To Report an Absence:  email your child's teacher / homeroom teacher.

* A directory of teacher emails is located at Our Staff * 

Regular school attendance and punctuality is expected of all students. Parents are requested to inform their child's Homeroom teacher in elementary and the Learning Leader in Junior High - Grade 7 Ms. Rocker - kmrocker@cbe.ab.ca; Grade 8 Mr. Yackulic dmyackulic@cbe.ab.ca; Grade 9 Mr. Schmidt pdschmidt@cbe.ab.ca if their child will be absent. Notifying these people is very important.  If a child is absent and we have not been notified the school automated attendance line will contact the parent.  This contact occurs at 9:35 am and 1:20 pm daily.  If students are late to class, parents may also receive notification.  This notification is a safety measure.  It is a precaution as our system is indicating that your child is not in the assigned class.  They may have been late to class, may have been mistakenly missed in attendance or may be doing something else in the school of which the teacher is not aware.  If you have been notified that your child is absent and you are not aware of the absence, please contact our school office.

At Rideau Park, we expect students to be in attendance to maintain continuity of program, maximize learning opportunities and be a contributing member of our school community.

Chronic lates or absenteeism concerns that impact student achievement are considered to be attendance issues. Parents will be notified directly should attendance issues arise. It is hoped that together we can support students to maintain a practice of regular attendance.  The attendance board may also be included in conversations when absenteeism becomes chronic.

Late policy

Students who arrive at school late go directly to class and are to ensure that their teacher marks them as late. An excused late is defined as a medical appointment or other event of that status. All other lates are considered unexcused. 

Excused and unexcused absences

In the event that absences are interfering with academic achievement, Rideau Park School has the right to request that students/parents account for absences in a satisfactory manner as per administrative regulation 6020.3. Rideau Park School is entitled to request from a parent that medical notes be provided when excessive absences occur.

Checking out early

All students leaving the school prior to regular dismissal time must report to the office upon departure. Due to Duty of Care, parents must authorize via email with the school office that a child will be leaving early and must indicate with whom the child will be leaving the school.  We are not able to release students without an adult. Adults must sign out the child.

Extended leave of absence

Though we do not advocate long term absences, we recognize that there are times when students will be absent from school for an extended period of time (4-days or more). Please contact the homeroom teacher if you are planning an extended leave for your child. Students are accountable for missed learning and must access D2L or classroom blogs to maintain communication with the classroom while absent.

Student illness at school

From time to time students become ill at school. If it is a minor illness a student can rest in the main office for a brief time until it is determined that he/she is able to go back to class or should go home to recover. When a student is too ill to return to class, parents will be expected to make arrangements to pick up their child from school. 

Please notify the school of any medical problems your child(ren) may have so that we are best able to assist in the event of an emergency. School personnel are not authorized to dispense medicine to a child without written consent. A form must be completed and returned to the main office. 

Returning from an illness

Parents are asked to be sure that students are well before returning to school. If a child must stay indoors, a dated note to that effect must be sent with the child indicating the reason and duration.

Communicable diseases

Please check with the school nurse, or your local clinic for information regarding these diseases and the exclusion period for the various diseases. Calgary Health Services can be contacted at 403-256-7191.