Tardy and Absence Policy Kindezi O4W

Tardiness

A student who is late misses valuable instructional time and, as concerned educators, we feel it is our duty to do what we can to prevent tardiness from becoming a pattern. As a result, Kindezi is committed to strict adherence to the policy below:

A student is tardy when he/she arrives to school after the beginning of the official school day—7:45am—or is not seated in the assigned class at the official beginning of the first class period - 7:50am.

1) Excused tardy: includes dangerous weather, illness, injury and medical appointments, which must be accompanied by a doctor’s office note.

2) Unexcused tardy: includes arriving after 7:35am and needing breakfast, oversleeping, heavy traffic, student moving slowly in the hallway, etc.

Tardiness and Breakfast

Students arriving to school between 7:40 am and 7:45 am will receive a yellow pass to class from the breakfast monitor indicating prompt arrival to school, but late arrival to class due to finishing their breakfast. Students receiving a pass will NOT be considered TARDY.

Students arriving to school later than 7:45 am will receive a cold breakfast and a red pass to class indicating late arrival. Those who receive a red pass will be considered TARDY.

7:55 am is the absolute latest time a student can receive a cold breakfast.

Tardy Policy: Corrective Action-Parents will receive an automated message from The Kindezi School notifying them of their student’s tardy arrival.

• 5th tardy per quarter: Yellow warnings sent home with student

• 6th – 9th tardy: Red warnings sent home with student

• 10th tardy of the quarter: conference with parent and the Principal

• Student progress reports will be withheld until a parent/guardian attends the meeting

If a student accumulates more than 10 tardies in a quarter he/she will be referred to the school social worker. The Principal and school social worker will confer to determine whether any action should be taken to address tardiness (ie. DFACS referral)

Ten (10) unexcused tardies in the year equates to one (1) unexcused absence. Absences

Students are expected to attend school at all times when classes are in session. The only exceptions are if a child is ill or needs medical treatment that cannot be scheduled at another time, death in the family, when observing a religious day or holiday, and the reason enumerated below. All other absences are considered unexcused.

When a student is absent, his or her parent or guardian must inform the appropriate Primary or Middle School administrative assistant with a written note. A letter written by a parent/guardian and/or licensed physician explaining the reasons for absences must be presented to school authorities by all students on the date of return to school. Failure to submit a note within three school days after a student’s return from an absence will result in the absence being marked as unexcused.

If a student is not present at least 4 hours during a school day, they will be counted as absent. We encourage parents to schedule appointments after school hours in order to minimize disruption to the classroom. If your appointment must be scheduled during school hours, please ensure that your child is present at least 4 hours during that school day. Classroom time is essential to increasing students’ knowledge and proficiency. Students who are repeatedly picked up early may experience a decline in student achievement.

Teachers will make a good faith effort to provide assignments in advance of and during absences when timely notice is given. Parents are urged to plan their vacations in such a way that students do not miss any school, as extended absences have a detrimental effect on learning. Absences due to vacations, holidays, trips, or other non-academic activities are Unexcused Absences.

Note: Georgia State Law indicates that any parent/guardian who does not comply with compulsory attendance mandates (O.C.G.A. 20-2-690.1[a]) shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be subject to a fine not less than $25.00 and not greater than $100.00, imprisonment not to exceed 30 days, community service, or any combination of such penalties, at the discretion of the court having jurisdiction. Each day's absence from school in violation of this part after the child's school system notifies the parent/guardian of five unexcused days of absence shall constitute a separate offense (O.C.G.A. 20-2-690.1[b]).

Excused

Excused Absences are legally constituted of the following:

1. Personal illness of the student and when attendance in school would endanger the health of the student or the health of others.

2. Serious illness or death in the immediate family of the student that would reasonably necessitate absence from school.

3. Quarantine either by the county health department or by the family's physician.

4. Special or recognized religious holidays observed by the faith of the student.

5. Medical/dental appointments with verifications; however, such non-emergency appointments are encouraged during non-school hours when possible.

6. Absences caused by order of the government.

7. Service as a page in the Georgia General Assembly by a student who is at least twelve (12) years of age.

8. Weather or other environmental conditions preventing a student from getting to school or rendering school attendance hazardous to the health or safety of the student.

9. Instances in which attendance could be hazardous as determined by WIA & the Atlanta Public School System.

Anything other than these is considered an UNEXCUSED absence. Absences for which the parent does not call the school or send a written note, will be considered unexcused.

Unexcused Absences - Corrective Action-Parents will receive an automated message from The Kindezi School notifying them of their student’s absence arrival.

• 5th unexcused absence per quarter: Yellow warnings sent home with student

• 6th – 9th unexcused absence: Red warnings sent home with student

• 10th unexcused absence of the quarter: conference with parent and the Principal

• Student progress reports will be withheld until a parent/guardian attends the meeting

• 11th unexcused absence: family is referred to DFCS

Absences and Grading

Absences shall not penalize student grades if the following condi­tions are met:

1. Absences are justified and validated for excused reasons.

2. Make-up work for all absences is completed satisfactorily.

(Although an absence may be considered “unexcused,” make-up work for approved, prearranged absences will be permitted. Proce­dures for doing so may be acquired from the teacher.)