| ATTENDANCE PROCEDURE REMINDER
If your child is | |
|---|---|
| ABSENT: Telephone the main office on the morning of the absence and explain reason for absence. | |
| TARDY: Send a note in with your child explaining tardy. | |
| DISMISSED EARLY: Send a note to school with early dismissal time and explanation. | |
| Please remember a child may be excused temporarily from school for the following reasons: Health issues, bereavement, observance of major religious holidays or for other exceptional reasons with approval of the school principal. | |
State Laws Concerning Attendance
State law requires that all students be in school for 180 days and that each student receive 900 hours of directed study every year.(180 days x 5 hours per day). By state law, absences other than for health related issues and religious beliefs may not exceed 7 full days (or 14 half days) within six months. Chronic absences (as stated above) or chronic lateness to school classes will be documented and parents will be contacted. If tardiness and absences continue, the school will take further steps to correct the absences and tardiness, including, but not limited to, letters home, counseling, contacting the Department of Children's Services, or filing a CRA (Child Requiring Assistance) case.
Absence Procedures
1. Parents or guardians should provide an explanation in writing, by email to: tisattendance@mvyps.org or by telephone message for the absence and tardiness of a child to the Tisbury School main office (508-696-6500). This will be required in advance of types of absences where advance notice is possible.
If a child is absent, and the school has not received notification concerning the absence from the parents or guardians, an automated voice and email message will be sent out to the parents asking them to contact the school. Truancy: If parent notification is not received by the school within three (3) days, the child will be considered truant.
The Tisbury School District will notify parents or guardians if a student has at least five (5) days in which he/she has missed two (2) or more periods unexcused in a school year or has missed five (5) or more school days unexcused in a school year.
The principal or designee will make a reasonable effort to meet with parents or guardians of a student who has five (5) or more unexcused absences to develop an action play to improve that studentŐs attendance.
2. Absences, tardies and Dismissals are excused only for
Extended Absences
Occasionally, a student may have a medical condition that requires an extended absence. Please contact the school nurse and guidance office as soon as possible in this case so that we can determine how best to help your child academically during this time. Hospital Homebound Service may be appropriate and the counselor can help set this up.
Late Arrival Procedures For in person learning:
Students who arrive at school after 9:20AM are late to school. Please walk your child to the sliding blue doors (on the left side of the building) and press the call button to the main office, or call (508) 696-6500. A staff person will meet you at the door to admit your child into school.
For remote learning:
Students who log in after their remote start time will be noted by their homeroom teacher. The homeroom teacher will communicate the student arrival time to the office.
Chronic tardiness for these or other matters may require documentation and may be followed up with further inquiries similar to daily absences.
Early Dismissal Procedures For in person learning:
A student who needs to be dismissed before 1:40PM should come to school with a dated note from the parent/guardian explaining the reason for leaving early, the time of the dismissal and who has permission to pick up their child. The student will present this note to the homeroom teacher in the morning before class begins and the teacher will communicate this to the main office.
The parent/guardian (or the authorized person as indicated on the dismissal note) will come to the left side of the school, at the blue sliding double doors, press the call button to communicate with the office, or call (508) 696-6500 when they arrive. A staff person will escort the child to the sliding double doors to meet the parent or authorized person with the early dismissal sheet.
For Remote Learning:
A student who needs to be dismissed before the end of their scheduled school day should advise their homeroom teacher during their morning meeting explaining the reason for leaving early, and time they are leaving. The homeroom teacher will advise the main office.
Early dismissals are considered school absences because of guidelines for 900 learning hours for each child. Dismissals are excused for the same reasons as absences and tardies.
A student who is dismissed early because of illness will not be allowed to participate in any after school activities on that day.
Vacation Dismissal Procedures
A reminder that any student who is absent for 7 full days or more during a six month period, unless for health or religious reasons, will be documented chronically absent. Extended or additional vacation days for students are considered unexcused absences. The school will not provide lessons for a child who is absent from school for vacations or family trips. The student may, however, be allowed to make up work after school on his/her return.