Attendance

Arcola Child Check / Attendance Reporting: 610-831-5314

Parents or Guardians are required to report an absence, lateness or an early dismissal from school.

You may either contact the Attendance Office (610-831-5314) OR you may send an email to: attendance-ac@methacton.org.
You are requested to CALL OR EMAIL BEFORE 8:30 A.M.
If a call is made, the parent/guardian must also submit a written note explaining the absence within three (3) days. An email suffices as a written note.
Please include your child’s name, grade, teacher’s name and the SPECIFIC reason for the absence. It is requested that no additional information be placed on the voicemail or email.
Students are not allowed to report themselves absent.

Absences From School

Regular attendance and punctuality are vital to a successful school experience. Academic work must be made-up during absences.

Absences shall be treated as unlawful until the district receives a written excuse explaining the absence, to be submitted within three (3) days of the absence. A maximum of ten (10) days of cumulative lawful absences verified by parental notification shall be permitted during a school year. All absences beyond ten (10) cumulative days shall require an excuse from a licensed physician. A note from a licensed physician is also required when a student is absent from school for three (3) consecutive days. The Board considers the following conditions to constitute reasonable cause for absence from school:

1. Illness

2. Quarantine

3. Family emergency

4. Recovery from injury or accident

5. Required court attendance

6. Death in family

7. Family educational travel, with prior approval

8. Educational tours and trips, with prior approval

You may call Jennifer Johnson, the district’s Home and School Visitor at 610-489-5000, ext. 25406 with questions on this School Board / State Mandated Policy.

Tardiness

Students are expected to be in school. School start time is 8:15 AM. Tardiness includes being late to school or class. Lateness to school, class, or other assigned areas is a disruption to the educational process, to the education of your child, and other children.

If your child will be late for any reason, a parent/guardian must call the Attendance Office (610-831-5314) before 8:10 A.M. or provide their child with a note signed by the parent/guardian.

Any student who arrives after the start of homeroom must:

Report to the Attendance Office, sign in, and receive a Smart Pass with the time of arrival indicated.
Students will be admitted to class once they receive a Smart Pass.
Students who accumulate three unexcused tardy days per semester will be assigned an after-school detention.
A detention will be assigned for every unexcused tardy thereafter. If a student’s tardiness to school exceeds the time of 11:00 AM, an absence, excused or unexcused, will be recorded for the student on that day. When a bus arrives late for any reason, all students on that bus are required to report to the Attendance Office to sign in and receive a pass to enter the classroom.

Tardy Policy for Athletics and Activities

Students must report to school before 10:15 AM to be eligible to participate in after school or evening activities and athletic practices and games. Students who have been absent from school for 20 + days are ineligible to participate in any PIAA practices or games until the student has been in attendance for a total of 45 school days following the 20th day of absence.

Early Departure

A signed note or email with reason for early dismissal must be sent in by the parent/guardian.
Student reports to the Attendance Office during or before first period to present the note.
An electronic pass will be issued to the student for the requested time.
Student goes to his/her locker, reports to the Main Office, and remains until parent arrives.
Parent/Guardian indicated on the early dismissal note must come into the building to sign out the student.

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