ATTENDANCE POLICY
Interaction among students and staff, coupled with involvement within the total school
environment, are critical factors in the learning process. These interactions are dependent upon a student’s presence in school. Regular attendance (no more than nine absences per school year, 9/180 school days = 5% of school days) helps to develop lifelong attitudes necessary for success.
It is our goal to help provide support and resources so your child can be in school every day. If you are struggling to get your child to school on a daily basis, please let us know so we can collaborate and assist in any way possible.
CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM
Chronic absenteeism refers to students missing an extended period of school when both excused and unexcused absences are taken into account. Chronic absence is defined as missing 10% or more of the school year (an average of one day every two weeks) regardless of whether absences are excused or unexcused; OR, at any time during the school year, a student has tardies, (late arrivals or early dismissals) that have reached 20% of their school days.
If a student is absent 10% or more of school days at any point throughout the school year, parents/guardians may be notified via letter/email summarizing their student's attendance. These letters are for awareness and are to help maintain open lines of communication between school and home. If a student continues to be chronically absent throughout the school year, the school will send additional communication via letter/email and/or develop a support plan with the student and their parent(s)/guardian(s). Ongoing chronic absenteeism will indicate that additional support at the county level may be needed to address the matter of truancy.
EXCUSED ABSENCES
Students may be excused from school for one or more of the following reasons and will be provided an opportunity to make-up missed schoolwork and/or tests:
1. the student’s physical or mental illness (physician’s verification is required after 4 consecutive days of absence for illness);
2. severe weather;
3. medical appointments for the student;
4. death or serious illness of the student’s family member;
5. attendance at a funeral, wedding, or graduation;
6. appearance at court or for other legal matters;
7. observance of religious holidays of the student’s own faith;
8. family vacations (when family vacation procedures are followed)
Students with a health condition that causes repeated absence are to provide the school office with an explanation of the condition from a registered physician.
School-related absences (ie. requirement for a particular class), and In-School or Out-of-School Suspensions, are considered authorized absences and do not count against attendance requirements. Students are responsible for making up missed assignments.
Three class periods missed (6th grade) is considered a half-day absence for all reasons.
Any student arriving late to school is to report to the school office before proceeding to class.
ABSENCE NOTIFICATION
If a student is going to be absent, we ask that parents contact the office no later than 8:15 AM the day of the absence by calling (616) 272-7100 or emailing 56gattendance@hpseagles.net. An explanation for the absence is necessary for the absence to be excused. An excused absence allows the student to make up all possible work. It is the responsibility of the student to obtain missed assignments. If an absence can be foreseen, the parent should make arrangements as many days as possible before the absence to assist the student in making up any missed school work. An absence from school for all or any part of the school day without a legitimate excuse from the parent/guardian shall be considered an “unexcused absence.
If you need to pick up your child early, or you need to change how your child will be getting him that day, please contact the office no later than 2:00pm. We cannot guarantee your child will be notified of last minute changes if you notify the office after 2:00 PM. No student will be allowed to leave school prior to dismissal time without a custodial parent(s) request. No student will be released to a person other than a custodial parent(s) without permission from the custodial parent(s) or guardian.
VACATIONS DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR
All vacations must be pre-excused. Parents are discouraged from taking their child out of school for vacations. Each day of vacation counts as a one-day absence. Vacation absences do count against daily attendance requirements. When a family vacation must be scheduled during the school year, the parents should discuss the matter with the student’s teachers and the main office administrative assistants to make necessary arrangements. The Family Vacation Form is to be completed and submitted to the office at least five days prior to the trip.
Communication
- Visit Our Website: Our school website will be updated on a regular basis as it will be the main source of information for our parents and community members.
School Messenger: Regular communication from school messenger will be sent out via email, phone calls, or text messages to keep you in the loop on what is taking place at 56G!
Social Media: Follow our story by liking us on...
Facebook: Like us on Facebook-facebook.com/56Georgetown
Instagram: Like us on Instagram @56georgetown.
Website: https://www.hudsonvillepublicschools.org/5-6-building-georgetown/index
Location: 8175 36th Avenue, Hudsonville, MI, USA
Phone: 616-272-7100
Facebook: facebook.com/56Georgetown
