ATTENDANCE REGULATIONS
“School is preparation for future life. It is important that habits of regular attendance be developed. A student’s contribution and achievement in class are directly related to attendance. Students and parents/guardians must understand that students miss a vital portion of their education when they are absent from class. Teachers and administrators are expected to communicate with students and parents/guardians about the effect of attendance upon student achievement and success in their class and in their lives as adults.” (Meade School Board Policy File JED)
NOTIFICATION OF ABSENCES
A student can be excused by the student’s parent/guardian by writing a note, sending an e-mail to meadeSMSoffice@k12.sd.us or making a phone call to the main school office at 787-4172 between the hours of 7:00 am and 3:30 pm during school days.
a. First and last name of the student;
b. The date and/or hours of the absence;
c. The reason for the absence;
d. A telephone number where the parent may be reached during the day;
e. The parent/guardian signature.
Students may have ten absences excused in a year. Any absence after 10 days will result in an unexcused absence. Additionally, any absence that a parent does not contact the school will also be considered unexcused. Parents must contact the school within 24 hours of a student’s absence or it will be considered unexcused.
Parents/guardians will be sent a notification after a student has used their 10 excused days. Additional letters will be sent if a student reaches 5, 10, or 17 unexcused absences. Upon the 17th unexcused absences a letter will be sent and truancy will be filed to the State’s Attorney.
Certain absences will be excused by the principal or designee upon receipt of a telephone call or written signed explanation from the parent/guardian. These absences include:
Illness or quarantine (with provided doctor’s note)
Serious illness or bereavement in the family
Major religious holidays
Weather so inclement as to endanger the health or safety of the student
A student may also be excused for other exceptional reasons with the approval of the principal. The school may at any time refuse to grant an excused absence regardless of parental consent.
A student may be eligible to be counted for school attendance up to 5 days in a school in a school term when excuse from actual school attendance is requested by parent/guardians for the purpose of attending events of state or nationally recognized youth programs of educational value. The principal has the authority to require documentation verifying the student’s attendance at the event and its educational value.
