Attendance Policy

Attendance and Punctuality

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General Louis Wagner Middle School is in session from 7:30 AM to 2:34 PM.  It is important that children come to school every day prepared to learn. Regular attendance is critical to academic success.  Student attendance has become a high priority throughout the School District of Philadelphia.  Each time that your child is absent from school, it is important that you send your son/daughter to school with a note explaining the reason for the absence.

Absence notes should be turned into the advisory teacher.  When a note is received, the absence is coded appropriately.  An unexcused absence is recorded whenever a child returns to school without a note from the parent/guardian or when the scholar’s absence cannot be excused based on the reason stated in the letter.  All absences of three (3) or more consecutive school days shall be supported by a physician’s statement verifying the illness.  Please be advised that a letter from the parent/guardian may not excuse all absences as determined by the School District of Philadelphia guidelines.

Good attendance is important for success in middle school.  If a scholar is absent from school for any reason, a written excuse must be brought to school no later than three days after returning to classes; otherwise, the absence will be considered illegal/unexcused.  An accumulation of three illegal absences may result in citations being filed with District Court.  Excuses should be turned into the advisory teacher.

Students who acquire 8 or more unexcused absences during the school year will be summoned to appear in Truancy Court.  Students may also be summoned to appear in court for excessive lateness to school.  Parents/guardians will be notified by mail and given a time and date to report to court with the scholar.  Please be aware that a scholar’s attendance records are forwarded to the new school if a child transfers during the school year.

It is important that our scholars are present in school everyday on time!  We are here to support you and to provide your son and/or daughter with opportunities to be successful.

The SRC made the following changes to the Attendance Policy 204:

“There are two substantive changes in the Attendance Policy. The first proposal is that if scholars arrive in school after 10:00 am without a note or leave before 1:00 pm without a note, they will be marked half a day unexcused absence. The half-day unexcused absences will accrue to full days. The trigger for a truancy referral remains ten (10) unexcused days. The second proposed change is that after eight (8) cumulative absences for illness, the parent must secure a doctor’s note for any future absences for illness.”

The School District of Philadelphia specifies the following as valid reasons for absence from school:

Illness.

2.    Quarantine.

3.     Recovery from an accident.

4.     Required court attendance.

5.     Death in the family.

6.     Educational tours and trips, with prior approval.

7.     Authorized school activities.

8.     Excused Lateness or Dismissal

Excused Tardy

Illness – with a note from a parent or doctor.  A doctor’s note may be required.

Appointments – with a note from the office involved (i.e. dental or medical, legal or other professional appointment) or a parent.

In order to participate in any after school activity, the scholar must be in school with a written excuse by 11:00 AM.

LATENESS POLICY

Classroom instruction begins as soon as school starts so it is important for children to arrive on time.  When a scholar is not able to arrive on time, the scholar must  fill out a late slip, and then go to the classroom.  Excessive lateness will result in disciplinary and/or truancy action.  Any scholar arriving after the daily morning entrance into the building is considered late.