~ ATTENDANCE POLICY @ MOUNTAIN FEILD ~

Mountain Feild Academy
Attendance Policy
Issued
May 2001

SUBJECT...

   General School Policy - Compulsory and Non-compulsory students.

BOARD AND SCHOOL POLICY...

• According to the Newfoundland School’s Act, children between the ages of 6 and 16 shall attend school. (Compulsory) A student is entitled to attend until he/she receives a diploma or school leaving certificate by the Dept. of Education or until he/she is 21 years of age. (Non-compulsory)
• Parents or guardians have a responsibility to ensure that their child (compulsory age) attends school in accordance with the Newfoundland Schools’ Act. They are obligated to notify the school by telephone or in writing any day their child is not in attendance, because it may have repercussions for student evaluation. This policy applies, as well, to non-compulsory age students.
• School Board Evaluation policy states "any student who misses exams or assignment dates without a valid reason and does not notify the school that day will receive zero (0%)".
• School Board Student Affairs policy states, "no staff member will excuse any student from school prior to the end of the school day or into any person’s custody, without approval of the students parent/guardian or Principal".
• Level III students who miss more than 18 days without extenuating circumstances will not be permitted to attend the Graduation.
• Any student who has in excess of 5 days unexcused absence will not participate in or be present at any school related extra-curricular activities. This suspension will be for the balance of the school year. However, the administration has the discretion to change the time period involved.
• To promote regular/uninterrupted school attendance the school shall reward * EXCEPTIONAL ATTENDANCE * through a system of acknowledgments/rewards:
  K - 6: Mountain Feild Academy attendance ribbons (Report time)
  K - 12 Certificate of Exceptional Attendance (Year-End)
  Exceptional Attendance Scroll (Monthly)
  Recognition Certificates Sent Home (Monthly)

TARDINESS / LATENESS...

   For students who are late for classes the following procedures/steps shall be enforced:

• While any tardiness is unacceptable, one lateness per month to a maximum of four incidents per year will be tolerated without consequence.
• In excess of one per month or four per year will result in a half-hour make-up at the end of the school day under administrative supervision. Arrangements for transportation will be made in consultation with the parent or guardian.
• When the rule above is breached, the school secretary who inputs the data, will advise the administration immediately.
• For lateness to be valid, it must be supported by telephone call or letter from the parent or guardian.

LEAVING SCHOOL WITHOUT PERMISSION AFTER        REGISTRATION IN AM / PM...

In the event that a student must leave after registration for any reason, they must notify their home room teacher and/or the administration with a valid reason. Parents will need to be contacted regarding the departure and to arrange appropriate travel. Students who leave school without permission, will receive a one-day suspension. (This is necessary to ensure the child’s safety and to impress upon students the importance of reporting).

ABSENTEEISM...

For students who are absent from school, the following procedures/steps will be enforced:

Step 1  After a student has been absent for two days, without a call or note from home, contact will be made by the school secretary. Step 2  At the end of every month, each homeroom teacher will monitor attendance records for patterns of absenteeism such as: - missed Friday afternoon - missed exam days - 2 - 3 days without medical notes - frequent absences for weak reasons - missed days prior to long weekends or holidays (Christmas, Easter) - school functions (Assemblies, Education Week) Homeroom teachers will provide administration with a report on the appropriate forms Step 3  If a student displays one of the above patterns, administration will make telephone contact with the child’s parents or guardian, informing them as to the seriousness of the situation and may recommend referral to the guidance counsellor. Step 4  If attendance does not improve after Step 3, administration will convene a meeting of parents, student, homeroom teacher and administration. This may result in removal of privileges and/or extra-curricular activities. Step 5 If chronic absenteeism continues for compulsory /non-compulsory age students, there will be a written referral to the Director of Education who may consequently after investigation refer the matter to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Step 6 Should Step 5 not resolve the problem, the student may be suspended or a recommendation made to the Director to expel the student.

EXCEPTIONAL ATTENDANCE...

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