Students should plan to arrive at school no earlier than 7:25 AM unless eating breakfast. (Breakfast entry is from 7:15-7:40 am through the north doors by 5th grade.) They will line up by their grade level assigned door, except in bad weather, in which case they will be let in to line up inside. The first bell rings at 7:35AM. At 7:45AM the tardy bell will ring and students arriving after that need to check in with the office to receive a tardy slip.
WHEN A CHILD IS ABSENT it is very important that parents report the absence by 8:15AM the day of the absence. We prefer you do so on our 24-hour attendance number (303-982-0238). Calls from students will not be accepted. Even if you have advised a teacher of your child’s absence, please also leave a message on the attendance line.
If we do not have a message on the attendance line, we will attempt to contact parents/guardians using all available phone numbers and email addresses. We will leave messages if we are unable to speak personally with an adult.
Upon your child’s return to school after an absence, all school work that was missed must be completed. In most cases, make-up work will not be given to your child prior to an absence. If your child has extended absences (such as from a serious illness), you may arrange to pick up homework with your child’s teacher. Please see info on Make-up Work below.
Pre-arranged absences, for 3 days or more, should be approved prior to the absence if at all possible. We understand that emergencies occur and we ask that you leave a message for these occasions. Forms are available in the office. The principal may approve or disapprove based on the reason for the absence and the number of absences a student may have.
The State of Colorado requires students to attend school for 175 days per school year. An Attendance Plan will be established for those students deemed to have 4 unexcused absences in a month, or 10 unexcused absences in a year. This plan will be written with input from the student, the parent, and a school official. The plan is designed to improve student attendance before a court hearing is mandated.
Colorado state law allows principals to change excused absences to unexcused absences in special circumstances.
Definitions of Excused and Unexcused Absences:
Excused Absence – 2 or fewer consecutive days:
All absences of 2 or fewer days must be called in prior to, or on the day of, the absence, no later than 8:30am on the attendance line 303-982-0238.
Excused Absence – 3 or more days
All absences of 3 or more days should be approved prior to the days of the absence except in extreme emergency situations.
Absences will be excused for:
*Illness and medical care subject to doctor verification if requested by the administration.
*Family emergencies and family business subject to verification, if requested.
Pre-arranged Absence Form must be submitted and approved prior to a planned absence of 3 or more days.
Other documentation might be required under certain conditions.
Unexcused Absence:
Absences that are not excused as defined above.
Any absence without notice from a parent by 8:15 AM on the day of the absence.
3 or more days of illness without direct contact with the school secretary and/or approval from the principal.
Extended leave of 3 or more days from school without prior approval from the school
Any absence where documentation was required in order to be excused, that was not properly documented.
Half-Day Absence:
Any student arriving after 9:30 AM and before 10:55 AM will be considered a ½ day AM absence.
Any student leaving after 10:55 AM and before 1:15 PM will be considered a ½ day PM absence.
Tardy/Early release:
Any student arriving at school after 7:45 AM and before 9:30 AM will be considered tardy.
Any student checked out after 1:15 PM and before 2:35 PM will be considered an early release.
Make-up work :
Make-up work shall be provided for any class in which a student has an excused/unexcused absence. It is the student's responsibility to pick up any make-up assignments on the day he or she returns to class. Make-up work shall be allowed following an excused/unexcused absence with the goal of providing the student an opportunity to keep up with the class and as an incentive to attend school. Students who complete make-up work in the required period of time (two days for every day absent, however an extension may be granted by school administration) will receive full academic credit.
Absences in Art, Music, PE (AMP):
AMP uses a weekly rotation, during which students are in Art, Music or PE for a full week at a time. A prolonged absence could impact their AMP experience and in some cases they may have to be offered alternative activities in the AMP class upon their return.