Attendance Policies

Absentees

School attendance should be reported by phone (410-461-9111 ext. 250) or on-line form by 9:00 a.m. each day. Failure to contact the attendance line regarding an absence will result in an e-mail from school to report the absence. Parents may leave homework requests for after school pickup in the office or for work to be sent with a sibling/friend on the attendance line or on-line form . This request must be made by 9:00 a.m. For medical procedures or travel when a family is aware ahead of time of an absence, that information may also be left on the attendance line. One message can be left with the student names and dates of expected absence, eliminating the need to call daily.

On the day the student returns to school, a note signed by the parent or guardian must be presented to the homeroom teacher. A telephone call does not replace the written note. Maryland State Law requires that students absent for five (5) consecutive days must obtain a doctor’s release and present it to their teacher upon return to school.

As soon as a student has been absent ten (10) days, either consecutively or non-consecutively, a parent or guardian will be contacted. A conference may be set by an administrator with the student and parent or guardian to discuss the effects of absence on the student’s academic performance. A student may be denied promotion if absences throughout the year are in excess of twenty-one (21) days unless homebound tutoring by a certified teacher has been received.

Tardiness

Students arriving after 9:00 a.m. are considered tardy and should report to the school office. In the event that a child will be late for school, a parent/guardian should use the attendance line (410-461-9111 ext. 250) or form before 9:00 a.m.to report the late arrival.

Early Dismissal

If a student needs to leave school during regular school hours, a note is to be sent to school with the student on the day of the early dismissal. Please include date, student’s full name, homeroom, and time they are to be picked up. Students will not be called out of class until the parent arrives for pick-up at the school office.