|
Student
Absences
ATTENDANCE
To help students
develop desirable patterns of behavior and to
maximize learning, Fairfax County Public Schools
require that students be regular and punctual in
attendance. Official attendance is recorded at the
beginning of each school day.
Absence
Notification Procedures - If your child is
either going to be absent for the entire day, or
late for any reason, we ask that you call the
school attendance line at 426-7070 before 8:45 a.m.
During after-school hours, an answering machine
will record your message. This system is used as a
safeguard to assure both parents and school that
the child does, indeed, arrive at school after
he/she leaves home.
Virginia State Law
requires each absence to be supported by a valid
excuse. Each child who is absent from school must
be called in each day by a responsible person,
explaining the reason(s) for the absence. Excused
absences include illness, death in the family,
religious observances, medical or dental
appointments, or others at the discretion of the
principal.
Late
Arrival - A child arriving at school late
must first report to the office for correction of
attendance records. Students who arrive after 8:20
a.m. announcements will be marked tardy.
Extended
Absence - When a child is expected to be
absent due to illness for an extended period of
time, the school should be notified so that
provisions may be made for a home study
program.
Release from
School Before the End of the Instructional
Day - To protect valuable instructional
time, non-school activities should not be routinely
scheduled during school hours. This does not
preclude the occasional release of students under
special circumstances. If a child must leave early
for a medical or dental appointment, a parent
should send a note in advance and sign the child
out in the office at the appropriate time. It is
not necessary to call the school in this
case.
Parents must come
into the office and sign out their children.
Children will not be released during the school day
to anyone other than the parent/guardian or persons
listed on the Emergency Care Form. In the event
that a parent must send another person to pick up
the child, parental authorization will be required.
Students may be released to either parent unless
prohibited by court order. If restricted custody
has been legally established, be sure to furnish a
copy of the custody order to be kept on file in the
school office.
Vacations
During the School Year - County policy
requires that any child who is absent from school
for 15 days or more be withdrawn officially from
our rolls. Upon the child's return, the parent must
again officially enroll him/her.
Long vacations
taken during the school year can interrupt the
sequential learning in many subject areas. It is
impossible for the teacher to provide a complete
and stimulating academic program for a child who is
on vacation. It is the parent's responsibility to
provide reinforcement and drill activities while
the child is on an extended trip.
|
