Lane Attendance Policy

Attendance at school is expected on every school day, unless extreme emergency, personal illness or unusual weather prevents. Written or oral reasons for absence are required from parent or guardian after each absence. Schools will be open and in session, and only in extreme weather will radio announcements be made of no school sessions. Parents are expected to exercise their own discretion in stormy weather.

Pupils shall attend schools in the system and in accordance with system guidelines as approved by the committee, unless an emergency or physician's certificate makes an adjustment necessary.

Regular attendance is important to learning. However, when a child is not well, the place to be is home for the good of himself/herself and his/her classmates. Please notify the school by 9:00 am the morning of each day the child is absent. An answering machine will be in place before and after school hours for your convenience. When school personnel are not notified by the designated time, and a child does not arrive at school on time, school personnel will make every effort to contact a parent or guardian. These policies have been initiated to ensure the safety of your child.

The following are procedures regarding school attendance:

1. A student is marked absent who does not attend school.
2. The Department of Education requires us to do the following:
   1. Record students who arrive at school after 11:30 am as both tardy and absent.
   2. Record students who are dismissed prior to 11:30 am as both dismissed and absent.
   3. Record students who do not attend school on any day for any reason as absent.
   4. Record students who arrive to school prior to 11:30 am as tardy only.
   5. Record students who are dismissed after 11:30 am as dismissed only.
      
      * The time of 11:30 AM applies to Lane School because it is approximately half of our school day. As is our custom, all attendance information is recorded on the report card.
3. A student should not be dismissed from school before the close of the session, except in case of illness or other emergency. A student may not leave the school building until the person receiving the student has reported to the school office and has been properly identified by a school official. Telephone calls for dismissal may be verified.
4. An excuse, in writing, or a phone call, is required from the parent or guardian in every case of an absence, dismissal or tardiness.
5. We strongly discourage families from taking vacations other than the regularly scheduled school vacations and holidays. Introduction to new materials occurs daily; therefore, any absence will affect your child's progress. Learning of new material presented during this absence will be the responsibility of the student and parent.
6. Should your child arrive at school after the start of the school day, if at all possible, the parent should accompany the student into the school office where he/she is required to sign in. The attendance record will be adjusted and the child may then proceed to class.
7. Any time parents or guardians are going away, please notify the school office with the dates of your absence and the name of the person who will be staying with your child. If your child will be staying at someone else's home, please leave that address and telephone number with the school secretary.
8. Whenever possible, appointments (doctor, dentist, etc.) should be made outside of school hours. In addition, after school activities/lessons (scouting, skating, etc.) should be planned so as to avoid early dismissals.