Attendance Line: 403-230-4743 then press 1

At James Fowler High School, we believe that excellent attendance is key to a successful high school experience. Absenteeism negatively affects students’ academic progress at school. Students who do not attend regularly miss daily instruction and develop gaps in their learning.

Both the Alberta School Act and the Calgary Board of Education Administrative Regulation 6020 – Attendance of Students, reinforce the expectation that our students “attend school regularly and punctually.” It is the responsibility of parents/guardians to endeavor to ensure compliance with this requirement and the responsibility of schools to ensure that parents/guardians are informed promptly when the attendance is not satisfactory.

Parents’ Responsibility

While the school attempts to keep parents informed concerning student attendance and achievement an automated telephone notification of absences, MyCBE / PowerSchool, report cards, parent-teacher interviews, direct contact (by telephone or letter from teachers and administrators), parents are requested to contact the school to report absences and to inquire when they have concerns regarding attendance or achievement. Parents are asked to contact the school attendance line when their child is absent or late. Office personnel will then enter the information in to the computer. If parents/guardians have not called the school by 3:00 PM, a message will go out during the evening indicating that classes have been missed. Check your MyCBE / PowerSchool account for details on what classes were missed by your child. 

Parents are to contact their child’s Teacher directly for any concerns related to individual classes and their child’s Assistant Principal or Guidance Counsellor by telephone if they have any general concerns or questions regarding attendance or achievement. Finally, parents are asked to keep the school informed whenever they are aware of circumstances that might affect their child’s learning.

Excused Absences & Lates

Parents are required to telephone the school each day their child is unable to attend. An ‘excused’ absence will then be recorded in the school record system. Under the School Act of Alberta, an absence can be excused only if the student is unable to attend due to (1) illness, (2) unavoidable cause, or (3) a religious holiday observed by the family. It is important for students to understand that this does not excuse them from the work that they miss and they are responsible for working with their teachers to complete missed work immediately upon their return.

Extended Absences

Students who anticipate being absent for an extended period are to bring a note from their parent/guardian and book an appointment to meet with their Assistant Principal. An ‘Extended Absence’ form is circulated to their teachers for feedback and the form is sent home for the parents to peruse the feedback, sign and return to the school.

Attendance and Late Concerns

After 5 unexcused absences or 5 unexcused lates in any course:

• The classroom Teacher will contact the home and inform parents/guardians that there is an attendance concern 
• The classroom Teacher will discuss the attendance concern with the student 
• The classroom Teacher will email the student’s Teacher Advisor, Assistant Principal and Counselor informing them that there is an attendance concern and that the home has been contacted 
• The classroom Teacher will enter calls home and contact with student or parent in Activity Tracker 
• The classroom Teacher will assign a Period 5 requiring students to make up missed class time. Period 5 will be open three days per week to offer flexibility for students’ schedules

After 10 excused (called in by parents/guardians) or unexcused absences or 10 lates in any course:

• The classroom Teacher will contact the home and inform parents/guardians that their son or daughter’s attendance has not improved and that they have referred the student to their Assistant Principal 
• The classroom Teacher will continue to discuss the attendance problem with the student 
• The classroom Teacher will email the student’s Teacher Advisor, Assistant Principal and Counselor informing them 
• The classroom Teacher will enter calls home and contact with student or parent in Activity Tracker for student’s attendance has not improved. The Assistant Principal may suspend the student. 
• The Assistant Principal will meet with the student, contact the home and may create an Attendance Improvement Plan. 
• The Assistant Principal will send a letter home documenting the attendance concern.

After 15 excused (called in by parents/guardians) or unexcused absences or 15 lates in any course:

• The classroom Teacher will contact the home and inform parents/guardians that their child is not attending regularly and continue to discuss the attendance problem with the student. 
• The classroom Teacher will email the student’s Teacher Advisor, Assistant Principal and Counselor informing them that the student’s attendance has not improved and that the home has been contacted. The Assistant Principal may suspend the student. 
• The classroom Teacher will enter calls home and contact with student or parent in Activity Tracker.
• The Teacher Advisor and Assistant Principal will meet with the student, parents/guardians and/or the counsellor to create an ‘Attendance Improvement Plan’. Course withdrawal or program withdrawal may be recommended.

If the absenteeism and lates continue:

• every 5 classes the Teacher will continue the above process - contact with the home, discussion with the student, and an email to the student’s Assistant Principal and Counselor.

Truancy / Skipping

Any student found truant or ‘skipping’ classes will be referred to the student’s Assistant Principal. The Assistant Principal will contact the home and a suspension may result. A parent meeting with the student and the Assistant Principal may be requested.