Attendance

Experience has shown a direct correlation between successful course completion and regular course attendance. This policy assumes that:

1. The student is responsible for school attendance.
2. Class time is an essential part of acquiring a credit within the Ontario education system.
3. Our school administration and staff will make the commitment to periodically communicate with parents/guardians about attendance infractions.

Attendance and Punctuality:  Secondary

Students are expected to attend every class and to be punctual.  Excessive absenteeism will be reviewed by the school administration and may result in the removal from extracurricular activities, removal from course and/or suspension from school.  Students are responsible for their own attendance and for tracking their absences and lates.

Absence from School

When a student is absent from school or their Coop placement, a parent or guardian (if the student is under 18) should telephone the school.  The school may call home.

If no telephone contact is made before the student returns to school, the student must have a note from a parent or guardian (if under 18) to explain the absence.  If the students do not have a note or parents have not made a phone call when children return to school, students will face consequences (detention/suspension).

Valid absences are those defined in the Education Act as "sickness or other unavoidable cause" (Sec21-2[b]) and include funerals, medical/dental apoontments, court or other professional apoointments which cannot be scheduled outside of school time.

Students who are ill should be kept out of school until they recover.  If your child becomes ill at school, you will be contacted in order to remove him/her from school.  If you are not available, your emergency contact will be notified.

Truancy

Students are expected to attend all classes.  Students are truant if they miss a class or a day at their Coop placement without a valid reason and/or authorization.

The consequences for truancy will include a combination of counselling, detentions, home contact, suspension and removal from the course/school.

Students who become ill during the school day or any students leaving school early must sign out at the office before leaving the school.

Parental permission alone is not an acceptable reason for not attending school.

Students will not be excused to attend sporting events or other activities as spectators without approval of administration.

Students over 18

If you are 18 and absent from school, you must produce a well-documented note from:

• yourself stating date and specifics of absences (names, phone numbers of doctors, dentists, lawyers);
• parent/guardian;
• a business professional.

Students age 18 and over with excessive absenteeism will be required to sign a strict attendance contract.

Attendance and Punctuality:  Intermediate

Students are expected to attend school every day and on time.  The School Suport Counsellor will be nofified when a student demonstrates a pattern of poor attendance and/or lates.  The matter will be investigated and the principal will contact parents to discuss concerns.  Students may be removed from extracurricular activities as a result of excessive absenteeism.  Stuents are truant if they miss school without a valid reason and/or authorization.  Consequence for truancy may include a combination of counselling, detentions, contact home and suspension.

Students who are ill should be kept out of school until they recover.  If your child becomes ill at school, you will be contacted in order to remove him/her from school.  If you are not available, your emergency contact will be notified.

Safe Arrival Program

Students leaving school during the day MUST have a note or be signed out by parents/guardians at the school office.

Parents/guardians are asked to call the school 613-432-4858, Ext. 274 before 8:10 a.m. if their child will be absent for the day or morning.  An answering machine is available to record messages at all times.