ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS

Hickory Elementary is required by the Code of Virginia and the local school board to enforce laws that are related to truancy and excessive absences. The law states that every elementary school aged child is required to attend school every day and is to remain in school for the whole day.
Recently those laws have increased the school’s responsibility to make sure children are in school. The law requires the school to take an active role in the enforcement of school attendance. This law requires schools to develop a plan of action with the parent for students who are not in school and whose attendance is excessive and/or unexcused.

Absences from school are categorized as either excused or unexcused.

    The Chesapeake School Board has defined an excused absence to include any of the following:
    Sickness of a student, medical appointments, severe illness or death in the family, exposure to contagious disease, religious holidays, or extenuating circumstances such as fire, accident, or extremely inclement weather.
    Other than listed above, the Chesapeake School Board does allow for an excused absence from school with the advanced permission of the principal. That permission can only be granted if the parent makes contact with the principal before the absence. Contact must be in writing at least one week in advance of the absence. Each request will be examined on an individual basis.
    Absences other than those listed above will be recorded as unexcused absences.

If a child is going to be absent what should the parent do?

PARENT RESPONSIBILITY TO REPORT ABSENCE

   Parents are required to contact the school in the event that child is going to be absent or tardy from school.
    Hickory Elementary School has an attendance line (421-7003) for just that purpose. Just call the number and leave a message. The attendance line is always on and can be called at any time, day or night, for your convenience.
    (The best time to call is in the evening or before 9:30 a.m.)
   When you call the attendance line, leave the following information after the recorded message: your child’s name, teacher’s name, and reason for the absence. Remember, only the listed reasons stated as excused absences will be accepted as excused absences. If no reason is given the absence will be recorded as unexcused.

What happens if I forget to call the school?

SCHOOL RESPONSIBILITY TO CONTACT PARENT

Hickory Elementary School is required to contact a parent every day a child is out of school if that parent has not made contact with the school. If a parent does not call the school attendance hotline on the day the child is absent, then the school will call the parent some time during the day to find out why the child is not in school. Make a practice of calling the attendance hotline when the child will be absent from school.
Parents don’t forget to give the reason for the absence. The school secretary has to record the absence as either excused or unexcused. The student is marked unexcused if the school has not heard from the parent by phone or note or has not been able to contact the parent.

Penalties For Excessive Unexcused Absences

After five unexcused absences the school counselor will contact the parent and student, obtain an explanation for
* the absences and make the parent aware of the consequences of continued unexcused non-attendance.
* After six unexcused absences, the principal or assistant principal will schedule a conference with the parent within 10 days of the last unexcused absence in order to resolve the causes for the unexcused absences.

Tardy to School

Students are to be in school and in the classroom before the start of school. School starts at 7:55 a.m. Students tardy to school must go to the office and obtain an admittance slip to class.

Something to Think About

Being on time and regular in school attendance are important to your child’s success. This lays the foundation for good work habits that your child will carry into adulthood. When a student is absent, there are many missed educational opportunities. Written work can be made up, but missed instructional time cannot. Instruction, including explanations, demonstrations, discussion, experiments, and group practice continues whether your child is present or absent. Therefore, try to schedule doctor and dental appointments for after school hours and take family vacations when school is not in session.