Attendance Policy

Coming to school on time every day is an important habit that begins in pre-school. Students with high absenteeism rates tend to do poorly in school. They are more likely to drop out of school before finishing high school and are more likely to get involved in gangs, and in trouble with the law. Children who finish high school have an opportunity to attend college and earn more in their lifetime than those who do not complete high school.

The school will work with families to ensure students attend school on a daily basis. Attending school for 180 days is the law and is important to the learning process. For unexcused absences, elementary students will receive one phone call at 11 AM and middle school students will receive two phone calls at 11 AM and 5 PM. Illness is a valid excuse for absence. Appointments that cannot happen outside of the school day should be kept at a minimum.

Travel during the school year is discouraged and will be labeled as unexcused. If a trip is unavoidable, the student work missed must be made up after the trip. Teachers are not obligated to provide student work before a trip.

What happens when your child is tardy?

1. Tardy	After 7:35 (5-8) or 8:05 (K-4). Obtain pass in the Main Office to ensure student is not marked absent.
2. Detention	After student is tardy three times in a quarter, they will be givendetention after school for the time equal to their unexcused tardy. (Grades 5-8 only.)
3. Multiple Tardies	School will work with parent and child to devise a plan.

What happens when your child is absent?

Elementary and Middle school
1. Call school anytime to leave a message the night before.	Call the school (978-937-8968) on the dates of absence and notify the school of your child’s absence. State your child’s name, grade, room number or teacher’s name, and the reason for the absence. Send in a note when the child returns to school. Parent note will do.
2. Absent 3 days	Obtain a note from the doctor if your child is absent for 3 or moredays in a row.
3. 5-15 unexcused	After 5 unexcused absences a letter will be sent home and the school Social Worker or Attendance Office may do a home visit. If the problem persists, DCF or the Court may also become involved.
4. 15 unexcused	After 15 consecutive days of unexcused absences, student will beremove from the school roster and must return to Family ResourceCenter to re-register.
5. 16+ unexcused (5^th-8^th grade only)	After 16 unexcused absences a student may have to attend summerschool and/or be retained in their current grade. (Middle School)