Attendance

The Board of Education is committed to providing a safe and secure school environment to all students attending the Westwood Regional School District.  To provide this environment, the BOE will implement policies and procedures regarding student offenses involving firearms, as defined in N.J.S.A. 2C:39-1(f) and 18 U.S.C. §921, pursuant to The Zero Tolerance For Guns Act, N.J.S.A. 18A:37-7 through N.J.S.A. 37-12. 

ATTENDANCE

The Board of Education has an obligation to require students of this district be present at school so that he/she may be educated appropriately.  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 the 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 the Westwood Regional Jr./Sr. High School staff recognize and accept the responsibility to provide a thorough and efficient education for every student and expect the cooperation of students and parents/guardians in this endeavor.  

It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to contact the attendance office on the morning of the absence as to why the student is absent either by note, email (hs-attendance@wwrsd.org), or phone at (201) 664-0880 x2051.  Please see Attendance

for more information about the attendance policy and/or regulation. 

All students arriving late need to sign in at the welcome desk.  

Cutting

A student is expected to be in class on time every day he/she is in school.  If a student is reported as present to school, but fails to show for class without an excuse pass or is fifteen (15) minutes late or more without an excuse pass, it will be considered a cut.  Students who accumulate three (3) cuts in the same class if the course is a full year course and two (2) cuts for a semester or quarter course will be denied credit for the course.

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.  Students who become ill in school shall obtain a pass from the teacher and report directly to the nurse with assistance from a faculty member or classmate. 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 permission of the school nurse or administration.  Violation of this rule will be considered leaving the 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/coach in charge of the activity. 

Long-term Illness – Home Instruction

Any student who will be absent from school for an extended period of time (two (2) week minimum) is entitled to homebound instruction.

The process to receive homebound instruction invoices:

1. A letter from a physician stating the nature of the illness or injury and the estimated duration of absence.

2. A letter from the parent/ guardian requesting this instruction.

Both letters should be sent to the school nurse.  The process can only begin after these two (2) letters have been submitted.  Guidance and/or special services will make arrangements for home instruction after verification is received from the school physician.

Notification to Parents

In order to keep the parents/ guardians aware of the number of absences and the serious consequences of excessive absences, the following procedure has been established:

1. Whenever the total number of a student’s absences in any class reaches seven (7) for a full year course, five (5) in physical education, four (4) for a semester course, or three (3) for a quarter course, the attendance office will send a letter, via Genesis, to notify the parents/guardians.  A copy of the letter will be sent to the student's Assistant Principal, who will follow up with a phone call to the parents/guardians.

2. Whenever the total number of a student’s absences in any class reaches thirteen (13) for a full year course, nine (9) in physical education, six (6) for a semester course, the attendance office will send a letter, via Genesis, to notify the parent/guardian.  A copy of the letter will be sent to the assistant principal, who will follow up with a phone call to the parents/guardians. A meeting may be requested at this time.

3. Whenever the total number of a student’s absences in any class exceeds the permitted maximum of fourteen (14) absences for a full year course, ten (10) in physical education, seven (7) absences for a semester course, or four (4) absences for a quarter course, the attendance office will notify the principal who will notify the parents/guardians that credit will be denied for the course(s) where the excessive absences have occurred.

1. Please visit this link to familiarize yourself with specific information regarding attendance policy 5200. 

Right of Appeal

A parent/guardian who has additional information which should be considered may file an appeal with the assistant principal within five (5) days of the notification that the student will not earn credit for the course(s).  The appeal must be in written form and should indicate the reasons why the penalty for excessive absences should not be imposed. The principal will convene the attendance review committee, chaired by the assistant principal.  Such a committee may include one (1) subject supervisor, the student’s guidance counselor, the school nurse, and up to three (3) members of the teaching staff who teach the student involved. The committee will review all the reasons for the absences, information from the student file, and any additional information submitted by the parent/guardian with the appeal.  The parent/ guardian have the right to attend the appeal hearing and present witnesses. The committee shall present to the principal a written recommendation with reasons within five (5) days of the receipt of the appeal from the parent/ guardian. The principal will review the recommendation of the committee and will either sustain or reject it within five (5) days.  The decision of the principal will be forwarded to the parent/guardian. Any further appeal by the parent/ guardian must follow the procedures outlined in the grievance policy for students and parents/guardians. Cuts will not be considered for part of the appeals process.