Attendance Line: 403-777-7610 ext. 1.

Punctuality is an important life skill. Students who are successful arrive to school on time and are rarely, if ever, absent. Poor attendance, especially tardiness, is an issue that affects a small percentage of our school’s population. However, it is important that this behaviour be modified to ensure all students have the opportunity to be successful in school.

Parents must inform the school by note or phone at the number above if their child(ren) will be absent or late. Calling in all absences or lates is essential to your child’s safety and the daily operation of the school.

It is important that both students and parents clearly understand the school’s attendance and late policy:

1. A student is late for school if they arrive to school after 9:00 a.m. (the start of first period) and 12:55 p.m. (the start of period four after lunch).
2. A student is late for class if they take more than the designated 2 minutes moving from class to class.
3. At the end of the day the SynreVoice system will phone parents of all students who received an unexcused late or absence. The administration (Principal and/or Assistant Principal) will also make contact with parents of students who are chronically late or absent.
4. When a student arrives late to school, they are to sign-in at the main office. They will be given a late slip so they can be admitted to class. An excused late is defined as a medical appointment or other event of that status. All other lates are considered unexcused. Sir John Franklin School has the right to request that students and parents account for lates and absences in a satisfactory manner, as per Calgary Board of Education Administrative Regulation 6020.3. Students may be assigned a lunchtime detention and/or community service if they are an unexcused late.

Chronic Lates and Absenteeism

These are issues that impact student achievement. Parents will be notified should attendance issues arise. Procedures for addressing these issues include student/teacher meetings; student/administration meeting; lunchtime detentions; parent meeting; Attendance Improvement Plan (AIP); referral to an Attendance Officer; legal action; and/or withdrawal from Sir John Franklin School.

Students are responsible for any time missed from school and the work that was completed during their absence. If the student has family obligations or legitimate responsibilities when they are asked to come in for a detention, then they must make alternate arrangements.

Once parents of chronically late or absent students have been contacted, the child will be placed on an Attendance Improvement Plan (AIP). Within the AIP consequences for students who are chronically late will be identified in the attempt to modify behaviour. Consequences for being tardy may include the loss of privileges and/or community service until attendance is improved. Privileges that students may lose include: attending school dances, participating in intramural activities, attending school sporting events, trying-out for or playing on school teams.