ATTENDANCE HIGHLIGHTS:

• Students are tardy after 8:30 am.

• Vacations are not excused absences.

• District auto-calls will go out every early afternoon for any student marked absent; even if a parent called to notify the office.

• Students who are out due to Doctor's appointments or illness must return with a written note for their file. This will change their attendance record to have an excused absence.

• If you know your child will be out, please notify the Main Office.

• School Main Office phone number: 816-3440.

Regular school attendance in all grades is essential for success. Students are required to be in school every day. Students need to be in class for instruction from 8:20 am to 2:55 pm. Parents/guardians are asked to notify the school when your child is unable to attend school due to illness or other reason(s). For an absence to be excused, a parent or legal guardian must write and sign a dated note explaining the absence. Please send the excuse to school upon the student’s return. Absences not accompanied by a note are recorded as illegal absences. Parents/guardians are asked to schedule non-emergency medical and dental appointments before or after school hours. Students who arrive at school after 8:30 am will be marked tardy. Students who are tardy should enter through Door #1 (Main Office/circle) accompanied by a parent/guardian to sign them in. When students are tardy it affects their attendance record and their success in the first lessons of the day.

Attendance at school is vital to a student’s academic progress and success. School personnel will ensure that appropriate outreach, intervention, and support are provided for students who exhibit attendance problems that may manifest themselves as truancy or patterns of unexcused absence or educational neglect. In cases of truancy, school personnel must meet with the student and parent/guardian in order to determine needed supports and an appropriate course of action which may include, but is not limited to: an intervention, referral for counseling, and/or referral to after-school programs. The school’s PBIS Universal and Secondary Teams should review the data of chronic absenteeism and/or truancy and should involve attendance teachers, attendance designees, school counselors, teachers, social workers, and other school staff facilitating a resolution. Cases of suspected educational neglect must be called into the New York State Central Register in compliance with Chancellor’s Regulation A-750.

District Attendance Supports Phone Number: (716) 816-3593

Attendance Categories

• After 5 total absences (at risk) for a student in a school year, the Counselor responsible will send home letter to parent or make home visit to remind family of the attendance policy.

• After 8 total absences (chronic) in a school year, the Counselor will send out another Attendance Letter to Parent/Guardian, and then record on the correspondence.  Other actions that can take place after 10 absences by Attendance Team Members include:

o   Meeting with students individually

o   Meeting with a group of students

o   Having a student use an attendance check in sheet to track their progress

o   Speaking to the student’s teacher regarding the absence

o   Meeting with the parent/guardian.

o   Letters sent

• After 12 total absences (severe) in a school year, the Attendance Teacher and Student Support Team will work together to problem solve next steps and notifying outside agencies to obtain additional supports.