DISMISSAL: Students riding the bus routes are loaded at the front entrance at 2:50p.m. Car riders are to be picked up at 2:50p.m. Students are to leave the school campus immediately after school unless detained by a teacher or principal. Parents are to pick up children on time. Students will remain in the loading area until traffic has cleared. At this point, students not picked up will be taken to the Saluda Primary Office, and the parent must sign out the child in the office.

No student is allowed to leave school during the day unless a parent or parent designee comes for him/her. If someone other than a parent or legal guardian is to pick up the student for early dismissal, the parent or guardian must send a note to school stating who has permission to sign out the student from school. Parents must sign students back IN if returning on the same day.

ANY and ALL changes in normal transportation must be in WRITING prior to 2:00 of the school day. THIS WILL BE STRICTLY ENFORCED.

ABSENCES: A written excuse is required when a student is absent from school. The excuse is to be sent to the attendance secretary and will be kept on file along with the attendance record. If your child is absent four consecutive days you must have a medical excuse or it will be considered an unlawful absence. Lawful absences include illness, serious illness or death in the immediate family, and recognized religious holidays. All other absences are normally not excusable. No child who has chronic absences, can receive an adequate education. We urge you to make sure your child is in school every day.

AFTER THREE CONSECUTIVE ABSENCES OR A TOTAL OF THREE ABSENCES – THE FOLLOWING WILL OCCUR

• The parent/legal guardian will be notified of the absences by the attendance secretary.

• The attendance secretary will conduct a phone conference to discuss the attendance policy and to determine attendance requirements for the remainder of the year.

AFTER A TOTAL OF FIVE ABSENCES – THE FOLLOWING WILL OCCUR

• The parent/guardian will be notified of the absences and a copy of the attendance letter and record will be mailed to the parent/guardian.

• A conference will be scheduled with the parent/guardian, student and the counselor to place the student on an attendance improvement plan.

AFTER A TOTAL OF SEVEN ABSENCES – THE FOLLOWING WILL OCCUR

• A school official will make parent contact to review the attendance improvement plan with the parent/guardian and student.

• The parent/guardian will be notified that further absences may warrant the filing of a truancy petition with DSS by the district office.

Make-up work

Students who have lawful absences will be allowed to make up work missed. The student must make up the work within three school days after their return to school. This does not include work previously assigned. *Teachers must provide students with the make-up work as needed whether before school, after school or at a mutually convenient time during the day. Students who have unlawful absences will not be permitted to make up work missed. *If a student has missed several consecutive days, additional time for make-up will be provided.

HOMEBOUND: Students who exceed the allowable absence limit will not receive credit or will not be promoted unless the student is or has been enrolled in the district’s homebound instruction program. Homebound instruction cannot be activated for fewer than five consecutive absences.

TRUANCY: Truancy is an unlawful absence and will not be tolerated. Students who are absent without parental knowledge or with parental knowledge but for unacceptable reasons will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action, including referral to family court.

• Students with excessive unlawful absences will be referred to family court. Unlawful absences accrue both under the specific definitions in this policy and also when a student exceeds the absence limits for receiving credit or promotion without a medical excuse.

• Students must bring written excuses from parents/legal guardians or a health practitioner for all absences. Excuses must be provided to the school within three days of the student’s return to school.