VSS Attendance Guidelines
The following is the standard we expect at VSS.
Teachers take attendance on all students that appear on their class list from day one. If a student is on an attendance list, they are included in the attendance and should be in class.
If teachers are seeking admin involvement, they need to ensure that they have followed all of the required teacher interventions first.
*Parent/Legal Guardian must contact the office, with a phone call or email, for the absence to be excused.
Excused/Explained Absences
Please note that these absences do not excuse the curriculum from being completed.
- Student illness
- Health appointments
- Observance of religious holiday
- Family emergency
- Personal safety issues
- Principal’s/Vice Principal’s discretion
- School trip/event (sports, etc..)
Extended Absences
Students missing classes lose essential instruction. The staff and administration of VSS strongly caution families from taking vacations during a semester or leaving school prior to the normal closing date. During the planning for an absence, parents and students should understand that teachers cannot possibly pre-teach or post-teach the lessons, nor provide make-up assignments to cover all the material that will be missed. Since a student presumably needs to attend the full course to earn full credit, it is reasonable to expect that extended absences may result in a lower grade. Occasions do arise where absences are necessary. When this is the case, the school will make every reasonable attempt to reduce the negative impact to the student’s educational program. The intent is to help students be successful at school.
VSS Attendance Steps:
First Contact
Must be made by the teacher. Teacher will meet with the student to discuss the absence(s), and contact will be made with the parent/guardian. If a pattern of absences develops, the student will be referred to administration.
Possible Actions of Administration:
- There will be cases where administrator’s discretion is necessary in making a decision. These may be cases where a student’s absenteeism is due to special circumstances. Interventions may include but not limited to detentions, parent meetings, referral to SBT, attendance contracts, district referral, change of educational programming or referral to outside supports.
Responsibilities
Students:
- Arrive at school on time to each class with all necessary materials.
- Take responsibility at the end of the class to remind teachers to change attendance record from an “Absent” to “Late” when arriving late to class.
- Let teacher know in advance as much as possible regarding absences.
- Responsible for completing missed work after an absence and obtaining class notes from a classmate.
- Any student needing to sign out prior to the end of classes must report to the office. If a parent has not notified the school of the early dismissal, the secretary will contact the parent/guardian before the student is released.
- Students who are absent from their scheduled classes on the day of an extra-curricular activity may not be allowed to participate in that activity. Exceptions will be made for verified doctor or dental appointments and for other absences where prior approval is obtained through an administrator.
Please note that students cannot just stop attending a course and get it dropped. All course changes must go through the counselors so please make sure this is done before the add/drop date each semester to avoid disappointment.
Parents
- Ensure student leaves house with sufficient time to arrive at school on time for their first class.
- If driving, drop off students in the designated drop off area at least 10 minutes before their class is scheduled to begin.
- Book appointments for student outside of class time whenever possible.
- Call or email office outlining reasons for absence and/or lates prior to 8:30am to inform the school of child’s absence. VSS@sd22.bc.ca or 250-545-0701
- Ensure the school has current phone contact and email information. Our call out system will notify parents at the end of each day for unexcused absences.
- Initiate and maintain regular contact with the school through phone calls and email, contact with the staff, attending parent/teacher interviews and school functions, and reviewing school’s website for calendar and general information. https://sd22.bc.ca/vss/
- Assist in ensuring their child has adequate sleep.
- Plan holidays for scheduled school holidays.