Attendance Line: 403-286-5092 ext. 1
Parents or guardians are asked to telephone 403-286-5092 and choose option #1, the school's attendance reporting line, prior to 3:00 PM on the day the student is absent. Messages can be left at any time as this line is 24 hours/7 days per week and is checked during normal school hours If calling about an early dismissal for your student, please dial 0 instead of 1. It is important for parent(s)/ guardian(s) to inform the school promptly of legitimate absences such as illness, medical or dental appointments or family emergencies. Parents are not required to come into the office as a phone call or email is sufficient.
Student Expectations
Success at school is based upon the following key elements: consistent and timely attendance, commitment to academic work, recognition of achievement and cooperative, respectful behaviour.
Attendance
Consistent attendance at school is essential to each student's reaching his or her academic potential. Regular attendance is the responsibility of the students and their parent(s)/guardian(s). Chronic attendance issues will be dealt with by administration.
Punctuality
Students should arrive for class on time. Late arrival to class disturbs the learning of others. Late students are required to report personally to their teacher on arrival to class. Chronic lateness will be dealt with by administration.
Missed Work
Any absence, whether excused or not, results in important work being missed. Students are responsible to speak with their teachers and to ensure that missed work is completed. Homework will be posted daily to D2L shells for students to refer to.
Unexcused Absences or Truancy
Truancy is any absence from class that is not excused for legitimate reasons such as illness, medical or dental appointments or family emergencies. Students may be suspended for truancy. Continued truancy may result in withdrawal from a course or school.
Absences During Tests or Final Examinations
A student may only be excused from tests or examinations for reasons of illness or emergencies such as death in the family. During the school year if a student is repeatedly absent on test days, he or she may be required to provide a doctor's certificate. A doctor's certificate is required for any missed final examination. While parents can excuse students from attendance for illness, parents cannot excuse them for a student`s commitment to completing the basic requirements of Alberta Education.
Vacations and other personal reasons are not legitimate excuses for missing exams.
Extended Leave
Parents or guardians are required to notify the school that a student is discontinuing attendance for a specified period of time. An Extended Absence form must be completed and submitted to the appropriate Assistant Principal at least one week prior to the leave. Students are responsible for catching up work and must make arrangements with teachers prior to the leave. While we support family time, informal studies have indicated that academic pursuits are compromised when a student misses class time.
Leaving the School During the Day
All students leaving the school for any reason during the day must sign out in the Main Office. If a student under 18 years of age becomes ill at school, Main Office staff will contact the parent/guardian to inform them that the student is ill and to consult with the parent to make arrangements. Signing out does not excuse the student, but records that the student has left the school. A parental telephone call is still required to excuse the absence.
Off-Site Trips
Off-Site trips are school-sponsored activities and are therefore considered excused absences from regular classes. Students participating in an offsite trip are responsible for making up missed work. Students should discuss their absence with other teachers prior to the offsite trip. In accordance with CBE policy, no student shall be excluded from participating on field trips solely on the basis of inability to pay.
Should any student wish to participate but is unable to pay, it is up to the student to approach the teacher in charge to discuss the situation and make alternative arrangements.
