Attendance Policy
Regular and timely attendance at school is a major factor in determining school success. Students who are absent for more than thirty days during the academic year may be denied academic promotion. Absences from school are defined as either Excused or Unexcused according to guidelines from the Pennsylvania School Code. Excused absences include illness, quarantine, impassable roads, recognized religious holidays and urgent reasons such as death in the family or a court appearance. The state guidelines also permit an excused absence of educational trips if a request is sent to the school prior to the dates of the trip. If no prior notice is received, the absence is classified as unexcused. Upon returning to school from an absence a student must submit a written excuse to his/her homeroom teacher as required by State and Diocesan policy. If this excuse is not submitted within three days following the absence, the absence will be classified as unexcused.A written excuse/explanation should be given to the teacher/principal
for the following reasons:
• Following an absence
• Excused from gym
• Permission for an out of school appointment (child expected to return if possible)
• Vacation
• Change of plans in leaving school (bus, car, walk)
• Early dismissal
• Family custody changes
According to the Pennsylvania School Code, Section 1332, “The absence of any pupil who remains out of school with or without his parent’s permission, and is not absent because of illness or for other urgent reasons, as defined in the school Code, shall be unexcused. Such absence will be recorded as ‘unlawful-unexcused’ for the pupil who is under the compulsory attendance age.” Section 1333, “Any such child who has been absent three days, or the equivalent, during the term of compulsory attendance, without lawful excuse…shall be given written notice. If after such notice is given… attendance is again violated by the person, such person shall be liable…for referral to the magistrate.” Parents and guardians of students who acquire excessive absences may be required to provide documentation from a physician indicating that the absences are relating to an existing medical condition. Students who have an excused absence of fewer than three days will make arrangements with their teachers upon their return to school to complete missed work.
It is the policy of St. Thomas More School that a parent/guardian will call the school no later than 9:00 AM to report their child absent for the day. Messages may be left on the answering machine. A representative of the school office will call the home if a student is not in attendance and has not been reported absent by a parent/guardian.
Students who are tardy (arriving after 8:30 AM) must report to the receptionist or secretary’s desk to obtain an admission sheet. Tardy students will not be permitted access to their lockers until the next natural break in the school day schedule. Example: a student arriving at 8:45 AM will not be permitted access to their locker until 9:10 AM. This procedure is enacted to minimize classroom instructional disruptions.
Early Dismissal
Parents should make every effort to schedule appointments at a time when school is not in session. However, if a child must have an early dismissal, parents or an authorized adult must meet the child at the reception area/school office to sign the child out at the authorized time. Children who arrive at school from an appointment later than 10:00 AM will be marked absent for the morning. Children who leave school before 1:30 PM for an appointment will be marked absent for the afternoon.
