Attendance
Policy
Regular
attendance is important to ensure achievement in school. We
discourage vacations and trips taken during the school year.
We also discourage doctors' and other appointments when avoidable.
When those appointments are unavoidable, students are responsible
for any make-up work during their absence. Assignments that
are not made up, according to the time restrictions set by
the teacher and school, will be reflected in their grades.
It is helpful to both student and teacher to make prior arrangements
to meet that requirement.
School starts promptly at:
High
School: 7:30 am
Intermediate: 7:30 am
Elementary: 7:45 am
Colorado
State Attendance law states, in part, that "Every elementary
child who has attained the age of 7 and under the age of 16
years … will attend public school for at least 968 instructional
hours during the school year, and every secondary school child
will attend public school for at least 1056 instructional
hours during the school year." Ridgeview's instructional
hours exceed the State's requirement for minimal instructional
hours.
The State
of Colorado and Poudre School District's goal for attendance
is 95%, as is that of Ridgeview Classical Schools. In order
to attain this goal, a student cannot miss more than 10 days
during the entire school year.
Missing
2 clock hours equals a half-day absence. Missing 4 clock hours
equals a full-day absence.
Excused
Absence/Tardy
The following will be considered excused absences:
- Absences
for medical reasons
- Absences
for mental or emotional disabilities
- Pre-arranged
absences of an educational nature must be approved by the
Principal, e.g., visits to colleges for high school students;
scheduled, performance-related activities.
- Attendance
at any school-sponsored activity
- Bereavement
(notify school if absence will extend beyond three days)
The School
may require suitable proof of excused absences, including
written statements from medical sources.
To
Report an Absence
If your child is absent because of illness or an appointment
for which we have not been notified previously, please call
to make us aware of the situation before 8:00 a.m. It is critical
to student safety that we know where all students are on school
days. You may call early and leave a message on the Absence
Line (494-4620 x199). Please notify the school every day your
child is to be away from school. Office staff will place calls
daily to parents for unaccounted absences.
Unexcused
Absence
If a student has more than four unexcused absences in one
month or ten days in any year, the student may be classified
as habitually truant according to Colorado School Law. When
the parent does not explain sufficiently the reason for unexcused
absences, the department of social services will be notified,
a parent conference will be required, and credit will be withheld.
An unexcused absence is defined as an absence that is not
covered by one of the foregoing exceptions. Each unexcused
absence will be entered on the student's record. The parents
or guardian of the student receiving an unexcused absence
will be notified by the school of the unexcused absence. Homework
will not be sent home nor will credit be awarded for any work
done during periods of unexcused absence except as defined
in Explanation of Excused/Unexcused
Absences.
Late
Arrival/Tardiness
Tardiness is a form of absence and interferes with student
learning. Disruption and loss of instruction time result when
students are not in their classrooms ready to begin learning
on time. Classes begin promptly at 7:30 a.m. for High School
and Intermediate School, and 7:45 a.m. for Elementary School.
Parents are expected to have their students at school a minimum
of 5 minutes prior to the start of classes. Tardy students
must be checked in at the office by their parent or guardian
before going to class.
Intermediate
and High School
Promptly at start time, doors to classrooms are closed and
the academic day begins. For Intermediate and High School
classes, tardy students will not be admitted to class and
incur an unexcused absence. Four unexcused absences in one
month or ten in any year will cause credit to be withheld.
Elementary
After two tardies a letter will be sent home to inform the
parent(s). Any tardies thereafter will have a consequence
that may include an after school detention. Habitual tardiness
will result in further disciplinary action. Three tardies
equal one unexcused absence.
Student
Check-out
Students may NOT be taken from the school or playground unless
parents have signed them out in the office. School-sponsored
activities require a teacher or sponsor to be responsible
for the students. Therefore if a parent desires to take her
student at the completion of an activity, written notification
must be given to the teacher or sponsor. Students may only
leave the activity or event with their own parent unless prior
written authorization is given to the teacher or sponsor.
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