Excused Absences

Students must bring in a note after each day they are absent. The note must include the date absent, the reason for being absence, a phone number where a parent/guardian can be reached, and the parent/guardian's signature. Students will be given the opportunity to make up work for excused absences Excused absences may include:

• An illness or injury that prevents the student from attending school. The illness or injury must e verified by a healthcare provider (after three days absent), school nurse or parent
• A death in the immediate family (Parent, sibling, grandparent, aunt, uncle, cousin) or other significant personal or family crisis
• Court appearance
• Medical or psychological tests during the school day. The parent must show evidence (such as a note from a health center) that the tests could not be scheduled after school
• Religious holy days
• Other extraordinary situations approved by the school principal

IMPORTANT: Some parents think that any absence will be excused as long as the parent sends a note. THIS IS NOT TRUE.

Unexcused Absences

Here are a few examples of absences that are unexcused even if the parent sends a note:

• Repetitive and chronic absences due to illness or injury. In these cases, the parent must submit a letter from a health care provider verifying that the student was too sick or injured to attend school
• Student needed to babysit
• Cutting class
• Family vacation
• Extension of a religious or cultural holiday beyond the designated day or days

Whenever possible, parents should check with the principal before allowing a child to miss school if they are not sure the absence will be excused. The school does not have to help a student make up work due to unexcused absences

Tardiness

A student is tardy if he/she arrives at school late, without an excused reason, and does not have sufficient time for the start of the instructional day or period

After a student is tardy for secondary school five times, a parental meeting will be required and/or a school disciplinary action may be taken

Dismissals

A parent/guardian requesting an early dismissal for his/her child MUST submit to the Attendance Paraprofessional a note stating the reason, date and time of the dismissal. Dismissals by telephone are accepted only in rare emergences, and must be verified by the Attendance Para. The students must be picked up at the attendance office and SIGNED OUT of school by his/her parent or guardian. Dismissals during school hours must be kept to a minimum

MCAS Dates

Attendance is crucial during MCAS testing. Please keep these months in mind:

• ELA: March 22- April 16, 2027
• Mathematics: April 26- May 21, 2027
• STEM: April 26- May 21, 2027

The Attendance Officer

The Attendance Officer will make house and school visits regarding excessive tardiness and truancy, and will investigate and make recommendations in all school cases in juvenile court and in all cases of school offenders and truants.

The Attendance Officer is empowered to pick up truant students in the community and bring them to school. Parents are contacted and informed about follow-up and/or disciplinary action.

School Dances

If a student has more than two unexcused absences between each scheduled dance, they may not be able to attend that dance. Also ISS, OSS and JRC disqualify students from dances.

Parents' Legal Responsibilities for Ensuring Students' Attendance (M.G.L.c.76§2)

Parents or legal guardians are required to see that their children attend school regularly. Failure to do so may result in the Attendance Officer filing a 51A petition for a Child in Need of Services (CHINS) with the Department of Social Services, or seeking juvenile court fines pursuant to M.G.L. c.119§63.