STUDENT ATTENDANCE POLICY
Holy Trinity Catholic Secondary School actively encourages and promotes regular attendance. Educational research has consistently shown that a student's progress and academic success are closely related to regular attendance and participation in the day to day activities of the school.
Although trips and vacations may provide diverse learning experiences, the school does not support, academically, travel or vacations during class time. The content covered in each course is important and requires daily attendance. While parents may choose to travel during the school year, the time missed from class is recorded as an absence and counted in the total absence record for the semester. A significant number of absences places a student's achievement in jeopardy due to the loss of instructional time. Also, assessment and evaluation become problematic. Prior to the trip, the parent must notify a Vice-Principal in writing and the student must consult with his/her teachers and make notes on what will be covered in each course. Any assignments that are due while he/she is away should be completed and handed in prior to the trip to ensure they are accepted.
Examinations will not be rescheduled and a mark of zero (0) will be assigned to any examination missed for truancy.
STUDENT ABSENCES
The parent/guardian must notify the Attendance Secretary or leave a message on the 24-hour line (905 257- 0819) prior to 8:30 a.m. on the day of the absence, as failure to do so may cause the student to miss class time. If a phone message is not received, we require written communication from a parent/guardian on the day the student returns to school by 8:30 a.m. No notes will be received after the fact and the student’s absence will be recorded as a truant.
If a student must leave school before the end of the day, they are required to sign out at the Attendance Office. Students, under 18 years of age, will require the permission of their parents/guardians in order to sign out. The attendance counsellor must receive notification from the student’s parent before the student is released from school. If this procedure is not adhered to, the student will be recorded as being truant, his/her parents will be notified, and disciplinary action may be taken by the School Administration.
If a student becomes ill while at school, they must report to
the Attendance Office immediately. Failure to report to the Attendance Office will result in the student being recorded as truant. In addition, his/her parents will be notified and disciplinary action may be taken by the School Administration.
Students who are 18 years of age and older must complete the NOTE SIGNING PERMISSION FORM in order to sign their own notes. Students will then be allowed to sign themselves in to or out of school if they have an appointment or are ill. Students will be able to sign out without their parents’ approval for up to a maximum of eight times per semester AND only with the approval of the School Administration.
Students who miss class, without an acceptable reason from
their parent/guardian, will be recorded as truant. Persistent truancy will be dealt with progressively with disciplinary action up to and including suspension.
First Occurrence:
· Class teacher will address the issue with the student.
Second and Third Occurrences:
· Class teacher will contact parents and address the issue with them.
Subsequent Truancies:
· All subsequent truancies past the third occurrence will be dealt with progressively involving subsequent detentions leading up to possible suspension.
MISSED EXAMINATIONS, TESTS AND ASSIGNMENTS:
Students are responsible for all course work and assignments
while absent.
Note: Illness substantiated by a doctor’s note is the only acceptable reason for missing an examination. All notification of absence due to vacation or family trip must be submitted in writing to a Vice-Principal.