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. 

Excessive absences can significantly impact a student's academic progress. To ensure that parents and guardians are informed about the number of absences and the potential consequences of missing too much school, we've established the following procedure.

Attendance Communication Procedure

• 7 Absences: When a student reaches seven excused absences, the attendance office will send a notification letter to the parent/guardian via Genesis. A copy of this letter will be shared with the student's Assistant Principal/Dean of Students, who will then follow up with a phone call.

• 10 Absences: When a student reaches ten total absences, the attendance office will send a second notification letter via Genesis. The Assistant Principal/Dean of Students will coordinate a meeting with the parent/guardian, student, and school counselor to discuss an Intervention & Referral Services (I&RS) plan.

• 17 Absences: When a student reaches seventeen absences, the attendance office will send a notification letter to the parent/guardian via Genesis. The attendance office will notify the Principal/ Assistant Principal/Dean of Students. A meeting with the parents will be held to review the I&RS plan and discuss seat time buy back. (Max 2)

• 18 or More Absences: When a student's absences exceed eighteen, the attendance office will send a notification letter to the parent/guardian via Genesis. The attendance office will notify the Principal/ Assistant Principal/Dean of Students. At this point, a meeting will be held with parents to discuss the possibility of retention and an appeal to the Attendance Committee. A truancy referral may also be initiated.

We believe that consistent communication is key to helping students succeed. Please feel free to reach out to the attendance office or your student's Assistant Principal/Dean of Students if you have any questions.

• Late Arrivals to School:  Students who arrive at school after 8:15 AM are to sign in at the main office and then report directly to class.  Please refer to the Code of Discipline for more information related to recurrences of tardiness to school.