Attendance Line: 403-777-6430 ext. 1.

Regular and punctual attendance is a major factor in a student’s success in school. The CBE believes and extensive research shows that there is a positive correlation between attendance and student achievement at school. The Alberta School Act and Calgary Board of Education policy (Administrative Regulation 6020) require that students attend school regularly and punctually and that parents support this requirement. It is the responsibility of parents to ensure compliance with this legal requirement and the responsibility of schools to ensure that parents are informed promptly when the attendance of a student is not satisfactory.

If a student will be absent from school, we require a parent to contact the school, either phone or email, and provide a reason and the expected length of time that their child will be away. According to both the Alberta School Act and CBE regulations there are only two legitimate reasons for a student to be absent or late:

1. The student is late or unable to attend due to sickness or another unavoidable cause. These could include: illness, medical appointments, a family emergency, weather anomalies or death of a family member or close friend. Sleeping in is not an acceptable reason for being late.
2. The day is recognized as a religious holiday by the religious denomination to which the student belongs, or the student is attending a cultural, spiritual or ceremonial event.

Based on the reason provided, the school will determine whether an absence/late is excused. Only the school has the authority to excuse an absence or late. The school will classify an absence or late as unexcused, and usually truant, in the absence of parent communication.

Please contact us prior to 9:00 AM for morning absences and before 1:00 PM for afternoon absences. If we have not been contacted by the above times in regard to a student’s absence, our computer system will contact parents at their daytime phone numbers at the end of the day. If students return to school and a parent has NOT been in contact with the school, a note from a parent confirming the absence will be required or the absence will be considered truancy.

Students who are absent from school will be required to make up the work covered during their absence within a reasonable period of time. It is the student’s responsibility to determine the work missed due to absences from school. Google Classroom is usually the best place to check for ongoing work and homework. Subject teachers, in consultation with students and parents, will determine a reasonable due date for missed assignments. Students are encouraged to identify a homework buddy who can pick up handouts/assignments/binders from his/her teachers or locker as necessary..

Early Dismissal

Occasionally students must leave the building before the usual dismissal time. Students are to inform their teachers and then check out at the office before leaving the building. A note or phone call from parents is required. Students are not allowed to leave the school during instructional time without permission from the office. This also applies to students who may need to leave for a short time to attend an appointment and will be returning to school.

Truancy

Students who are absent from school without permission will be required to make up both the work and time missed.

Punctuality

Students are expected to be seated in their desks before the bell. Students arriving late miss important instruction and disrupt other students when they enter the classroom. When students are late to school in the morning or after lunch, they must stop at the office to sign in and collect a late slip. We appreciate parents calling to inform us when their children are late. The decision to excuse a late is at the discretion of the school (CBE Admin Regulation 6020). Late entries that occur as a result of sleeping in or missing buses are not usually excused. Extenuating circumstances are dealt with at the discretion of the school. School administration will become involved when students are habitually late.

Illness at School

Students who become ill during school hours should inform their teacher and come to the office. The office staff will contact parents in order to have them pick up their child or give permission for him/her to go home. During class hours students are not allowed to contact parents via their cell phone unless directed by a staff member. Students are not permitted to leave the school without parental permission. Please ensure our office has accurate and current contact
information.

Early Dismissal

Occasionally students must leave the building before the usual dismissal time. Students are to inform their teachers and then check out at the office before leaving the building. A note or phone call from parents is required. Students are not allowed to leave the school during instructional time without permission from the office. This also applies to students who may need to leave for a short time to attend an appointment and will be returning to school. Our office staff will not be able to call classrooms to retrieve students as it is very disruptive to the learning in the classroom. Families should make arrangements in advance if they will be required to leave throughout the day.

Extended Leave

Any lengthy absence from school is likely to adversely affect student’s progress. Teachers should be informed in advance of when parents choose to take students out of school for any reason. It is the principal’s decision as to whether the extended absence will be considered excused or unexcused. An extended absence form is available through the office and should be completed prior to the student being away in excess of three school days. Please make note of our final exam schedule in June. We strongly encourage all families to avoid making early holiday plans. Teachers are not able to provide work to students when on extended leave. Students should use Google Classroom to stay up to date in their classes.