f.+Attendance+Policy

** Attendance **
Attendance Compulsory- Except as otherwise provided in this Act, every parent, guardian or other person having charge of a pupil who is of compulsory school age shall take all the steps that are necessary to ensure regular attendance of that pupil: (a) At the school determined or authorized by the board of education of the school division in which the pupil resides and for the period during which the school is in operation in each year. 158(1) every pupil shall tend school regularly and shall promptly provide the Principal with any information that may be required… Irregular Attendance Concerns 161(1) where any pupil has been absent from school for more than FOUR (4) school days in any month; report the absence to the local attendance counselor unless the Principal is satisfied that the absence is justified…
 * The Education Act Section 156(1) **

** Twin Lakes Community School Reporting Procedures, Concerning Attendance **
1. Every teacher will be responsible for the daily attendance of his or her classroom. The teacher will phone the parent after 2 unexplained absences. 2. The Teacher must submit Attendance to the MAT Program and absences must be reported to the Support Worker. 3. After 3 absences the local attendance counselor shall immediately telephone the Parent and ask for an explanation regarding the absences and a follow up letter must be submitted to the Parent with a photocopy to the Principal and a copy to the students file. 4. After 5 and 7 absences have been recorded, the support worker will inform the Parents/Guardian that they must come into the school to discuss the student’s absences. 5. Every student must supply the teacher with a doctor’s note or a letter signed by the Parent explaining any reason for a student’s absence. 6. The Support Worker will also file a monthly attendance report for Students who are on the Social Services 16 & 17 year-old assistance Program. This report will be sent to the local Social services office and reviewed by the Department Social Worker who will conduct an investigation into a Student who has been absent. 7. For Grades 10 – 12 – Students reaching 8 absences are placed on a contract. All students who are absent for 10 classes in any class course that they are enrolled in will have their attendance reviewed by the Attendance Committee. The review process will occur for any 10 absences either excused or unexcused; ‘generally the student will be required to drop the class and resume either the next semester or the next school year.’ 8. Discretion shall be used by the committee while considering ordering a student withdrawal from a class due to Attendance concerns. Several options will be considered before the committee makes a decision regarding the student. The committee will consider the Students marks, attitude, attendance and the student’s chances of completing a course if they are allowed to continue in the course. On the recommendations of the Committee, a student may be required to either drop the course, make up classes and assignments or enroll in the course the next semester and make up the previous missed classes and assignments before being given credit for the course. All options and possibilities will be considered first before a student is discontinued in any courses. 9. The Attendance Committee shall consist of a Teacher, School Guidance Counselor, A Support Worker and Administration member. 10. This committee shall meet regularly as required by the school Principal to review any Attendance concerns that have been recommended to the committee by the school for a thorough and complete review.