We believe that at N.D.S.S. there should be a well-publicized policies and procedures for dealing with student absences that are diligently adhered to by both teachers and administrators as the school is required to account for the presence of all students daily. The focus and rationale for the procedures must be the creation of an optimal learning environment. Teachers cannot teach a student effectively if chronic, irregular absences result in missed work. Teachers also cannot teach a student effectivley when, due to a previous absence and/or failure to do homework, a student continually interrupts a class while seeking clarification about such work.

Good attendance is essential for success in school and work. Prospective employers will interested in a student's good school attendance record. Regular attendance affects positively your progress and the progress of the class as well.

Parents are vitally interested in academic success and, therefore, in attendance at school. For this reason, communicaiton with home will be attempted regarding absenteeism. Sometimes students miss classes because they are experience failure and frustration rather than success. Avoiding the problem only offers temporary relief. Student services can help in this situation.

Students are expected to attend homeroom and all classes including assemblies and resource room punctually and regulary. Only illness, medical or other appointments, school-sponsered activities (field trips, atheletics, etc.) or absences approvied in advance by the Administration are acceptable reasons for absence. All other absences are considered unauthorized. Parents who wish to have their students excused from school for a week or longer should make their request in writing (form in the main office) to the Principal for approval in advance of the planned absence.

Student learning is vital and a priority in this buiding. We understand that extra-curricular involvement contributes to the well being of the student and builds a sense of community, however, participation in extra-curricular activities is a privilege. Our expectation is that academic success is the responsiblity of the student, with support form the coach/staff advisor and subject teachers.

SCHOOL PROCEDURES
ARRIVAL AT SCHOOL
Home Rooms are open by 8:45 A.M. and teachers are available for consultation. Students must be in Home Room before 9:00 A.M. If you arrive anytime during Period 1 go directly to class and you will be marked late. If you have a note give it to your teacher and it will be recorded. If you do not have a note, the late policy will dictate the consequences. If you arrive after Period 1 and have a note, please sign in at the office. If you arrive after Period 1 without a note, go directly to class and all classes missed thus far in the day will be marked as 'skips'/unauthorized absences. The teacher will apply the consequences from the absence policy. It is the students responsibility to be aware of the expectations and consequences of both the late and attendance policies.

1. Beginning the Day
   School begins each day at 9:00 am with the playing of "O Canada" in period one. Students in the hall are expected to stop for the National Anthem and announcements. Announcements will be made each day immediately following the anthem. The Administration reserves the right to edit, restrict, and withdraw announcements. Students are expected to listen to all announcements. Students are expected to be in their room at this time and to stand quietly for the National Anthem. Students who are late will be able to review daily announcements which will be posted outside the main office.
   
2. Signing In and Signing Out
   Appointments with doctors, optometrists, chiropractors, etc. should be made outside of school hours, where possible. If a student needs to be excused during the day a note or appointment card must be brought to the office prior to period one, during their spare or at lunch. Students will receive a demit slip to show the class teacher that they have permission to be excused at a specific time. When a student returns from an appointment they must report to the main office prior to returning to class to receive an admit-to-class slip. Some local professional offices may sign your demit slip indicating appointments end times which should be consistent with your arrival time at school.All students regardless of age are expected to follow the sign-in and sign-out policy. Failure to do so will be dealt with as truancy (a skip). Consequences will be dealt with as the policy dictates. There will be no grace period for notes and notes will not be accepted the day after.
3. Notes for Absences from Class
   Synrevoice is an automated attendance system that will place a call to the student=s home if they have been marked absent in one or more classes regardless of a note being sent or a call or e-mail sent by a parent. Parents must confirm the reason for the student=s absence by leaving a message on the school's answering machine or by sending a note with the student the next day for a full days absence. If no note is sent or phone call made by the parents, then the student is automatically considered truant for 4 classes. Notes need to be sent with a student if that student has an appointment during the school day. Proper sign-out procedures are to be followed.
4. Sent out of Class
   Report directly to the office. Bring the Student Referral Notice from class if your teacher has filled it out or get one from the secretary. COMPLETE and return it to Mrs. Bramhill. Remain in the office until you are verbally dismissed by either Principal, Vice-Principal or the secretaries. The bell does not indicate that you may leave.

ATTENDANCE POLICY

Students Under 18 Yrs of Age			Students 18 Yrs and Older
Absences	Authorized	Unauthorized (skip, not following sign in/out procedure)	Authorized	Unauthorized (skip, not following sign in/out procedure)
1 - 4	teacher expresses concern, speaks to students	assign detention make up missed work in SSR *teacher phones home	concern	detention
5 - 9	teacher phones home to discuss concern	attendance counsellor in-school/out of school suspensions calls home by attendance counsellor meeting with student &/or parents problem solving with the Vice-Principal	attendance counsellor speaks to student assigned to SSR if work not being completed	attendance counsellor in-school/out of school suspensions meeting office detentions community service
10	attendance counsellor referral	Vice-Principal	Vice-Principal	school attendance counsellor informed on each subsequent absence from class Vice-Principal notified
10+	potential Upper Grand District School Board counsellor and attedance referral		Vice-Principal	deleted from class & or placed on or school contract l

LATE POLICY FOR STUDENTS

1. In order to maximize instructional time, students are expected to arrive to ALL classes on time.
2. If a student arrives after the bell to begin class, he/she will be considered to be late and will bemarked late on the bubble sheet by the teacher (regardless of the reason). If a student misses a substantial amount of class time (i.e. 40 minutes or more) with no note and/or a reasonable explanation, the teacher may consider that student to have had an unauthorized absence from that class.
3. Late students (not sign in students) are to report directly to their class. Do NOT send them to the office for an admit slip.
4. All lates will appear on the report card but teachers will need to differentiate between unexcused and excused lates in their own attendance records. Unexcused lates will result in consequences from the students' teachers. Excused lates will not be counted against the student and the student will not be penalized for this late. Excused lates will involve the student entering class with an admit slip. An admit slip may be a note from the school nurse, the child and youth care worker, probation officer, guidance, special education, the Principal/Vice-Principal, any teacher, educational assistants and the secretaries after the student has signed in with a note from an appointment (i.e. medical).
5. Lates will be considered on a semester basis; that is the number of lates in the first semester do not carry over to the second semester.
6. Teachers will apply consequences for student being late to class and will involve the Vice-Principal only when, in the opinion of the teacher, it becomes a chronic problem. (Despite consequences put in place by teacher continued lates total 7 or more).

Possible consequences for being late to class are listed below. Teachers will issue consequences at their discretion, which may include the following:
First and Second unexcused late

• detention
• other consequences the teacher feels are appropriate
• phone call home by teacher

Three unexcused lates

• detention
• other consequences the teacher feels are appropriate
• phone call home by teacher

Five unexcused lates

• phone call home to parents by attendance counsellor after teacher's call
• detention to be served
• other consequences the teacher feels are appropriate

Seven unexcused lates (now chronic)

• referral to the Vice-Principal who will:
• call parents
• assign time in the office
• arrange early sign-in in main office at beginning of day and during lunch
• contract
• potential suspension/in-school suspension from school
• parental meeting in office