Attendance

Attendance Procedures

Our school has a simple and efficient method for reporting your child’s absences. With Safe Arrival, you can report daily and scheduled absences.

With SafeArrival, you are asked to report your child’s absence in advance using any of these 3 convenient methods:

Using your mobile device, download and install the SchoolMessenger app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store (or from the links at SafeArrival website). The first time you use the app, select Sign Up to create your account. Select Attendance then Report an Absence.
Use the SafeArrival website. The first time you use the website, select Sign Up to create your account. Select Attendance then Report an Absence.
Call the toll-free number 1-833-557-9420 to report an absence using the automated phone system.

These options are available 24 hours/day, 7 days a week. Future absences can be reported at any time.

Please report all absences before the bell time for the current day. To ensure student safety, if your student is not at school and has not been reported absent, our staff will attempt to reach you and your contacts to confirm their whereabouts. If a student arrives late or needs to leave early, they must sign in/out. It is the student’s responsibility to communicate with the teacher and make up any missed work.

Lates

School begins promptly at 9:00 am. All students are to be in their homerooms by that time. All students (including those still in the halls) must stand at attention during the playing of the national anthem. Prompt arrival at school should be the personal responsibility of the student and not his/her parents. Students who arrive to any class late, without a legitimate reason, may be sent to the office for a late slip and assigned a lunch detention.

Signing In/Out

Signing In

All students who miss part of a day are to sign in at the office upon their return to school. Students will receive an admit slip to present to their teacher. Co-op and students without a Period 1 class are required to sign in at the office upon their arrival at school.

Signing Out

Students who leave school during the day must obtain a class excusal slip from the main office before homeroom. This slip must be shown to the classroom teacher at departure time and the student will report to the Main Office where he/she will sign out. Students under 18 will not be allowed to leave unless parents have notified the school (phone call or note). Students who leave at lunch and are not returning must call the school immediately, if they are 18 years old, or have a parent/guardian call to explain the absence.

Illness During the Day

Students who become ill during the school day must report immediately to the office or send someone on their behalf to explain the circumstances. The office will attempt to contact a parent or guardian. Students under 18 will not be allowed to leave until parental contact has been made. Please sign out before leaving.

15 Days Attendance Policy

High achievement is clearly related to good attendance.

Marks earned in courses taken at the year 3 and 4 level are frequently used as criteria for entrance to programs at the post-secondary level or the world of work.

After 15 days/classes of absence, a student’s continued registration in a course and/or at (enter school name) will be reviewed. This will involve parents of students under 18 years of age.

Exceptional Circumstances

The policy may not apply if absence is due to exceptional circumstances relating to:

Serious illness
Medical emergency
Special circumstances as determined by the Principal or Vice-Principal. Prior notification is strongly recommended when possible.

Note that, by Ministry of Education policy, 15 consecutive absences in any class, regardless of the age of the student, will result in removal from the class(es). Parent/guardian will be notified in writing unless the student is 18 years or older.

How Can Parents/guardians Help?

Encourage and support your child and contact the classroom teacher to discuss any questions or concerns.
Call the school if your child is going to be absent or send a note explaining the absence on the day they return to school
Permit absence only when necessary - question your child about assignment due dates, tests to be written, before permitting absence
Discourage your child from working long hours at a part-time job - except in emergencies, students should not miss school in order to work
Make sure the school has your correct contact information where you can be reached
Schedule appointments outside of school hours
Make vacation plans that will coincide with the school calendar if at all possible.