ATTENDANCE
Diocesan Policy #5113. “Principals shall be responsible for the regular school attendance of students.”
Diocesan Policy #5113.1 “A written request from parents or guardian is required for a pupil to leave school before time of dismissal. The request must state clearly the reason for early dismissal. No pupil should be released from school during the school day without the written request of a parent or guardian. Elementary school pupils should be released only to parents or to someone definitely authorized by them. A pupil who is ill will not be sent home, but should be called for by his/her parent or other authorized person.”
Doctor’s appointments should not be made during school hours except in an emergency. If regular doctor’s/dentist’s appointments are made during school hours, parents are asked to keep their child at home on that day. Exceptions are orthodontist appointments. Early dismissal is disruptive in the classroom and does not have a positive affect on students’ academics. Teachers are not obliged to give the student who is being dismissed early work that will be missed that day by the student. Throughout the entire school year early dismissal should be extremely rare.
If it is necessary for a child to have an early dismissal, a parent must send a written note to the office prior to the appointed time. A parent or designated representative must come to the office for the child and sign the child out. Other than the regular daily dismissal, no student may leave the school directly from the classroom nor leave the school without a parent or guardian unless this is stated in writing from the parent/guardian. St. John School does not assume any responsibility for students missing an important event due to written permission to leave early with someone other than a parent or guardian not having been provided.
Frequent absence is extremely detrimental to the student’s academic progress. In the event of an absence, parents are requested to:
1. CALL THE OFFICE BEFORE 9:00 A.M. AND GIVE THE REASON FOR THE ABSENCE.
2. If the child is absent for more than one day, send a written note when the child returns giving the date and confirming the reason. The telephone call is required in every case; the note is required for more than one day’s absence.
3. In the case of absence of five or more consecutive days due to illness, a doctor’s note must be provided to the office for the child to return. Saturday and Sunday are included in the five days if the child is absent Friday and the following Monday. If a doctor has not seen the child, a certificate may be obtained from the school nurse. Contact the office to obtain class assignments from the teacher, or if there is another child in the school, a note may be sent.
At least two non-parent emergency numbers must be recorded in the office in case a parent cannot be reached at home. If a child becomes sick in school, the parent/guardian will be contacted first. If they cannot be reached, then one of the emergency numbers will be used. A parent or designated representative must come to the school office for the child. A child will not be dismissed from a classroom or sent home alone.
Students go to their classrooms at 8:40 a.m. At 8:50 a.m. the student body reports to the gym for morning prayer. The school day ends at 3:00 p.m. Please note that the ending time is different than previous years.
Tardiness is disruptive and should be avoided. Unexcused tardiness is an insult to the teacher. Students who arrive after 8:45 a.m are tardy (unless a school bus is late). They are to use the entrance by the secretary’s office and are required to report to the office to obtain a tardy slip. Tardy students may not attend Morning Prayer with the school body; they are required to wait outside the office and join their classes as they leave Morning Prayer. Students who have three unexcused tardies per quarter will be required to serve detention; also, a meeting of the child’s parents with the principal is required at that time. Should there be more than three tardies per quarter serious consideration will be given as to whether St. John School is the proper place for such a student. This decision rests with the principal and assistant principal. Tardiness due to car trouble, medical appointments, PPTs, buses arriving late are considered excused as long as the office is notified of such circumstances THAT day. The school determines if tardies are excused.
Family vacations should coincide with scheduled vacations on our school calendar. We cannot educate children who are not in school. Going on vacation during school time is not considered an excused absence. Assignments will not be given for these vacations. Students are responsible to make up all missing work and tests in an appropriate time upon their return.
“Regular attendance is essential for satisfactory work. In order for a student to be eligible for promotion, it is required by Diocesan regulation that the student is in attendance no fewer than 160 days. Therefore, no student may accumulate more than (20) twenty excused absences for the ENTIRE school year. A student who leaves school before 4 hours of school are completed for that day is considered absent for the day (4 hours is needed to constitute a legal school day). Frequent absence is extremely detrimental to the student’s academic progress. Therefore, extended periods of absence for vacations should be avoided so as not to impede the student’s academic program or place your child in violation of the Diocesan regulations” (Diocesan policy 5113, Revision 3).
Making up schoolwork/homework due to excused absence: IS THE REPONSIBILITY OF THE STUDENT!
All grades: If a request is made for homework for an absent student it must be made by 10 a.m. and may only be picked up at DISMISSAL TIME in the office.