• Our school hours are 7:45 AM until 3:25 PM.  Students may enter the building as early as 7:15 AM.

    There is a direct correlation between regular attendance and successful school experiences.  It is our goal to have every student in attendance each day in order to maximize his/her opportunities for success.

     

    Compulsory Education

    Parents are required by Texas Compulsory Attendance Law to ensure their child(ren) are in school the full day of instruction a minimum of 90% of the school year in order to be promoted to the next grade level. Research shows that a student who misses 10% or more of a school year in elementary school is at-risk for high school dropout. If a student's’ attendance drops below 90% at the end of any 9 weeks, an attendance meeting will be scheduled. If attendance is not at 90% at the end of the school year, the attendance committee will review reasons for absences, student data, and parent and teacher input to determine if the student will be retained, promoted, or if accelerated instruction will be required.

    Absenteeism unavoidably affects the quality of a student’s work, interferes with normal instructional procedures in the classroom, and places additional demands on the teacher to provide remedial assistance. It negatively impacts the child who is absent as well as other students in the class.

     

    Early Dismissal for Appointments

    A parent, guardian, or authorized adult (noted on the student enrollment card) must come to the office with a picture I.D. to pick up a student for an appointment. Office personnel will call the child to the office. The student must be signed out by the authorized adult.

    A written verification of appointment from the medical personnel is required if the student is out of school for medical treatment during the school day. We request that medical appointments be made for after school hours, if at all possible. Per state requirements, parents of students who are consistently leaving early from school are subject to compulsory attendance laws and potential court procedures and fines.

     

    Tardy Guidelines

    It is very important for all students to be in their classrooms at 7:35 AM so that they will be prepared and ready for the day by 7:45 AM. Students arriving after 7:45 AM are tardy and will need to go to the front office for an admission slip. Being just a few minutes late can mean a child has missed valuable instruction and will be starting the day off behind the other students. Per state requirements, parents of students who are consistently tardy are subject to compulsory attendance laws and potential court procedures and fines.

     

    Truancy and Unexcused Absences/ Tardies

    Regular and consistent attendance is important for a child’s success. We teach our students that they need to put first things first by coming to school each day on time and ready to learn. If a child is sick and needs to stay home, children should return to school with a note from the parent explaining the reason for the absence or with a doctor’s note, within 3 days of the absence. If notes are provided, the absences will be excused. If no note is provided, the absence will be unexcused. Each student is allowed 8 parent notes/ excuses each year and after those 8, doctor notes will be required to excuse further absences.

    After any 3 consecutive absences or at any point that the student has missed 10% of one school year (5 days at the 1st 9 weeks, 9 days at the 2nd 9 weeks, 14 days at the 3rd 9 weeks, and 18 days at the 4th 9 weeks), absences will only be excused with a doctor’s note. Once a student has accumulated 7 unexcused absences (either full days or parts of days, including arriving late or leaving early), the school will initiate truancy prevention measures, which could result in a complaint filed with the court. We would like to avoid this at all costs and we are sure you would too. To avoid this, please bring your child to school unless they are sick (vomiting, diarrhea, fever of 100 or higher within 24 hours) and if sick, provide the school with a parent or doctor’s note. Please know that if you are unsure of whether your child is sick enough to stay home, feel free to bring them to the nurse before school so that she can make a determination.

     

     

    Please feel free to call if you have questions or concerns regarding or your child’s absences.  We appreciate your cooperation and support in helping all our students to reach their maximum potential.