Attendance

A purposeful, caring attendance policy is an integral part of the school's effort to provide a meaningful education for all students. The school ascribes to the belief that a student cannot receive maximum benefit from his or her school experiences, nor a parent maximum return on the tax dollar when students are not in regular attendance. 

Please note: In an effort to improve communication and coordinate care with physicians who are treating students with chronic medical conditions, a release to speak to the treating physician will need to be on file with the school nurse.

Excuses

Students are required to give signed excuses for all absences, early dismissals and tardies to their teacher on or before the third (3rd) school day following the absence to be considered legal. No excuse will be accepted after the third day following an absence. 

Excused Absences

The following are the only absences which are considered excused: 

1. Illness with return of properly signed excuse form within 3 days of absence 

2. Funeral 

3. Pre-approved educational tour or trip (on our website) 

4. Natural disaster or emergency 

5. Religious holidays and religious instruction 

General Guidelines

• The parent/guardian of a student will receive an unlawful attendance letter for the first, second, and third and sixth unexcused absence. 

• Upon the accumulation of ten absences, a letter will be sent to the parent/guardian requiring a doctor’s excuse for all future absences and a truancy elimination plan meeting will be set up by your child’s guidance counselor. This meeting is designed to help families develop a plan to improve attendance.  

• If the Truancy Elimination Plan is not adhered to, the school’s Student Assistance Specialist, will refer the family to SAM Advance School Attendance Program. If this program is not followed, Children and Youth will be contacted. 

Special Excusals

Requests for early dismissals for medical appointments should be limited to those which cannot be made other than during school hours. When requesting such an early dismissal, an excuse form should be submitted to the classroom teacher no later than the beginning of the school day on which the appointment occurs. Medical or dental appointments will be excused only if the student returns with a note or special excuse card from the physician or dentist within 3 days. 

Educational Trips and Policies 

Students wishing to be excused for educational experiences such as non-school sponsored vacations or trips must secure a request from the office. This form will be completed by the parent/guardian and then returned to school at least one week before the scheduled event. Prior approval is required for the absence to be considered excused. 

A maximum of five cumulative days will be allowed consecutively in one school year with a maximum of ten days total. All additional days will be recorded as illegal. It is recommended that these days not be scheduled at the beginning or end of a school term or during the PSSA testing window. 

Tardiness 

A student is considered to be tardy when he/she arrives to school after 8:45 a.m. Arrival to school after 11:00 will be considered a half day absence. After six tardies, a student will receive a letter from the school office. 

Early Dismissals 

When the school is in session for a half-day (in-service, etc.) the day will end at 12:30 p.m. and be marked as either a full day absent or a full day in attendance. 

IMPORTANT – students who are not in attendance OR who leave school due to illness during the day will NOT be permitted to participate in school extra-curricular activities on that day.

Attendance

Regular attendance in school is important to student progress. Many learning opportunities occur during the school day that cannot be duplicated for those students not present. 

Please call school on a morning that your child will be absent, so that we know the child is safe and send in a written note as well. When you know in advance about an absence, please send a card marked “anticipated absence,” including the reason for the absence. 

In order for a family trip to be excused, a Request for an Educational Trip form must be completed by the parent/guardian and returned to the principal for approval. The educational value of the trip must be documented on the form. 

Please remember that excusal from school attendance is not a function of the home. A principal may excuse a student’s absence from school for the following reasons: 

1. Student illness 

2. Quarantine 

3. Death in the immediate family

4. Religious holidays 

5. Educational trip

6. Emergency 

A written excuse is required for all absences. An absence of five (5) consecutive days or more requires a medical excuse. After 10 days of accumulated absences, in instances where school administration believes that absences due to illness are chronic and irregular, the school administration may request a physician's statement certifying that such absences are medically justifiable. In addition, accumulated time missed from school due to excessive tardies may be dealt with in the same manner. Absences not listed above shall be unexcused. 

As provided by Section 1333 of the Pennsylvania Public School Code of 1949, the Wyomissing Area School District may take legal action against the parents or guardians of children or the children themselves who are of compulsory school age and are unlawfully absent from school. When a citation is issued to the District Justice, it will result in approximately $100/day fine plus court costs. 

Tardy to School

All students must be in school seated in the gymnasium by 8:15. All arrivals after 8:15 are considered tardy. 

All tardy students are considered unexcused unless we receive a parent/guardian note stating: 

• The child was ill

• The child had a doctor/dentist appointment

• There was a true emergency

Excessive tardies are unacceptable and consequences will be issued.