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Attendance Policy

 

TOR Attendance Policy

Turn of River Middle School is firmly committed to the importance of regular class attendance. Faithful school attendance is critical to successful school performance and preparation for future employment. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in this area.

Teacher Procedures

 Attendance is taken after the tardy bell. All homeroom teachers indicate on the form provided the absence or tardiness of students. Please be careful so that the information is accurate, legal verification of attendance is sometimes required. When a student returns from an absence they must bring a note from home. This note must be turned into the main office by the homeroom teacher. At the beginning of each period the teacher should check attendance. Any inconsistency noted on the daily attendance report is immediately reported to the main office.

Absence Procedures

 All student absences must be reported to the main office by phone the day of the absence and in written form the day the student returns from the absence. Please call 977-4303 to report an absence.

  • Parents will be contacted by the school for any unexcused absence not reported.
  • Upon return from an absence, students must bring a written verification from home and turn it in to the main office. This note should include the student’s name, the date(s) of the absence, the reason for the absence, and the parent signature.
  • When students know in advance that they will be absent for more than two days parents should contact the main office and request assignments. A note of explanation for the absence must also be sent to the main office. Assignments will be prepared twenty-four hours after the parent calls and may be picked up after 2:55pm in the main office.
  • Make-up work: It is the responsibility of the student to make up work that he/she missed during the absence. Teachers should be asked for make-up work the same day the student returns to school (of course, we will remind students).
  • Absences will be coded as Excused or Unexcused

Excused Absences

In order for an absence to be excused, the above procedures must be followed.

  1. Personal illness
  2. Medical appointments (if possible, medical appointments should be scheduled outside of school)
  3. Death or emergency within the family
  4. Religious holidays
  5. Family Trips: defined as the student accompanying his/her parents on a business trip or vacation. Please give written notification to your child’s grade level administrator (in writing) at least one week prior to the planned trip.

It is highly discouraged to plan family trips during the school year.

Unexcused Absences

An unexcused absence is an absence that the school does not consider appropriate or where the school’s attendance policy has not been followed. Students who do not present written verification of the reason for an absence signed by a parent or doctor shall be given an unexcused absence. Examples would include: Missed the bus, over sleeping, travel, weather, etc.

Excessive Absences or Truancy

Students who have four or more unexcused absences in a month or ten unexcused absences in one year are considered Truant and may be subject to a written complaint with the Superior Court pursuant to Section 46b-149. Student attendance will be reviewed when a student reaches the benchmarks of 5 and 10 unexcused absences. Students with 5 unexcused absences will be referred to Guidance. In the event a student reaches 5 unexcused absences, a conference with the student, their parent and grade level administrator may be requested and a letter of concern may be sent by school administration. Saturday School may be used as a consequence to excessive unexcused absences.

*Note: 8th Graders who have 10 or more unexcused absences will be denied participation in Class Day Exercises (i.e., Graduation).

Tardiness

A student who does not report to his/her homeroom by 8:00 A.M. is tardy. Students that arrive late due to bus transportation are not considered tardy. The homeroom teacher holds students responsible for being tardy, takes steps to control it, and refers cases of excessive tardiness to the grade level administrator. Cases of excessive tardiness will result in a meeting with the student’s parents and grade level administrator