Title

Attendance

Absences
Excuse cards for absences are given to each student the first week of school. The day following an absence, the student must present to his homeroom teacher an excuse card properly filled in and signed by his/her parent*, or a complete written explanation for the absence, similarly signed. Students who fail to do so may receive a recess or noon detention.

Excusable absences include absences due to illness, funerals in the immediate family, and approved educational trips.

Parents are urged to consider the other students when deciding if their child is too ill for school. Students who are absent more than three days are required to get a Doctor's signature before returning to school in order to insure the child's health.

Unexcused absences are those not mentioned above. If the student uses more than the three allowable unexcused days, the school will notify that student's local district for disciplinary measures.

Planned family trips may be approved as educational trips if proper procedures are take. Request forms are available at the office. These need to be returned to the administration for processing and approval at least two weeks in advance of the trip. Educational trips will generally not be approved during the last two weeks of school. All assignments and homework to be given during and educational trip absence shall be obtained by the student from the teacher(s) before the trip. Students are expected to have all work completed when they return. Parents are urged to exercise discretion in planning trips during school.

Students are marked absent for the day if they miss more than half of the school day.

In order for students to participate in after-school sports, students should be in school by 11:30 a.m. the day of the event.

Parents are urged to schedule dental and orthodontic appointments during out-of-school hours. When this is not possible,students shall carefully follow the directions under "Tardiness". Such absences and tardies are excused.

When picking up your child for an appointment or any reason, please stop by the office and the office will call your child out of class. Do not go directly to your child's classroom.

**Hereafter the use of the term "parent" includes the "primary care giver".

School Closing or Delay
School closing or delay due to snow or ice will be announced on WGAL TV (8), WITF TV(33), WDAC FM(94.5), WSBA FM(103), WJTL FM(90.3), WROZ FM(101.3) & cancellations.com. The source of information for all weather-related school closings or delays will be the radio. Emergency phone chains will not normally be used to notify parents on days when the school is dismissed early because of weather conditions. Parents are requested to have made prior arrangements for child care in the event both parents are not at home.

Tardiness
Any student who arrives late or leaves early must stop by the office to receive a tardy pass and be signed in or out by a parent. Please note: leaving early is considered a tardy. A student who arrives after 10:00 is recorded as absent for one-half day, as is a student who leaves school before 1:15 p.m. Students leaving school for doctor appointments up to 1 1/2 hours will receive a tardy. Students absent for over 1 1/2 hours during the day for appointments will receive a 1/2 day absence. Four unexcused tardies in any quarter will be considered as one day unexcused absence.