Attendance Protocol

Statement of Belief 

It is our vision to create an open learning community that honors personal strengths and enables everyone to grow their thinking. We value healthy relationships and wellbeing to support the success of our students. One key component of this success in the primary grades is consistent attendance, which is the shared responsibility of the adult family members and school staff. 

Chronic Absenteeism  

Chronic absenteeism refers to long-term, regular, and/or repeated absences that can impact a students’ educational success and emotional/social wellbeing. Missing 10% a year, equivalent to 2 days a month, is the threshold for chronic absenteeism. 

Attendance Protocols 

1. The administrative assistant contacts all families daily if students are away for unknown reasons. 
2. If a child misses the 3 days in one week, the teacher checks in with the family, and connects with the Principal to share the reasons for absences.  
3. The Principal completes monthly attendance tracking to determine students who are absent 10% or more and follows up with classroom teacher and administrative assistant to determine the reasons for absences. 
4. Students with chronic absenteeism are invited to a SBT meeting to address underlying barriers to regular attendance. 

Response to Chronic Absenteeism 

1. Staff with positive connections to families (Classroom teacher, Administrative Assistant, IESW, Learning Services teacher, Principal) will call to understand reasons behind absences and offer support. 
2. If absenteeism remains chronic, the principal or a trusted staff member will reach out to offer enhanced support, including school-based and district-based referrals. 
3. Subsequent chronic absenteeism will be addressed similarly, with district-based leaders contacted for support. 

Returning to Regular Attendance  

Students will be welcomed back to school on their return. Staff focus on strength-based approaches to close gaps in learning, and strengthen relationships and build resilience to reduce future absences. 

Homework  

Learning is dynamic at primary school, and cannot be replicated with paper-based activities, so we do not provide educational programming for missed days. We may suggest literacy and numeracy activities for families to do together to support continued student growth.