Article 4 - Attendance

Attendance Policy:

Regular and punctual student attendance is required.  When students are gone for part of the day, they will be counted absent for the portion of the day they are gone.  A student who has missed any portion of a day including tardies, will not be eligible for a “Perfect Attendance” award at the honor’s convocation in May. The Board's policies require such attendance, the administration is responsible for developing further attendance rules and regulations, and students and parents are responsible for developing behaviors which will result in regular and punctual student attendance. 

will be reviewed at the end of the school year for possible retention in that grade.  A recommendation will be made to the principal by the student’s teachers.

Attendance and Absences:

Absences From School - Definitions.  An absence from school will be reported as: (a) an  excused absence or (b) an unexcused absence.

            1.         Excused Absences.  Absences should be cleared through the Principal's office in advance whenever possible.  An absence or tardy, even by parental approval, may not be excused.  All absences, except for illness and/or death in the family, require advance approval. An absence for any of the following reasons will be excused, provided the required procedures have been followed:

            (A)        Attendance at a funeral for a member of the immediate family (parents, siblings, and grandparents),

            (B)        Illness which causes a student to be absent from school,

            (C)        Doctor or dental appointment which require student to be absent from school, with note from doctor or dentist to verify excuse.

            (D)        Court appearances that are required by a court order and the student is not responsible for needing to be in court,

            (E)        Family emergencies

            (F)        Church observances with prior approval.

            (G)        School sponsored activities which require students to be absent from school,

            (H)        Family trips in which student accompanies parent(s)/legal guardian(s),

            (I)         Other absences which have received prior approval from the Principal.

The Principal has the discretion to deny approval for the latter two reasons, depending on circumstances such as the student's number of other absences, the student's academic status, the tests or other projects which may be missed, and in the case of a family trip, whether the trip could be taken during non-school time and the educational nature of the trip.  Students are counted absent for one half day when they arrive at school after 9:45 a.m. or leave before 1:30 p.m.

2.         Unexcused Absences:  An absence which is not excused is unexcused.  If a student's absence is unexcused the student will receive zeros in those classes.

            Examples of reasons for unexcused absences are:

            (A)  Oversleeping

            (B)  Shopping

            (C)  Haircuts or permanents

            (D)  Study for another class

            (E)  Babysitting

            (F)  Driving students to appointments unless the student is a member of the immediate family.

            (G)  Attending non-school related music concerts

            (H)  Turning in an excuse signed by someone other than the parent or guardian.

            A student who engages in unexcused absences may be considered truant as per state law, Neb.Rev.Stat. § 79-201.  Truancy is a violation of school rules.  The consequence of such action may include suspension from classes and the student may be required to make up the time missed.  Students who leave the school premises without permission during the school day will be considered truant.

Reporting and Responding to Truant Behavior.  Any administrator, teacher, or member of the board of education who knows of any failure on the part of any child who turns 6 on or before January 1^st of the current school year to age 16 to attend school regularly without lawful reason, shall within three days report such violation to the Superintendent.  The Superintendent shall immediately cause an investigation into any such report to be made.  The Superintendent shall also investigate any case when of his or her personal knowledge, or by report or complaint from any resident of the district, the Superintendent believes that any child is unlawfully absent from school.  The school shall render all services in its power to compel such child to attend some public, private, denominational, or parochial school, which the person having control of the child shall designate, in an attempt to remediate the child's truant behavior.  Such services shall include, as appropriate, the services listed under the "Excessive Absenteeism" and "Reporting Habitual Truancy" policies.

Excessive Absenteeism.  Students who accumulate five (5) unexcused absences in a quarter shall be deemed to have "excessive absences."  When a student has excessive absences, the following procedures shall be implemented:

1.         One or more meetings shall be held between a school attendance officer, school social worker, or other person designated by the school administration and the parent/guardian and the student to report and attempt to solve the truancy problem.  If the parent/guardian refuses to participate in such meeting, the principal shall place in the student's attendance records documentation of such refusal.

2.         Educational counseling to determine whether curriculum changes, including but not limited to, enrolling the child in an alternative education program that meets the specific educational and behavioral needs of the child.

3.         Educational evaluation, which may include a psychological evaluation, to assist in determining the specific condition, if any, contributing to the truancy problem, supplemented by specific efforts by the school to help remedy any condition diagnosed.

