Attendance
Closing of School
Absence
Truancy
Make-up Work
Release During the School Day
Tardiness
Child Abuse Reporting

Attendance

Success in school, in almost every instance, is significantly influenced by regular and actual attendance in class. The relationship between student and teacher in a learning environment is critical to student educational growth.

The school day begins at 8:00 a.m. Students may arrive at 7:35 a.m. and are to go directly to the cafeteria, where they will be supervised by a staff member until 7:50 a.m. School is dismissed at 3:30 p.m. Parents are to make arrangements for students to be picked up promptly at 3:30 p.m. Students should not play on the playground before or after school unless they are accompanied by an adult.

Those remaining on school/parish property after 3:45 p.m. will be required to attend latchkey, with the parents held responsible for the cost of care. Loitering around the school is not permitted.

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Closing of School

The Diocesan School Office makes the decision to close school due to inclement weather. If for any reason school should be closed, please listen to your local radio and television stations.

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Absence

Illness should be the main reason why a student does not attend classes. Funeral and medical appointments (doctor, dental) will be counted as approved absences.

1. Parents are responsible for notifying the school by 9:00 a.m. if their child will be absent or late due to an appointment. When returning to school, a written excuse, including the day, reason for absence, and parent signature is required and presented to the school secretary, who will complete an admittance pass for the student to present to their teacher.
2. A student is counted absent if not participating in classroom activities during school hours. If gone 1-3 hours, it is counted as a half-day absence. Three or more hours is counted as a whole day absence. These guidelines apply if a student is absent during the lunch period.
3. Excused absences are when a student is unable to attend class due to illness, death in the family, or other unavoidable situations.
4. Unexcused absences occur when a student does not present a note with the reason for the absence and parental signature to the school secretary. Failure to have a note or not contact the school will result in the student being considered truant.
5. Attendance will be taken each day and the office will be notified of absences. Parents of absent children will receive a phone call making them aware that their child is not in school.

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Truancy

In accordance with state law 72-113, a student shall be considered truant if the child is inexcusably absent on three (3) consecutive days, five (5) or more days in any semester, or seven (7) days in a school year. If truancy occurs, parents are contacted. If the situation is not resolved, the principal will notify the State Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services (SRS) about the student who has been determined to be truant from school, the number of days the student has been truant, and the parents’/guardians’ names and address.

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Make-Up Work

1. A student who has been absent is required to make up work missed in regular instruction. The student is responsible to take the initiative to obtain the work, complete it, and return it promptly.
2. Two days for each day absent (up to five days) is allowed for the completion and return of make-up work unless other arrangements have been made with the teacher.
3. Parents and students should not expect to receive make-up work in advance of the absence.

Per Diocesan policy, when a student has missed more than five sessions of any class in a semester, the student may be required to make up work after school, on Saturdays, or in an approved summer school program before credit is awarded.

When a student has missed more than ten sessions of any class in a semester, or twenty in a year, the school may withhold credit or retain the student in the same grade unless the school, upon review, determines that another consequence is more appropriate.

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Release During the School Day

Appointments should be scheduled outside the school day whenever possible. If this cannot be done, a note is to be sent informing the teacher of an upcoming appointment and the note given to the office so a release form can be made.

When picking up a child for an appointment, come to the office, sign the release form, and the child will be dismissed from the classroom. Time missed from one to three hours is considered a half day absence; more than three hours is a full day.

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Tardiness

Parents are responsible for notifying the school office before 9:00 a.m. if a child is going to be tardy. Tardiness is counted for time up to one hour, starting at 8:00 a.m. After one hour, it is considered an absence.

Repeated tardiness is a serious inconvenience to the class and teacher, eventually resulting in a truancy violation.

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Child Abuse Reporting

Per Diocesan policy under the Kansas Code for Care of Children, all professional staff (including priests, principals, teachers, and other employees of a school) who have reason to suspect that a child has been injured as a result of abuse are required to report such abuse to the State Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services (SRS). Employees are immune from all prosecution or reprisal for reporting. Not to report is a violation of state and federal law. The building principal is always to be notified. Parents are not to be contacted.

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