STUDENT ATTENDANCE, PUNCTUALITY, AND TRUANCY
The Board requires that students enrolled in GMCS attend school regularly in accordance with the laws of the state.
What is considered an excused absence?
- Illness, death in the family, required court appearance, inclement weather which would be dangerous to the life or health of the student, legal quarantine, emergency conditions as determined by the Principal, and prior permission from the Principal and consent from the parent/guardian.
- In order for an absence to be considered excused, a parent or guardian is required to send in a note within 3 days of a student returning to school. You may also send an email to info@gettysburgmontessoricharter.org
- After three (3) consecutive days of absence due to illness, a doctor’s note is required regarding the absence. Otherwise, they are considered unexcused.
- If a student misses ten (10) consecutive school days they shall be dropped from the active membership roll.
- A maximum of ten (10) days of cumulative lawful absences verified by parental notification may be permitted during a school year. Any and all absences beyond ten cumulative days will require an excuse from a physician.
Tardiness
- Any student who arrives at school after 8:30 is considered tardy and must sign in. The proper entry must be made at the sign in sheet at the front door. The person dropping off is required to fill out the information in its entirety: including student name, date, and time of arrival. There is also a section for the reason for the tardy.
- Tardiness will be calculated in 5-minute increments. When a full school day is accrued, it will count as an unexcused absence unless an approved excuse is provided. In this case, procedures for notifying parents/guardians of an unexcused absence.
- Students arriving after 11:00 a.m. will be considered to have missed a half day of school. When a full school day is accrued, it will count as an unexcused absence unless an approved excuse is provided.
- Students who are tardy due to a doctor’s appointment are required to provide a doctor’s note for the tardiness to be excused. It is best to turn these in at the front office when the student returns to school. The doctor’s note must be received within three calendar days of the tardiness, otherwise it is considered unexcused and will be counted toward unexcused absences.
- If a pattern of tardiness develops, the Principal/designee will send a letter to remind the parent/guardian of their legal obligation to make certain that the student attends school regularly, and arrives on time, as well as the steps that will be taken should the unexcused tardiness continue, including the development of a School Attendance Improvement Plan (SAIP).
Unscheduled Early Dismissal
- If it is necessary for a student to be dismissed from school before the end of the school day, parents/guardians should notify the school office in advance. Parents/guardians should inform the school of the specific time that the student will be picked-up and the person who will come for the student. Only adults who are listed on the school’s records as being authorized will be permitted to take students from the school in these cases. The person who is picking up the student should report directly to the school office upon entering the building.
- A doctor’s note is required for the early dismissal to be excused. The doctor’s note must be received within three calendar days of the early dismissal. Otherwise, it is considered unexcused and will be counted toward unexcused absences.
School Hours:
8:00am – Doors Open
8:00am – 8:30am – Breakfast is served
8:30am – Class Begins
Any student entering the building after 8:30 will be marked as tardy.
2:45pm – Dismissal Begins