Attendance
Attendance
Per the State, students are absent from school if not present for at least half of the instructional time required at each grade level. These instructional times do not include lunches, specials, breaks, etc. Grades 1-3, 135 minutes; Grades 4-5, 150 minutes; Grades 6-12, 165 minutes.
Tardies
Tardies are considered excused or unexcused, based on the circumstances.
Parents MUST walk tardy students into the front office. No drop off at curb! This is for your child's safety.
If you check your child in for an appointment, please bring back a note to change the tardy to excused. Otherwise, it will remain unexcused.
Students with ten or more tardies AND/OR early dismissals MAY NOT be eligible for perfect attendance awards at the end of the year.
Early Dismissal
Early dismissals are considered excused or unexcused, based on the circumstances.
No student will be called out of the classroom until the parent arrives and has signed the student out.
No student should be checked out after 2:00 PM.
If you check your child out for an appointment, please bring back a note to change the early dismissal to excused. Otherwise, it will remain unexcused.
Students with ten or more tardies AND/OR early dismissals MAY NOT be eligible for perfect attendance awards at the end of the year.
The most popular question asked to the front office:
At what time does my child need to be here until in order to be counted as present for the day?
The answer is that it varies based on grade level. The State of Georgia requires PK-3 grade students to be present for 135 minutes and 4th-5th grade for 150 minutes of instructional time. Instructional time does not include specials or lunch breaks. Therefore, here at Arbor Springs Elementary, here are the exact times for each grade level:
PK = 10:15 AM
K = 10:45 AM
1st = 10:15 AM
2nd = 10:15 AM
3rd = 10:15 AM
4th= 11:15 AM
5th = 11:15 AM
On the other hand, checking in late during the day still requires the same amount of minutes present for instructional time as above. So in order to be counted as present for the day, here are the latest times one could check in a day per grade level:
PK = 12:15 PM
K = 12:15 PM
1st = 11:00 AM
2nd = 12:15 PM
3rd = 11:45 AM
4th= 11:30 AM
5th = 11:30 AM
All tardies and early dismissals require a doctor note, dentist note, counseling note (etc.), or court note in order to excuse the tardy or early dismissal. The only exceptions to this are if your child is sent home early for being sick.
*NOTE: This year all early dismissals (excused or unexcused) count in the total tardy count on progress reports and report cards. Arbor Springs Elementary has no control over this and cannot alter this reporting.
Excuses
All absences (full day, tardy, or early dismissal) are marked as excused or unexcused. Excused absences are due to emergencies such as illness, death in the family, or other extreme circumstances. Excused absences are also religious holidays, service as a page in the General Assembly, school-sponsored activities, & voter registration.
Unexcused absences are all failures to attend school without proper documentation.
Upon returning to school, students must bring documentation stating the date and reason for the absence with the signature of a parent/guardian, doctor, dentist, or judge. After twelve absences due to medical reasons or five consecutive days absence for medical reasons, the school will require a signature from a medical professional for each additional absence.
The student and/or parents/guardians have the responsibility to present the written excuse within three (3) school days of the student's return to school.
The principal will resolve any question in determining whether an absence is excused or unexcused.
Family Trips, even if educational, are considered parent authorized, but they are still considered as unexcused absences.
Parents/guardians may also choose to email excuse notes to the Secretary/Clerk AND the teacher for an absence.