Attendance
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Regular attendance at school is an important part of every student’s success and is necessary in order to gain the greatest benefit from the educational experience. Students who are frequently absent from school miss direct instruction and regular contact with their teachers. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania law and School Board policy require regular daily attendance. When absences accumulate, it may ultimately result in academic difficulty.
Absences shall be treated as unlawful until the school receives a written excuse explaining the absence. Parents and guardians have 5 days after an absence to submit a written note. A maximum of 10 cumulative, lawful absences shall be permitted during the school year. Request for excusal of absences after 10 lawful absences shall require a written physician’s note.
An unlawful absence shall be defined as an event in which a student is absent without a valid, acceptable note. A student is considered habitually truant when he or she accumulates 6 or more unlawful absences.
Upon returning from an absence, your child MUST bring a note to school. Without a note (within 5 days of the absence), the absence will become unlawful. A letter will be sent home if a child accumulates 3 or more unlawful absences documenting truancy. If a child accumulates 6 or more unlawful absences, the school will be required to file a referral for court or a CYS referral.
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Lateness
When a student is late to school, he or she must report to the office with a note before proceeding to class. A parent or guardian must accompany elementary students.
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Absence notification
If your child is going to be absent, you must notify the school by calling the school’s attendance line by 8:50am. If your child is marked absent and no call is received, an automated caller will call your primary number to verify the absence. Voice mail is available to take your call 24 hours a day. Our attendance line number is 610-497-6300 Ext 6506. Please leave the child’s full name, grade, homeroom, and reason for absence. Electronic notes are also valid as long as they include a parent or guardian's signature. The note must be received within 5 days of the absence.
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Submitting an Electronic Absent Note
Absent notes may be submitted to the school as an email attachment using the following guidelines:
Directions on submitting electronic absent notes
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Parent or guardian writes the note on a piece of paper or a district absence form.
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Parent or guardian signs that note
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Parent or guardian scans the note or takes a picture of the note
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Parent attaches the scanned note/picture of the note to an email
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Parent or guardian sends the message to PKS-attendance@pdsd.org
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Early dismissal
It is expected that all efforts be made to schedule appointments during non-school hours. However, it is also understood that events occur for which we are unable to prepare. If an early dismissal is needed, requests must be made in written form from a parent/guardian and the note should contain the parent’s phone number, time and date of dismissal, and the reason for the dismissal.
All parents must report to the office when picking up their child for an early dismissal. Students are not permitted to leave the building before dismissal time without a written request. If a child is to be picked up by someone other than a parent, advance notice must be given to the office. Identification will be requested of anyone who comes to pick up a student during the school day. Children must be signed out from the office before being dismissed.
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Vacations
Vacations should not be planned when school is in session. If a vacation during the school year cannot be avoided, it cannot be considered an excused absence unless requested in writing and pre-approved by the principal.
Vacations for students in grades 3, 4, or 5 will not be approved one week before or during the PSSA testing window. The district will approve up to 5 vacations days per student per year. Students will be required to make up classroom work within five days of the student’s return unless other arrangements are made with the teacher.
