Attendance Procedures
Regular attendance is an essential part of a student’s education. Students are expected to be in attendance every school day as required by state law and district policy. All absences have a negative effect, regardless of the cause of the absence or the attempts to make up work missed. Teachers cannot teach students who are not present, and instruction cannot be replicated with assignments to be completed outside of school. However, there are times when students must be away from school. Parents will be notified of excessive excused absences by letter. If excused absences continue, parents will be required to provide medical documentation to excuse student’s absences. Further absences will involve a conference with the Attendance Advocate for Boulder Valley Schools and an attendance contract. An action plan will be developed to ensure more regular attendance.
Excused Absences as Defined by BVSD
- Temporary illness or injury
- Absence pre-approved by the school administrator
- Extended absences due to physical, mental or emotional disabilities
- Student is in the custody of the court or law enforcement authorities
- Emergency, serious illness, or death in the family
- Medical and dental appointments which cannot be scheduled outside the regular school day
- Extremely inclement weather
- Participation in a religious observance
Unexcused Absences
- Absences due to suspension
- Truancy
- If you are absent (full or partial days) without the consent of your parent/guardian
- Parents who know in advance that their children will be absent are asked to let the attendance clerk in the office and the classroom teacher know the reason for the absence. Students will be expected to make up work missed during periods of absences. We strongly discourage extended family trips during regularly scheduled school days.
Daily Attendance
If your child is absent, please call the Heatherwood attendance line at 720-561-5276 by 8:15 a.m. If your child is absent for a number of successive days, please call the school each day. A message may be left on the recorder from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. If the student’s parents or guardians are not available for a period of time, for example on a trip and alternate care arrangements have been made, please write a note to that effect for the office in case of any emergency. Please always notify the attendance clerk in the office of an absence, not just the classroom teacher.
Tardies
When a student is late in arriving at school, they need to sign in at the office and explain their reason for being late. Any student who accumulates three or more tardies in a trimester will be required to stay after school for 20 minutes on the day of the tardy arrival. During the day of the third (or more) tardy, the parent will be contacted to make arrangements to have their child picked up at 2:50 pm. Continued excessive tardies may result in contact with the District’s Truancy Officer.
Excused Tardies
- Medical appointments
- Temporary illness
- Inclement weather
- Extenuating circumstances
Unexcused Tardies
- Oversleeping
- Walking too slow
- Parents stopping for coffee on the way
- Missing the bus due to getting up late