Regular, punctual attendance directly correlates to academic performance. Good attendance is a shared responsibility between the student and parent.  We expect parents to send their children to school each day on time and to call in any absence each morning a child is absent by 8:25 am. The attendance line accepts messages 24 hours a day including weekends.

Please click HERE to read the start-of-year principal's letter to parents regarding the importance of good attendace.

 

How does the office communicate attendance issues to parents?

• Automated phone call system—calls home each night that a student has been marked absent if the absence hasn’t already been cleared by the parent/guardian.
• Automated phone call system—calls home each night that a student has been marked tardy to class.
• Student attendance information can be viewed on Q ParentConnect.

What absences may be excused?

California Education Code section 48205 and CVUSD board policies state that absences for the following reasons may be excused: 

• personal illness,
• quarantine,
• medical, dental, optometrical or chiropractic services, 
• funeral services of an immediate family member, 
• jury duty, 
• illness during school hours of a child to whom the student is a custodial parent, 
• service as a member of a precinct board,
• participation in religious exercises or to receive moral and religious instruction,
• Upon advance written request
  • Appearance in court
  • Attendance at funeral service
  • Observation of a religious holiday or ceremony
  • Attendance at a religious retreat not to exceed four hours per semester
  • Attendance at an employment conference. 

Which absences are "unexcused?" 

Absences for any reason not listed above are "unexcused." For example, family trips, non-Weathersfield athletic competitions, family emergencies, and transportation difficulty, are not reasons for which absences may be excused. When a parent/guardian/caretaker notifies the attendance office of the reason for absence before the absence occurs, the absence will be considered "unexcused."

How do "unexcused" absences differ from "truancies?"

When a parent/guardian/caretaker does not call the attendance office to report the reason for the absence within three school days of the absence, the absence becomes a truancy.  Absences cannot be excused after three days and will remain truancies.

How many illness days may my child take in a school year without needing a note from a doctor to excuse the absences?

Students may take up to fourteen (14) sick days in a school year without needing to provide a doctor's note to excuse the absence. Parents, if you do take your child to the doctor while your child is ill, you are encouraged to obtain a note from the medical office verifying that your child was seen by a health care provider and excusing the number days your child has or will be absent due to illness. Once a student has surpassed the fourteen allotted illness days in a school year, the student may be required to provide a doctor's note or be evaluated by the school nurse/health clerk each time they are absent due to illness. Students who have exceeded the allotted fourteen illness days and who do not provide a doctor's note or have themselves evaluated by the school health clerk will receive a truancy for each additional illness day accrued.

Does being tardy to school matter?

Yes. Students are expected to be in their classrooms when the school bell rings at 8:25 a.m. If a student is not in his/her/their classroom on time, then the student will be considered Tardy.  Three (3) unexcused Tardies of less than 30 minutes equals one (1) Truancy. One (1) unexcused Tardy of greater than 30 minutes equals one (1) Truancy.

How can parents help?

• Be proactive: check your child’s attendance regularly through the Q ParentConnect website.  Please visit the Weathersfield Front Office if you need a PIN or password. Due to the confidential data on Q ParentConnect, parents are required to present ID to obtain log-in information.

• When you receive an automated or front office phone call regarding an absence, call the Weathersfield Front Office immediately to clear an absence. Please leave a message, if all lines are busy. The line accepts messages 24 hours a day including weekends. Parents must call and inform the front office of the reason for their child's absence EVERY day the student is absent from school (unless you advise front office staff that the student will be absent for multiple days). 

• If you believe your child has mistakenly been marked absent or tardy, please call the Front Office.

• If your student has a fever or feels ill, keep the student home. Help your student differentiate between not feeling like coming to school and being too sick to attend school.  To review the sick child guidelines, please click HERE.

• PLEASE KEEP YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION UPDATED. Please complete all required annual updates for Q ParentConnect at the start of the year. After this update period closes (on or around August 31st), contact the front office to alert of any changes to parent and emergency contact phone numbers and email addresses, and changes to your home address.

LEAVING SCHOOL EARLY

• The Front Office does not require advance notice that your child will be departing early, but please DO provide advance notice to your child's teacher.

• It is recommended that parents arrive to the Front Office approximately 10 minutes prior to the time you need to leave with your child. This allows opportunity for your child to gather his/her/their belongings and come to the front office. Please keep in mind that, if you are picking your child up during their lunch, P.E. or Recess time, additional time may be needed for them to gather their belongings. Click HERE to view the Bell Schedule.

• It is Weathersfield policy to call a child to the office for pick-up AFTER the parent has arrived.