Attendance
Attendance procedures for grades 1-8 System of Record Keeping In order to more accurately reflect a student's actual attendance habits, absences and partial day absences are recorded using a system which divides the school day into 1/6's.
A student who is in the classroom ready to participate at 8:15 AM is on time. A student arriving after 8:15 (but before 9:00) is tardy. A student arriving after 9:00 is counted absent for at least a part of that day. A written note from the parent which states the reason for the absence will be required upon the students return to school.
"Do I phone? Do I write a note, or email?" Yes, to all questions. Whenever your child misses school, whether for sickness for other causes, please do two things:
1. If possible, phone the school office before 8:15 AM to notify us that you child won't be in.
2. When your child is ready to return, send to the classroom teacher a written excuse, signed and dated by you, stating the reason for the absence.
Tardiness Sometimes late arrivals are caused by factors beyond a parent's control. But excessive tardiness, at least for grade school children, is usually caused by the parent. All others involved -- the child, other students in the class, the teacher, and even the office staff -- are affected by a child's late arrival.
A student having been tardy for the tenth time in a semester will be assessed a $10 fine. Each increment of five additional times being tardy will result in an additional $10 fine. A letter of warning will be mailed home to the parent when a child has been tardy five times during a semester.
A student who arrives late should sign in at the school office and pick up a tardy slip before going to class.
Sickness Please use these guidelines, which are based on St. Louis County health guidelines, in deciding whether a child who is suspected of being ill should be sent to school:
1. Students with vomiting, diarrhea, or fever above 99.6° F degrees Fahrenheit in the morning or 100° F in the afternoon are not eligible to attend school. If your child's fever is 99.2° F or above in the morning you should suspect it will go up during the day and should not send him/her to school.
2. Students must be free of symptoms (that is, no fever, vomiting, or diarrhea) for 24 hours before returning to school.
3. If absent more than 3 days, you need to send a note from a physician
or parent when returning to school.
If, during the school day, your child becomes too ill to remain at school, you'll be phoned so you can make arrangements to
have him/her picked up. If you are not at your home, we'll phone you at work or phone the persons you've named on your
emergency information card.
Homework for sick students The teachers will try to have homework assignments and books ready for pickup by a parent or
other family member at 3:15 PM or shortly thereafter. Teachers will be unable to have materials ready before then.
Family
Vacation Time
Families sometimes have little control over when vacations can be taken. We also understand and emphasize the importance of
families spending time together. However...
When a student misses school there is always a problem regarding the classroom time that has been lost.
Sometimes that problem can be solved easily through making up the work beforehand or afterwards, but often it's difficult for
the child and for the teacher.
Frequently the classroom experience cannot be "made up" adequately through worksheets or other assignments at home.
Classroom learning is much more than deskwork done individually.
The faculty will try to help ease the child's difficulties as much as possible when extended absences occur, but teachers are
neither obligated, nor always able, to prepare work in advance or afterward that will substitute for actual school time lost. It is
also a reality that a child's grades may suffer to the extent that he/she cannot duplicate the learning missed at school.
For the sake of your child and his/her learning, we strongly encourage families to avoid extended absences during the school
year if possible.