SCHOOL ATTENDANCE

Archdiocesan Policy 4201:  Absence

Students are considered absent whenever they are away from school during school hours except for school sponsored or school sanctioned cocurricular activities (e.g., field trips, enrichment, and remedial programs, etc.)

Students who must be excused for medical, dental, funeral, or other reasons during school hours are considered absent.  For these types of absences a written notice should be sent to the school in advance by a parent/guardian stating the time, length, and reasons for absence. 

Chronic or excessive absences without substantial cause can be a factor in determining a student’s continued enrollment in the school.

Our Lady of the Pillar procedures:

1. Students are expected to attend all classes on days scheduled by the elementary school as days of student instruction. A student who is not present at the appointed times is designated "absent".  In order to receive the "Perfect Attendance" Award, a student must be present at school at all times.
   
   
2. If your child will be absent, PLEASE CALL THE SCHOOL OFFICE between 8:15 and 9:00 a.m.
   
   
3. A written excuse stating the DATE, REASON FOR ABSENCE AND SIGNATURE OF THE PARENT OF THE CHILD is required for any child to be admitted to the classroom after being absent. The state of Missouri and the Archdiocese of St. Louis require that the school keep such notes on file.
   
   
4. Children are considered absent who must be excused for medical, dental, funeral, high school interviews and testing, visits to other schools, etc., and will not be eligible for the "Perfect Attendance" Award.
   
   
5. If a student is absent from school an excessive amount of days, there is a possibility they will not be promoted to the next grade. This will be considered on a case by case basis.
   
   
6. If a child becomes ill during the school day, the procedure will be as follows:
   
   
   1. The child will be sent to the school office.
      
      
   2. Each family will be asked to complete an emergency card which will be kept in the office. If the illness is serious enough to warrant parental attention, the secretary will call according to the directions given on the emergency card. Please keep your emergency card up to date. Children who are ill will not be kept in school. The parent will be expected to see that the ill child is picked up.
      
   3. In case of serious injury, if parents cannot be reached, the child will be taken to the hospital according to the directives on the emergency card.
      
      
7. If a child is absent his/her work may be picked up at the end of the day in the office. Picking the work up earlier causes disruption.

Archdiocesan Policy 4201.1:  Truancy

A student is truant if he/she is absent from school for a day or portion of the day without the knowledge and/or consent of the parent/guardian and school officials.

Archdiocesan Policy 4202:  Tardiness

A student is tardy who arrives after the time fixed by school policy for the start of the school day.

Our Lady of the Pillar procedures:

1. A student who is not present in his or her homeroom by 7:55 a.m. will be marked tardy.
   
   
2. Tardy students are to report to the school office for a class admittance slip in the school office.
   
   
3. A child who is not present for one-half of any portion of a morning or afternoon session is marked absent for one-half day. A child who is absent for the majority of both sessions is marked absent for one day.
   
   
4. A written excuse or other verifiable evidence is required for each tardy. Excuses are kept until the end of the year.
   
   
5. A student who is tardy due to a morning doctor's appointment must bring a doctor's note to the office for the tardy to be excused. However, a doctor's note does not excuse an absence from school.
   
6. A student who has received even one tardy will not be eligible for the "Perfect Attendance" award

Release of Students from School

Our Lady of the Pillar procedures:

A WRITTEN REQUEST from the parent or guardian is requested for a pupil to leave school before time of dismissal. The request must state the reason for early dismissal and should be brought to the school office. The student will be given an Early Dismissal Slip. When the time for early dismissal arrives, the child should then report to the office. The child will meet the parent in the school office on the second floor at which time parents are expected to sign out the child.

Doctor and dental appointments should be made outside of school hours. If this is not possible, a child may visit the doctor or dentist during school hours provided there is a written note, properly signed and dated, to that effect from the doctor.

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