Attendance Policy

 

To the Parents/Guardians of RSES students,

We would like to take this opportunity to address the importance of student attendance and provide you with an overview of the district and Red Sandstone attendance policies. Please read this letter in its entirety to familiarize yourself with the guidelines outlined below:

Attendance Policy:

Regular attendance plays a vital role in student achievement. Absences result in an educational loss for the student. While we understand that some absences are unavoidable, our policy aims to minimize student absenteeism while allowing opportunities for makeup work in such cases.

School and Classroom Climate:

A positive school and classroom climate requires consistency in attendance and allows for high-quality instruction. We encourage parents and guardians to support the educational program and collaborate with school officials to ensure maximum attendance.

Importance of Good Attendance:

Excessive absences seriously disrupt the continuity of the learning process and social adaptation. It is difficult to make up for missed work in most situations. Missed instruction is irreplaceable. Students with good attendance generally achieve higher grades, enjoy school more, and have improved employability after graduation. Therefore, students must fulfill two basic requirements to earn full class credit: (1) meet all academic requirements and (2) exhibit good attendance habits as outlined in this policy.

Considerations for Excused and Unexcused Absences:

Excused absences are for illness, physical, mental or emotional disability, school-sponsored activities, and bereavement. Unexcused absences include extended vacations, recreational activities (e.g., skiing), or attending non-school-related events. Please note that if your child is absent from school, they will not be allowed to participate in after-school extracurricular activities on that day.

Visa Policy: 

Navigating visa requirements can be a crucial aspect of international travel, and our School recognizes the importance of accommodating students in this process. We allow one excused visa trip, allowing up to 10 days for completion. However, any additional visa trips extending beyond this period will be unexcused, as they disrupt classroom engagement and hinder the completion of significant projects. We encourage families to plan their visa-related travel wisely, prioritizing their academic commitments while ensuring compliance with visa regulations.

Compulsory Attendance Enforcement:

Guidelines state a student may accumulate a maximum of ten (10) unexcused absences during any calendar year or school year. More than ten unexcused absences initiate judicial proceedings to enforce compulsory attendance.

Tardiness Policy:

Tardiness refers to instances when students are not in their assigned classrooms when the class bell rings at 7:55 am. If a student arrives after the first 5 minutes of class, he/she will be marked absent. Being tardy is disruptive to the learning experience of your and other students. Therefore, there are penalties for excessive tardiness.

Tardiness Protocol:

If your child is tardy more than six times a month, we will make a courtesy phone call to notify you. Should tardies persist, a second warning letter is sent, accompanied by a phone call from the principal. If we do not observe a noticeable change or effort to arrive at school on time following the second warning, the student will be a "habitual truant." Implementation of a truancy plan initiated, and court attendance may be required.

We appreciate your attention to these attendance policies and your commitment to your child's education. Working together, we will create a supportive environment that fosters academic success for all students.

Thank You, 

Anne C. Heckman, Principal