Attendance

Tardiness

Our instructional day begins at 7:50am. Children should be in their classrooms and ready to begin work before the tardy bell at 7:50am. The car line will close at 7:50am. When children arrive after 7:50am, a parent must sign in the student in the front office. After signing in on the computer, the student will receive a tardy pass to take to the teacher.

With the increased instructional expectations, we must begin teaching on time. When students are tardy, they interrupt class and may miss important explanations of the assignments. Remember, missing just five minutes a day is equal to 25 minutes of lost instruction each week! Punctuality is a quality of good citizenship, therefore, please help your child arrive on time to school each day. If your child is late due to an emergency, please write a note of explanation. We will offer incentives throughout the year to encourage students to arrive on time.

Attendance

In accordance with the Compulsory School Attendance Law and S.C. Code of Regulations, a student will be allowed no more than ten (10) general absences during the 180-day school year. All children are expected to be in attendance each day unless they are ill. Of course, situations do occur that prevent students from coming to school. School officials understand that these absences are necessary and, therefore, accept them as excused absences:

• Absences caused by a student’s own illness* and whose attendance in school would endanger his or her health or the health of others. *Verified by a statement from a physician within two days of the student’s return to school. Absences for CHRONIC or EXTENDED illness will be approved only when verified by a physician’s statement.
• Absences due to an illness or death in the student’s immediate family verified by a statement or obituary from the parent within two days of the student’s return to school.
• Absences due to a recognized religious holiday of the student’s faith when approved in advance. Such requests must be made to the principal in writing.
• Absences for students whose parents/guardians are experiencing a military deployment. A principal may grant up to five days of excused absences provided that:
  1. the absence is preapproved,
  2. the student is in good standing,
  3. the student has a prior record of good attendance, and
  4. missed work is completed and turned in within the school’s allotted time period.
• Absences due to activities that are approved in advance by the principal. This would include absences for extreme hardships. Such approval should be prearranged when possible.

If a student is absent more than 5 consecutive days due to a medical problem, the parent may request homebound instruction.

Truancy

Although the state requires students to only attend 170 of the 180 day school year, parents and students should be aware that SC Code of Regulations – Chapter 43-274 stipulates that a child ages 6 to 17 years is considered truant when the child has three consecutive unlawful absences or a total of five unlawful absences.

Parents are urged to schedule health appointments after school hours so as not to miss valuable instruction.

Student attendance is very important to your child’s academic success, so please be here and be on time each and every day!

Permission to Leave School

If you must take your child from school before the close of the school day, no sign-outs will be allowed after 1:30 pm.

We DO NOT allow students to leave the school grounds without being accompanied by you or a designated adult listed on your child’s records.

Also, anyone not known by our office personnel will have to present identification before a student is released.