4.         Investigation of the truancy problem by the school social worker, or if such school does not have a school social worker, another person designated by the administration to identify conditions which may be contributing to the truancy problem.  If services for the child and his or her family are determined to be needed, the person performing the investigation shall meet with the parent/guardian and the child to discuss any referral to appropriate community agencies for economic services, family or individual counseling, or other services required to remedy the conditions that are contributing to the truancy problem.

Reporting Habitual Truancy.  Students who accumulate ten (10) unexcused absences per year shall be deemed to be habitually truant.  If the student continues to be or becomes habitually truant, the principal shall serve a written notice to the person violating Neb.Rev.Stat. § 79-201, (i.e., the person who has legal or active charge or control of the student) warning him or her to comply with the provisions of that statute.  If within one week after the time such notice is given such person is still violating the school attendance laws or policies, the principal shall file a report with the county attorney of the county in which such person resides.

Tardiness:

Tardy to School:   Students will be considered tardy to school if they are not seated in their assigned class or ready and attentive in their assigned area by 8:20 a.m.

If a student arrives tardy, or comes back from an appointment, they need to stop in the office and check-in and pick up a smiley-face pass, to give to their teacher, so that their teacher knows that they have checked-in.

Each student is allowed 5 tardies within each quarter.  Each tardy in excess of this limit will be considered a discipline infraction and treated as such.  Excuses will be heard, but not necessarily accepted.

 Leaving School:

Students who must leave school for any reason during the school day must check out at the office before leaving.  They need to bring a smiley-face pass from their teacher, to give to the office, so they can check-out.  Students leaving school must be cleared in advance by a note or phone call from the student’s parent or legal guardian. Upon returning to school that same day, students are expected to sign in at the office. Students who leave without permission and without signing out in the proper manner will be considered truant.

Attendance is Required to Participate in Activities:

Students must attend school one-half (by 11:45AM) on the day of the scheduled activity.  Students absent for more than one-half day will be ineligible for the activity, athletic event, practice or rehearsal that day.  Students who are absent after 11:45 AM, will not be permitted to participate in activities such as music concerts that evening.  The principal retains the right to grant participation should exceptional circumstances prevail.

Homework:

Homework is important because:

1.                    It reinforces skills and concepts learned in class.

2.                    It prepares students for upcoming class topics.

3.                    It teaches students to work independently.

4.                    It aids in evaluating student progress.

Remember:      Homework + Reading/Writing – TV = Higher Achievement

If your child is experiencing difficultly with homework, please contact your child’s teacher for extra help.  Students need to take responsibility for their own work.  A parent should look over a student’s work to monitor the quality.  If there is confusion about a skill, parents and siblings can often give helpful suggestions.  Errors can be pointed out, but the work needs to be done by the child.

Parents can help by:

            Making study time a top priority

            Providing a quiet study time

            Providing positive support

            Establishing a daily study time

If the student does not have a specific assignment, he/she can use this time to read or study.  Textbooks taken home need to be covered or carried in a waterproof bag to keep them in good condition.  They must be returned each day.  Part of becoming a successful student is developing good study habits.  This starts in school and is followed up at home.  Parent support and encouragement with homework is vital for success.

Kindergarten Admission Policy:

A child must be five years old before October 15 in order to be eligible for enrollment in Kindergarten.  Kindergarten registration is conducted in the spring of each year for the ensuing year.  Parents are asked to bring an official birth certificate (with raised seal), the child’s social security number, and all immunization records to the registration session.  A current physical exam is required prior to Kindergarten admission.  A physical exam may be wavered by signing appropriate school form and placed on student record. By State Law 7194 all children must be properly immunized to attend school.  Any student not in compliance shall not be permitted to continue in school. 

If a student (who will not turn 6 years old on or before January 1 of the current school year) begins Kindergarten and then for some reason withdraws from school, parent needs to sign “Application for The Discontinuation of the Enrollment of Students Younger Than Seven Years of Age” form.  This is a state requirement.

Beginning with the 2006-2007 school year, each child will be required by state law to have a vision exam before entering kindergarten.  (See Section I; Support Services for more information.)

First Grade:

A child must be six years of age on or before October 15 of the ensuing year; provided, however, any child who has successfully completed the Kindergarten or beginner year at another institution may enter the first grade regardless of age.

Withdrawal Procedures:

Parents should notify the school administration and the teachers involved several days in advance when planning to move.  You will be required to check in all library materials, return all books, etc. to the regular classroom teacher.  Please settle all accounts including milk and lunch before leaving.  A copy of the child’s permanent record will be sent to the school when requested by the new school.