How the Counseling Team Promotes Attendance
The counseling team promotes attendance each year with:
- A new and exciting attendance theme
- Educating students on the importance of attendance in Peace Assemblies and Classroom Lessons
- Awarding classrooms with the best attendance each week (yay for extra recess!)
- Throwing an attendance celebration at the end of the year
- Organizing the Perfect Attendance Parade at the end of the year. This is when the graduating seniors parade through each school in their cap and gown!
Titan Hill's Policy on Attendance
Requirements:
A child who has reached the age of five by September 15 and who is enrolled in a school district is of compulsory attendance age unless the child’s parent or guardian provides written notice to the school district of the “intent to remove the child from enrollment in the school district.” Iowa Code 299.1A(2)(2013) .
Any child who fails to attend school as required, without reasonable excuse for the absence, shall be defined as truant. Parents will receive an attendance letter after a student has accumulated four absences or tardies. Tardies are defined as arriving five or more minutes past the start of the school day or leaving five minutes or more prior to the end of the day. Parents may be contacted by school personnel after a student has accumulated eight absences or nine tardies and a second attendance letter will be sent. At 12 absences or tardies, students will be red-flagged in the school information system (PowerSchool). An 13 Attendance Cooperation Agreement may be written when a student has accumulated 12 or more absences or tardies.
The Attendance Cooperation Agreement is a collaborative plan between the school and the parent/guardian. School personnel may also choose to make contact with the County Attorney when a student has accumulated 12 or more absences or tardies to mediate a plan that will support in improving student attendance. It is the responsibility of the County Attorney to take appropriate legal action upon receipt of said notification. If you have any questions regarding this policy, contact your child’s school.
Any child who fails to attend school as required, without reasonable excuse for the absence, shall be defined as truant. Parents will receive an attendance letter after a student has accumulated four absences or tardies. Tardies are defined as arriving five or more minutes past the start of the school day or leaving five minutes or more prior to the end of the day. Parents may be contacted by school personnel after a student has accumulated eight absences or nine tardies and a second attendance letter will be sent. At 12 absences or tardies, students will be red-flagged in the school information system (PowerSchool). An 13 Attendance Cooperation Agreement may be written when a student has accumulated 12 or more absences or tardies.
The Attendance Cooperation Agreement is a collaborative plan between the school and the parent/guardian. School personnel may also choose to make contact with the County Attorney when a student has accumulated 12 or more absences or tardies to mediate a plan that will support in improving student attendance. It is the responsibility of the County Attorney to take appropriate legal action upon receipt of said notification. If you have any questions regarding this policy, contact your child’s school.
Daily Attendance:
Students are expected to be in class and make attendance a top priority. Only through attendance and class participation do students achieve the benefits of the educational program. Participating in class discussion, developing an appreciation for the views and abilities of other students, and forming the habit of regular attendance are legitimate class objectives. Learning lost due to an absence can never be replaced. Regular attendance and being well prepared for class help students in school as well as prepare students for adulthood.
Parents who know their child will be absent must notify the office prior to the absence. If advance notification is not possible, parents must notify the school office on the day of the absence prior to 8:00 a.m. Failure to do so will result in an unexcused absence.
If a student is absent due to illness or an appointment, parents should provide a physician’s note upon return to school. Students who need to leave school during the school day must be checked out in the office by a parent. Parents must sign students in for readmission to school. Students will not be released to anyone other than their parent unless the office has a note signed by the student’s parent.
Students are responsible for arranging to make up schoolwork. Students have the same number of days they were absent plus one day to make up work. An extension of this policy may be requested in case of serious illness. Students are not allowed to make up schoolwork or to submit late schoolwork due to an unexcused absence, (Reference Board Policy 501.1.501.14 and 501.15).
Parents who know their child will be absent must notify the office prior to the absence. If advance notification is not possible, parents must notify the school office on the day of the absence prior to 8:00 a.m. Failure to do so will result in an unexcused absence.
If a student is absent due to illness or an appointment, parents should provide a physician’s note upon return to school. Students who need to leave school during the school day must be checked out in the office by a parent. Parents must sign students in for readmission to school. Students will not be released to anyone other than their parent unless the office has a note signed by the student’s parent.
Students are responsible for arranging to make up schoolwork. Students have the same number of days they were absent plus one day to make up work. An extension of this policy may be requested in case of serious illness. Students are not allowed to make up schoolwork or to submit late schoolwork due to an unexcused absence, (Reference Board Policy 501.1.501.14 and 501.15).
Tardy and Absent:
The policy for tardiness and absences in our school is as follows:
TARDY - arriving 5 or more minutes after start of day or leaving 5 or more minutes before end of day
ABSENT - ½ day if arrives 1 ½ hours after bell
½ day if leaves 1 ½ hours before dismissal
ABSENT - more than 1 ½ hours is full day
TARDY - arriving 5 or more minutes after start of day or leaving 5 or more minutes before end of day
ABSENT - ½ day if arrives 1 ½ hours after bell
½ day if leaves 1 ½ hours before dismissal
ABSENT - more than 1 ½ hours is full day
This information can also be found in the student handbook