Regular daily attendance and punctuality are essential for continuous progress of your child in school. Parents are expected to send all students regularly unless the child is ill. Excessive absence violates state law and we are required to report all abuse of state regulation. Medical and dental appointments, except for emergencies, should be scheduled outside of school time. School vacations are scheduled to allow students to avail themselves of recreational and educational opportunities.
Reporting Absences
All absences should be reported to the school between 8:00 and 8:45 AM. You may also leave a message on our answering machine if your child is going to be absent or late. Otherwise, in accordance with the Derry approved attendance program, there will be a call made to the home of every child who is absent. This program is designed to ensure your child’s safety. Absences longer than two consecutive days will require a physician’s note. For extended absences due to illness, an additional physician’s note may be required prior to the student returning to school. For absences of five days or more in one quarter, a meeting with the student’s parents, teacher, and the Principal will be required to assure continued positive academic standing.
Tardiness
Late arrival of students after 8:40 AM is of particular concern and poses a disruption to the normal flow of the school day. Students arriving late not only miss important class time, work, and daily prayer, but also cause disruption to the class while entering. Except for late buses, any student not present for opening exercises is considered late. All students arriving late must report to the office. At this time, the child will be given an infraction for tardiness.
Where appropriate, three unexcused infractions will result in a 1/2 hour detention. Five or more unexcused infractions will necessitate a meeting with the student’s parents, teacher, and Principal. Consistent subsequent tardiness will result in a review of the record by the Principal and be addressed accordingly. A student who is habitually tardy or is released early may become ineligible to receive PERFECT ATTENDANCE AWARD.
