Attendance Office

  • Attendance Line: 742-6285
    Automated Attendance Line: 566-5600

     

    Attendance is of paramount importance to a student’s academic success. A missed school day is a lost opportunity for students to learn. There is a direct correlation between students who attend school regularly and higher academic achievement levels. Direct instruction is the most successful method of delivering education.  All students should strive to maintain at least a 90% attendance rate throughout the year. 

     

    Although your child may make up missed work there is no replacement for direct instruction. The district’s new attendance policy reaffirms this position. In order to reach our Destination 2020 goal on attendance, students can miss no more than 17 days of school per year. This may seem like a lot but it’s less than two absences per month.

     

    Excused and Unexcused Absences

    The parent/guardian is to contact the Attendance office in person, by telephone at 566-5600, or by note to excuse a student’s absence. Absences should be excused within 24 hours of the absence. Absences that have not been excused within 3 days will remain unexcused and are subject to progression of discipline as outlined in the Truancy section.

    Blue Pass: For a student to check out early from the school day, the guardian of the student is to contact the Attendance Office in person, by telephone at 742-6285, or by note. The student will then be issued a Blue Pass that permits them to leave the building.  A student who leaves the building during the school day without a blue pass will be regarded as truant and can’t be excused. Blue Passes will not be issued or delivered after 1:45 p.m.

    Extended Absence: Any student who is planning an extended absence (5 or more days) from school for vacation or any other reason should obtain a Pre-Arranged Absence form from the attendance office before leaving.

    The school board updated policy 443 in June 2013 to define what constitutes an excused absence from school. Conditions include:

    • Illness
    • Death or serious illness in the immediate family
    • Participation in a school function
    • Attendance at a religious service
    • Extenuating circumstances approved by the principal

    Download the pre-arranged absence form.