2013-KC COOMBS MIDDLE SCHOOL COUCIL

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• Special situations will be handled individually by the classroom teachers, guidance counselor or principal/principal designee. In partnership with the family, the school may develop an intervention plan to provide support and encouragement to the family with the goal of increasing student attendance and achievement. • A student must be in attendance by 10:00am to be eligible for participation in school extra-curricular events after school or in the evening. • In cases of chronic or irregular absence, reportedly due to illness, the Principal may request a physician's statement certifying that the prolonged absence is justified. According to School Committee policy, any child absent for five or more consecutive days must submit a physician's note to the office upon return to school. • When excessive absences do not improve following intervention (e.g., staff phone calls, principal letters, requested meetings) the school has the authority under the Massachusetts Federal Laws to seek court action and/or DCF action. • When a student's total absences reach 12, the school, in conjunction with the Falmouth Court and the Department of Child and Family Services, will hold a meeting with the student's parents/guardians. This meeting is held as a courtesy and serves as an informational gathering session regarding the student's excessive unexcused absences. At this meeting, the team will decide whether or not to move forward with the filing of a CHINS-Truant Petition. Should a petition be filed, the parents/guardians and child will be required to appear in court. • At the discretion of the teacher, homework and classroom work may be made up by a student incurring absences. • A student tardy and/or dismissed will not attain perfect attendance for the year. A student entering school after 8:25am is tardy. Leaving school prior to 2:50pm is a dismissal. • Children will be considered present for the school day as long as they have been in attendance for at least half the day or 3.25 hours. • Students cannot arrive prior to 8:10am. There is no supervision for students prior to this time. Students arriving prior to 8:10am must remain outdoors until permitted into the building by the staff on duty. Dismissal is at 2:50pm. All other dismissals will be marked as an early dismissal from school and will be recorded on the student's report card. File: JEED-R STUDENT ABSENCES AND EXCUSES The minimum standards of attendance expectations will be as follows: Students in grades 1-12 must be in regular attendance a minimum of 168 days for the school year. Exceptions to these standards will be considered upon written appeal to the building principal. The building principal, or a designee, will alert parents/guardians after 50% of the allowable absences have accrued thereby giving notice to the student who may be in danger of not meeting the minimum attendance expectations. Students granted excused absences will be allowed and encouraged to make up any work which is missed. 12