Attendance

Attendance is critical to the success of your child in school.Research indicates a positive correlation between attendance and grades. Parents are encouraged to maintain close contact with the school so that a joint effort might be made to prevent the development of attendance and discipline problems. A student's attendance is essential to learning. Every absence, whether excused or not, interrupts the student's understanding of the material being presented and weakens his/her interests in the continuing program. Absences for medical appointments may be necessary, but if a student is absent due to a pre-arranged appointment, the student should attend school the remaining portion of the day. When a student is absent from school, the following procedure must be followed:

1. A parent or guardian must call the school (317-988-8500) before 10:00 a.m. on the day the absence occurs to notify the school of the absence.

The following should be included in the voice mail message:

• The student's name (first and last) and grade (please include the correct spelling of the name.)
• The name of the person making the call and the relationship to the student
• The reason for the absence
• The date(s) of the absence(s) and time periods if not the entire day
• A telephone number so the call can be verified

2. If a parent does not have access to a phone, a note from the parent/legal guardian will be accepted on the day the student returns to school. If the absence is due to a medical, dental, or other professional appointment, a note of verification from the place of business is required. The note should include the date, time, and length of the appointment on a professional letterhead with phone number and address. 
3. If a note or phone call is NOT received, the absence will be considered UNEXCUSED. It is the responsibility of the student and parents to report absences to the school promptly. 
4. Notification will be sent to parents after a student has been absent three days (or more). If a student is absent more than ten days, he/she will be considered a chronic absentee unless confined by serious illness or accident. Excused absences include personal illness and death in the family up to a combined total of 10 days. Medical and dental appointments are also excused with verification. After 10 days of absence, illness and death in the family must be verified with a note of verification from the doctor or obituary of a relative confirming the relationship. Students without verification will be counted as unexcused after the 10th absence.