability to graduate.

Promotion and Retention

The district recognizes that the personal, social, physical, and educational growth of children will vary and that they should be placed in the educational setting most appropriate to their needs at the various stages of their growth. For further information, refer to Promotion and Retention Policy 5410 on the district website (www.wwrsd.org > Board of Education > Policies & Regulations). While unlikely, students are guaranteed an education irrespective of a student's marriage, pregnancy, or parenthood through NJAC 6A:16-7.1. 

Illness at School

To enable the school to contact a parent/guardian in an emergency situation during school hours, each student is to have a parent/guardian complete the Emergency Form annually and return it to school. Students who become ill in school shall obtain a pass from the teacher and report directly to the nurse. If a student is unable to report to the nurse, the teacher in charge will call the nurse for assistance.

Under no circumstances shall students leave school without the permission of the school nurse or administration. Violation of this rule will be considered leaving school grounds without permission and treated as truancy under the Code of Discipline.

All accidents and/or injuries occurring during school hours or school-sponsored activities are to be reported immediately to the school nurse or the teacher in charge of the activity. Except in an emergency, a student dismissed from school by the nurse because of illness shall be transported home by a member of his/her family.