Attendance Line: 403-777 8350 ext. 1

Please report all absences to the Attendance Line above.

To ensure the safety of all our students, attendance is taken twice a day – first in the morning and right after the lunch hour. Regular school attendance and punctuality are required of all students. Parents are requested to inform the school by note or phone if a child will be absent or late. We appreciate your support by calling the office before 9:00 AM. A message on the answering machine is sufficient. If a child is absent and we have not been notified in advance, the office staff will attempt to contact parents at home and on cell phones.

Students who arrive at school late are asked to check in at the office before going to class. If a student needs to leave school at any time during the day, parents are asked to sign the child out at the office. This is extremely important in the afternoon, as non-reporting can delay bus departures.

Using the School Telephone

Students have access to the school telephone in the case of an emergency, such as illness. Students are also allowed to phone home if they are uncertain of their schedule after school; however we ask that they not use the phone to try and set up ‘play dates’.

For security reasons, we will not take messages from parents or family friends to direct a child to go to a location other than home, as it is impossible for us to confirm the identity of the caller. Parents are asked to please make these arrangements with their children prior to coming to school, to write specific instructions in the child’s agenda and to inform the office. It is easy for our younger students to become confused the day a routine is to change. Written directions from parents help to alleviate this confusion.

Cell Phone Use at School

As noted, students have access to the school telephone for emergency use, so there is no need for them to use a cell phone during school hours. If your child has a cell phone, they are directed to keep it in their backpack during school hours. The office will ensure that the child receives emergency messages from home and that they clearly understand any changes of home routine.

Family Vacations During School Times

The pedagogical approach used in schools often involves hands on, activity-oriented lessons that cannot be duplicated through the use of home assignments. Parents need to be aware that, when family vacations conflict with regularly scheduled school days, it is not possible to provide the same work that will be done at school. Students may be provided with materials to ‘make-up’ after they return from vacation. We encourage students to maintain home reading during vacations and to keep a written journal of their activities.