STUDENT SIGN-OUT POLICY

In alignment with the York Catholic District School Board (YCDSB) Safe Schools Policy 202 and our commitment to student safety and accountability, students who are signed out of school—whether by a parent/guardian or through self-sign-out privileges—must leave school property immediately and are not permitted to remain on school grounds for any reason.

This includes:

• Studying in the library

• Waiting in hallways or common areas

• Remaining in the building for extracurricular activities later in the day

Why this policy matters: Once a student is signed out, they are no longer under the supervision of school staff. Allowing them to remain on school property without supervision creates safety, liability, and accountability concerns. This policy ensures that all students are either fully supervised or fully signed out, with no ambiguity.

Example: A student cannot be signed out of class to study in the library. If a student is signed out, they must leave the school premises and may only return once they are officially signed back in.

This policy is grounded in YCDSB’s commitment to maintaining a safe and respectful learning environment for all students. For more information, please refer to 🖱️ YCDSB Policy 202 – Safe Schools 🖱️

1.

EXTENDED ABSENCE PROTOCOLS

Extended Absence Form – Parent Overview

If your child will be away from school for an extended period during the school year—for reasons such as a family vacation, participation in a provincial or national sporting event, or another personal matter—you are required to complete the Extended Absence Form and submit it to the school at least one week in advance.

Key Steps for Parents and Students:

1. Submit the Form Early
   The form must be completed and handed in to the Vice Principal responsible for attendance at least one week before the planned absence.

2. Attach a Parent/Guardian Letter  (This is required)
   A written explanation from the parent or guardian must be included, outlining the reason for the absence.

3. Student Responsibility

   • Students must collect all classwork and assignments at least 48 hours before leaving.

   • They are responsible for catching up on missed work.

   • Missed tests, presentations, or evaluations may receive a late penalty or a mark of zero, unless alternate arrangements are made with the teacher in advance.

4. Attendance Records

   • The student will be marked as legitimately absent in the attendance system.

   • If a program of study is provided by the school, the student remains on the enrolment register and is marked with a “G” code.

   • If no program is provided, the student may be removed from the enrolment register and will need to be re-registered upon return.

5. Exams and Provincial Testing

   • Any missed exams, OSSLT, or EQAO assessments will receive a mark of zero. These are not rescheduled unless covered by specific board or ministry regulations.

6. Teacher Feedback
   Each subject teacher will provide comments on the student’s current standing, number of classes already missed, and any evaluations that will be missed during the absence.

Important Note

The school does not encourage extended absences for vacations during instructional time, as they can significantly impact student progress. Families are asked to schedule trips during official school holidays whenever possible.

If you have questions or need help completing the form, please contact the school’s main office.

CASL (Canadian Anti-Spam Legislation) Information

The York Catholic District School Board and its Schools use an announcement program called SchoolMessenger to communicate with our parent/guardian community.

SchoolMessenger is used to meet the requirements of Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL). Parents/Guardians are able to unsubscribe from various types of email messages by clicking the “unsubscribe” link located at the bottom of any e-mail communication from the York Catholic District School Board. 

To read the details of this memorandum click on the button below.