Attendance

Experience has shown a direct correlation between successful course completion and regular course attendance. This policy assumes that:

1.The student is responsible for school attendance.

2.Class time is an essential part of acquiring a credit within the Ontario education system.

3.Our school administration and staff will make the commitment to periodically communicate with parents/guardians about attendance infractions.

Attendance and Punctuality Expectations

  • Students are expected to attend every class and to be punctual.
  • Absenteeism will be reviewed by the school administration and district school board.
  • Parents, guardians and students over 18 years of age must call the attendance phone line on every student absence. The school administration will contact home for absences.
  • Advance notice of absences is requested when possible.
  • No student is to leave the school property, when classes are scheduled, without signing out at the main office. This includes leaving school early for an appointment or due to illness.
  • Skipping class is not acceptable and will result in detentions and escalating consequences.
  • If you are absent for medical or dental appointments for long-term illnesses (more than 3 days), you must have a doctor’s certificate.

 

Absences from School

There are three (3) categories of absence from school

1.Excused

An excused absence is a legitimate absence due to illness, a religious observance, compassionate leave, or participation in a school-sanctioned activity. Where the school has not received a telephone call on the first day of a student’s absence, the student is responsible for bringing a doctor note to the office immediately on return to school. If a note or phone call has not been received at the office by 8:45 the morning of the student’s return, the absence is considered a truancy. Excused absences will result in a 2% deduction on the student’s final mark.

 

2.Business

  • Business Absence – the school recognizes that adult or independent living students may have to be absent from school to conduct business. A well-documented business absence does not count as a truancy.
  • Notes written by students who are eighteen years of age or older will be accepted under the following conditions:
  • Notes must contain valid reasons for the absences which are acceptable to the school.
  • An acceptable note must contain the date of the absence and specifics, i.e. the name and phone number of the doctor, dentist, lawyer, etc. for confirmation.

3.Truancy

  • A truancy is an absence which is neither excused nor a business absence is considered a truancy. Truant students will be assigned detentions and/or suspensions, and get 10% deduction on the student’s final mark for each absence.
  • Students who miss more than 10 classes will be expelled from the class, the tuition is not refundable, and the course credit won’t be valid. The subject teacher involved will also attempt to contact the parent or guardian if the Vice-Principal has not already done so.

 

4.Arriving Late

Students arriving at their first-period class after 9 am must report to the office. A note from parents is required if you know in advance that you will be late. Students who are late without a valid reason will be referred to the vice-principal. Sleeping in or missing the bus are not valid reasons. Students will only be admitted into the class with the Student Late Admittance Form.

Students will get a 5% deduction toward their final mark after an accumulation of 10 times being late without providing Late Admittance Form.