Here are some reminders for attendance procedures:

If your child will be out of school, please call the attendance line (484) 266-4310 to report them out for the day. You can also email Mrs. Donna Subers at dsubers@wcasd.net. Upon return, the student will have three (3) days to bring in an excuse form. If a student will be out for a college visit, family vacation, or any other non-school related event, approval must be obtained from the office using an approved form.

Doctor notes

Whenever your student is absent from school (either for the full day or part of the day) and goes to the doctor we must have a note from the doctor in order for the absence to be excused as a Doctor’s note. When a note written by a parent is received in the attendance office the absence will be covered as a Parent excuse note. Absences covered by a parent note are cumulative. Doctor’s excuse notes are non-cumulative. If your student is absent from school and visited a doctor in relation to the absence, please send in the actual doctor’s note.

Early Dismissal / Late Arrival

When such occasions arise, please:

• fax a written note  (484-266-4399)
• scan / email a picture of the note to Mrs. Subers at dsubers@wcasd.net
• The note should include the student’s name, grade, date, requested dismissal time, the reason for dismissal, and the signature of a parent or legal guardian. Included in the note should be whether or not the student will return to school that day. 
• All notes should be submitted on the morning of the early dismissal / late arrival.  We do not accept telephone calls as a means for early dismissal / late arrival.

Full Attendance policies and procedures

ATTENDANCE OFFICE:  484-266-4316

Students are expected to attend regularly from 7:25 a.m. until 2:15 p.m. Students arriving at 7:30 a.m. or later are considered late. Excused absences from school include personal illness, quarantine, a death in the family, observance of major religious holidays, pre-approved college visits, and for other purposes approved in advance by the administration. It is the responsibility of the student to make up all work missed due to absence. All other absences are illegal and unexcused, and the school laws of Pennsylvania shall apply.

HIGH SCHOOL ATTENDANCE GUIDELINES

Credit may be denied to those students who accrue more than 20 cumulative absences in a yearlong course. Credit may also be denied for those students who accrue more than 10 cumulative absences in a semester course. Those students who miss more than the allotted days will receive the grade for the course but not the credit.

Unlawful class absences due to truancy, lateness or cutting of class will result in a “55” F grade for all class work missed that day.

If a student is absent:

1.  A parent or guardian should call the Attendance Hotline at 484-266-4310. (Parents will receive an automated call from the RHS Attendance Office whenever their child is marked absent in 1^st period. Please let attendance know immediately if you receive a call and your child is not absent).

2.  Upon returning to school, students shall drop off an excuse note in the attendance office. Parents are required to submit a written excuse within three (3) days of the absence. If a written note is not received, absences will be marked unlawful /unexcused.

3.  Use the excuse forms provided on our school website.

4.  Use a separate form for each student.

5.  Please include a child’s first and last name on excuse forms.

DEFINITIONS OF ABSENCES

CUMULATIVE ABSENCES

Excused absences:

Those absences where any licensed practitioner of the healing arts or upon any other satisfactory evidence furnished shows that a student is unable to attend school and/or classes or is prevented from study because of illness or other urgent reasons including but not limited to the following (The term “urgent reasons” shall be strictly construed and is not intended to permit irregular attendance.):

1.  A maximum of seven (7) days absence for students verified by a parent note. All absences beyond the seventh day of absence will require a physician’s note.

2.  Family vacation, pre-approved by the principal, while school is in session, up to a maximum of five (5) days per school year. The following will be taken into consideration by the principal in granting permission:

• The student’s academic standing
• The student’s attendance record
• The effect the absence will have on the student’s educational welfare

Unexcused/Unlawful absences: Any absence which does not meet the definition of an excused absence includes but is not limited to the following:

1.  Any day for which a written excuse is not submitted within three (3) school days of a student’s return from an absence, including notes from physicians.

2.  Any absence not excused by a note from a licensed practitioner of the healing arts after ten (10) or fifteen (15) total days of absences verified by receipt of parental excuses.

3.  Truancy – Frequent or prolonged absence without satisfactory reason, or willful violation of the compulsory attendance laws which are subject to the penalties provided for in the school laws of Pennsylvania.

4.  Class cut.

5.  Unlawful tardies and/or early dismissals as set forth herein. A tardy is defined as a minimum of one minute of lateness to school. An early dismissal is considered leaving prior to the end of the school day more than 60 minutes early. Eight (8) tardies to school and/or early dismissals will be considered one (1) unlawful absence in grades K-8. Unlawful tardies and cutting class in grades 9-12 will be handled under discipline as a Level One offense.

6.  Any absence due to a family vacation while school is in session after the fifth of the five (5) day maximum per school year.

For students who are 18 or older and not of compulsory age, unlawful absences shall be unexcused absences.

Non-Cumulative Absences

1.  Suspensions from school.

2.  Illness verified by a note from a licensed practitioner of the healing arts submitted within three (3) days of a student’s return.

3.  Death in the family (with note).

4.  Religious holidays (with note).

5.  Pre-approved college visits (official form available online).

The Board will recognize other justifiable absences for part of the school day. These shall include medical or dental appointments, court appearance, family emergency and approved activities.

EARLY DISMISSALS

Early dismissals for reasons other than medical or dental appointments, court appearance, or family emergency will be considered cumulative absences.

Should a student need to be dismissed early from school, please submit a written request stating:

1.  Student’s first and last name

2.  Student’s grade

3.  Date and time of early dismissal

4.  Reason for early dismissal

5.  Parent signature and telephone number

Students must submit early dismissal requests to the Attendance Office by 7:30 a.m. No one will be dismissed without a written parental request.

TARDINESS

Students arriving late to school must report to the attendance office to obtain a late pass for admittance to class. Students will be considered late if arriving at 7:30 a.m. or later.

1.  Excused lateness to school reasons include

a.  A doctor’s appointment

b.  Weather so inclement as to endanger the health of the child

c.  Legal appointments with documentation (court appearances, driver’s examinations, etc.)

2.  Unexcused lateness to school (Policy does not permit parent notes for student tardiness due to illness. However, a student’s chronic medical condition, documented by a doctor’s note, will be taken into account.)

a.  Each of the first four offenses in a semester will be recorded on the student’s attendance record.

b.  Fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth offenses in a semester will result in a student receiving one day of detention for each offense.

c.  The ninth or more lateness in a semester will each result in one day of Saturday School.

d.  Unexcused lateness to school that results in an absence from fifty percent (50%) or more of a class period will be counted as a class cut and will result in a grade of “55” for any work missed.

3.  Unexcused lateness to class

a.  Unexcused lateness to class that results in an absence from fifty percent (50%) or more of a class period will be counted as a class cut and will result in a grade of “55” for any work missed.

b.  Teachers will communicate classroom specific lateness policies.  Teachers may refer students to their grade level administrator for repeated lateness.

PERMISSION FOR VACATIONS

When parents schedule vacations during the school year and children must accompany them, the absence will be “excused” only if the parents request approval from the principal in writing before the trip is taken. All other absences for vacations will be considered unexcused. The absences for family vacations may be approved for up to 5 days per school year, and if approved, will be counted as cumulative absences. As noted in the attendance section, a “Request for Family Trip Absence Form” is available in the attendance office or on-line.