Introduction At International School of Estonia we believe that regular, uninterrupted school attendance is a vital part of students’ successful long term academic growth. As a part of our learning community, students are responsible for their own learning, and they are also relied upon for valuable input in collaborative groups in their classes. It is the responsibility of parents and families to make sure student absences are minimized and that students arrive at school each day on time. Both tardies and absences have a direct impact on teaching and learning in our school. Excused tardies and absences will be acknowledged only for the observance of recognized religious holidays, illness, or family emergencies (which will be deemed excused or unexcused by the Principal-Coordinator).
What do I do if my child is going to be absent/tardy? If a student will be absent for any reason, parents are asked to notify by ManageBac through the attendance tab. If a student is not in school by 09:00, and the parents have not notified the school, the school may contact the parents to verify the cause of the absence. If the parents do not inform the school of the reason for a student’s absence, then, when the student returns to school, he/she must bring in a note, signed by a parent, explaining the reason for the absence.
Our Expectations Students are expected to attend at least 90% of all school days in each semester. Any student who misses 10% or more of all possible attendance days in one semester is subject to academic repetition or dismissal from the school. The following procedures will ensure that communication is maintained between the home and school:
1. When a student reaches a 95% excused or unexcused absence rate, the parent(s) or guardian(s) of the student will be contacted by the Principal-Coordinator notifying them of the student’s absences and reminding them of the policy herein. If the student is on scholarship, the Principal-Coordinator will request a meeting with the parent(s) or guardian(s), the student, and homeroom teacher to discuss possible solutions to and consequences of further absences. 2. When a student reaches a 93% excused or unexcused absence rate, the Principal-Coordinator will request a meeting with parent(s) or guardian(s), the student, and the homeroom teacher to discuss possible solutions to and consequences of further absences. At this point, all parties will be informed that the student may be retained in his or her grade. If the student is on scholarship, the scholarship may be withdrawn. 3. When a student reaches an absence rate of 90%, the parent(s) or guardian(s) of the student, the student, the homeroom teacher, and the Principal-Coordinator will meet to discuss the situation. This meeting will result in a decision made by the administrative team which may include retention or dismissal from the school. For grades preschool–5, if a student misses more than 30 days of school (for any reason) for the entire year, the Director and staff will review the student’s suitability for advancement to the next grade. At ISE, students, parents, and staff can communicate openly with the school administration to find workable solutions for any student experiencing punctuality or attendance issues.