Attendance: FAQ

FAQ about ATTENDANCE

Who do I contact if my child is absent?

Regular and punctual school attendance is expected of each student enrolled at Meadow Heights Elementary School because of the proven relationship between a child's good attendance in school and good grades/learning.  Likewise, it is an established fact that children with poor attendance normally do not achieve up to their potential and more often than not take home poor or failing grades in school.

It is understood that occasional absences from school may be necessary for elementary aged children under certain circumstances, i.e., illness, hospitalization, a death in the family and/or other family emergencies that might arise.  Parents and/or guardians are encouraged to make every effort to see that their child/children are in school and stay in school throughout the course of the school year because we simply can not teach children who are not here!

In order to verify a child's absence when it occurs, parents/guardians should do the following:

  • Call the elementary office (866-2611) by the morning after the absence by 9:00 a.m. to provide a reason for the absence; please do not call your child's teacher but call the office instead; or we will call you and verify the student is absent; notification from an older brother or sister will be accepted only if they are serving in a guardian role to that younger brother or sister.  Students who impersonate parents or who request another student to do so will be subject to suspension from school and they and their parents must meet with the building principal before they are allowed to return to school. 
 Parents will be notified in the following manner when their child has missed 3, 5, 7, 10, and 11 verified/unverified days of absences in a school year.
➢ A letter will be mailed home after 3 verified/unverified absences.
➢ A letter will be delivered by the SRO and principal on day 5 verified/unverified absence.
➢ A letter will be mailed and a referral to the Deputy Juvenile Officer will be made after day 7.
➢ On the 10th verified/unverified day of absences the parents will be asked to meet with the principal and/or the juvenile officer. This meeting will take place to review student’s absences and attempt to develop a plan to improve the student’s attendance. The state of Missouri requires that the school report students with excessive school absences, 10 or more, to the Division of Family Services as well. ➢ On the 11th verified day of absence the case will be referred to the Bollinger County Prosecuting Attorney. Any day over the 10 th verified/unverified day in a school year the student must have a valid written excuse by someone other than the parent/guardian (i.e. doctor or dentist, etc.) PARENT’S CALLING IN WILL NOT SERVE AS A VALID EXCUSE. AFTER THE 10 th VERIFIED DAY/UNVERIFIED, FOR ALL DAYS AFTER THAT, THE STUDENT MUST HAVE A VALID WRITTEN EXCUSE. An excused absence (E) is a student absence that has been approved by the district and is supported with appropriate written documentation, including but not limited to, medical appointments, dental appointments, a funeral of a relative, or a verified religious observance.

For unexcused or unverified absences (A), the student will be treated as being truant; therefore, students will receive discipline in accordance with Board regulation JC-R1.  Students will only be allowed to make up work for the unexcused or unverified absences by attending an after school detention as outlined in JG-R1.  6.  Any student who is marked as an unexcused absence (A) 3 times will be referred to the Bollinger County juvenile officer.  Continual persistent truancy will lead to charges of educational neglect against the parent/guardian and even prosecution against the parent/guardian by the Bollinger County prosecuting attorney.

What if my child is absent due to illness?

Elementary students will be allowed 10 verified absent (V) days per school year.  Verified absences include the following reasons:

Illness or injury of the student, illness or injury of a member of the student’s family when the student’s presence is necessary or expected, visits with a parent or legal guardian who is an active duty member of the military who has been called to duty for, is on leave from, or is immediately returned from deployment to a combat zone or combat support posting, with permission or the superintendent or designee, or absence that has an education or family value when approved in advance by the building principal. 

What are check-in or Tardy procedures?

Every student is required to be in their homeroom at 8:15 am. Students who are arriving late must be signed in by a parent.  Any student not in classroom at 8:15 am must return to office and sign in. Teachers will notify office of any students arriving late and student will be required to sign in. Parents will need to get a visitor pass to accompany their child in elementary.

What are the early check-out procedures?

Parents must report to the High school office immediately upon entry to the school. There the high school secretary will issue a visitor badge and send parents to the elementary office.  The office secretary will call the classroom and have student meet parent in the office.  Parents will sign the child out before leaving. Parents are encouraged to send a note or call to speed up the process.  Parents are not permitted to interrupt classrooms and will be asked to come to the office and present their request. Students leaving for the day must sign back in at the elementary office if they return to school.

Parents picking up children at the end of the school day are asked to call before 2:00 pm  Parents will park the cars on right side of building in the parent pick up area and students will be escorted out. No student will be permitted to leave with unauthorized adult.

How do I check-out a child early if it is not my child?

The parent of child you are wishing to check out must notify the office of the child leaving early by phone or written note.

Can my child miss any school for Perfect Attendance?

Perfect attendance is awarded each quarter and if a student has not missed any minutes in the quarter they have qualified for Perfect Attendance.  Excused absences do not meet the criteria.  Students who do not miss even one minute of school all year will receive a Perfect Attendance award and field trip.

How do I send my child to a different location after school?

Parents wanting to give permission for their child to ride a different bus home in the afternoon or go home with a friend will need to call the elementary office before 2:00 pm or send a note with your child stating your wishes.

Can I prevent my ex- spouse from picking up my children?

If the ex- spouse is a biological parent, we cannot deny the parent to pick up child unless it is ordered by the courts.

What are Excused Absences/Check-outs?

An excused absence (E) is a student absence that has been approved by the district and is supported with appropriate third party written documentation, including but not limited to, medical appointments, dental appointments, a funeral of a relative, or a verified religious observance. 

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