WM Irvin Elementary School

Attendance Policy

Good attendance is critical for success in school, and research confirms its impact on a student’s academic success beginning in kindergarten. As children grow older and more independent, parents and/or guardians continue to play a key role in making sure students get to school every day.  It is important for your child's success that he or she attends school every day - arriving on time and staying all day.  Here are a few practical tips to help support regular attendance:

• Make sure your child keeps a regular bedtime and establishes a morning routine.
• Layout clothes and pack backpacks the night before.
• Ensure your child comes to school every day unless they are truly sick.
• Avoid scheduling vacations or doctor’s appointments when school is in session.
• Talk to teachers, school social worker and school counselors for advice if your child feels anxious about going to school.
• Develop back up plans for getting to school if something comes up.  Call on a family member, neighbor, or another parent to take your child to school.

We realize some absences are unavoidable due to health problems or other circumstances. But, we also know that when students miss too much school, regardless of the reason, it can cause them to fall behind academically. Your child is less likely to succeed if he or she is chronically absent.  A student who is chronically absent misses 18 or more days over the course of an entire school year.  We don’t want your child to fall behind in school and get discouraged.  

Let us know how we can best support you and your children so that they can show up for school on time every day. 

When a student must miss school, a written excuse from a parent or guardian must be presented to the teacher within two school days of the student’s return after an absence. Written excuses submitted beyond two school days will be subject to principal approval. An absence may be excused for the following reasons: 

• illness or injury
• quarantine
• death in the immediate family
• medical or dental appointments
• court or administrative proceedings
• religious observance

Please fill out the absence form.  It will be sent directly to our Data Manager, Alice Brunnhoelzl.  She will contact your child's teacher about the absence.  If you have any questions or need more information, please contact your child's teacher.