ATTENDANCE
The School Laws of Pennsylvania classify all absences as illegal except for the following reasons: illness of the pupil, death in the immediate family, impassable roads, weather so inclement as to endanger the health of the child and other exceptional cases.
For urgent reasons other than those listed above, absences will be classified as excused for the following reasons:
Educational tours or trips with prior written approval.
Religious obligations.
When a student returns from an absence, he/she must present to the classroom teacher a written note from a parent, guardian, doctor, or a hospital with a reason for the absence. If the student does not submit this written note within three (3) consecutive school days of his/her return to school, the absence is marked unlawful. Parents/guardians will be notified by letter from the school when their child reaches a cumulative total of four (4) absences. After seven (7) total absences, the school will again send notification by letter that a doctor’s note will be required for all subsequent absences for the remainder of the school year. Should a doctor’s note not be provided, the absence will be deemed unlawful. Absence excuse notes should contain the following information:
POTTSTOWN SCHOOL DISTRICT
Pupil’s Name _________________________________________
Absent or Tardy ______________________________________
(give day of the week and date)
The above absence or tardiness occurred with my knowledge and consent for the following reasons:
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
Parent’s Signature ___________________________________
Date ____________________________
A student who arrives at school after 8:55 a.m. will be marked tardy. A note of explanation is required from the parent. Students need to have good attendance so as to be successful in school. Parents of students whose school absences become excessive are subject to legal prosecution and fines for each absence.
A student who arrives between 8:56 and 11:55 a.m. will be marked tardy. If a student leaves any time before 11:40 a.m., the day is considered a full day of absence. A student who arrives between 11:55 and 1:25 p.m. will be marked ½ day absent. If a student leaves between 11:56 and 1:25 p.m., the day is considered a ½ day absent. If the student leaves after 1:25 p.m., it is considered a full day of attendance. If the student arrives at school after 1:25 p.m., it is considered not attending for the day, and marked one full day of absence.
If the student arrives at school after 1:25 p.m., it is considered not attending for the day, and marked one full day of absence. In order to be successful in school, students need to have good attendance habits. Tardiness and leaving early are not conducive to the educational process.
ATTENDANCE - RULES AND PROCEDURES
Any pupil excluded from school by a member of the school medical staff or a principal because of suspicion of a communicable disease or an infectious condition may be readmitted only by a physician's statement that the child is free from contagious disease or infection.
If a written excuse or statement is not submitted by the pupil when he returns to school or within 3 days thereafter, the pupil's absence is unlawful.
Excuses of a doubtful nature will be investigated by school personnel.
Please keep a close watch on attendance records. Report any frequent absences or patterns of absence from the office.
Any student who must be excused early to go to the dentist, doctor, etc., must have a note from home stating the reason for early dismissal. This note will be sent to the office with the attendance prior to the beginning of class.
ATTENDANCE REPORTING
DAILY
Attendance is to be taken by 8:55 a.m. (between 8:40-8:55). When taking attendance, you will need to use the Teacher Access Center. Students who are tardy after posting to the online attendance system are to be listed on the yellow Elementary Tardy and Lunch form. The form is then sent to the building secretary for performing the "update" process.
All absences are marked as unlawful until you change them. If an appropriate note comes in, the teacher must update attendance in the system. (Marking the unlawful as excused) Each teacher must have an attendance folder for each student. As a note is turned in and updated in the system, the note should be filed in this folder. You have 10 days to complete the change from the day the student was absent.
Special circumstances may arise during the course of the school year that result in special requirements for individual students. As you receive copies of letters or other documents regarding attendance, please keep them with your attendance records.