ST NESSAN’S COMMUNITY COLLEGE (Pobal Choláiste Neasáin Naofa)
Student Attendance/Punctuality Policy June 2012
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ST NESSAN’S COMMUNITY COLLEGE SCHOOL ATTEDANCE/PUNCTUALITY POLICY SCHOOL PHILOSOPHY/MISSION STATEMENT St Nessan’s Community College is a multi-denominational, coeducational school. It is comprehensive in its intake and in its curricular provision. St Nessan’s Community College is committed to maintaining an educational environment where the growth, learning and development (Fás, Foghlaim, Forbairt – school motto) of our students can flourish. To further the aims of St Nessan’s Community College as expressed in the mission statement: ●
The pursuit of high standards in all endeavours will be expected and every effort will be directed towards the attainment of such standards.
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The school will do its utmost within its resources to provide appropriate opportunities so that every individual has the opportunity to gain maximum benefit from their experience in St Nessan’s Community College.
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The rights, responsibilities and dignity of all individuals within the school community will be respected. However, the Common Good takes precedence where there is a conflict between individuals.
RATIONALE The role of the school is to provide the highest possible standard of education for all its pupils. A stable learning environment, continuity and maximum exposure to educational opportunity are key elements in the fulfilment of this role. The prime objective of the attendance/punctuality policy is therefore to maximise the attendance of each student so that educational potential can be fulfilled.
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POLICY AIMS ●
To develop a system of recording attendance/punctuality whereby all students attending are accounted for during the school day.
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To identify students who are at risk of developing school attendance/punctuality problems and to put in place early interventions to address those problems.
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To establish closer contacts between the school and the families of students who are at risk of developing school attendance/punctuality problems.
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To develop a system of rewarding students for good attendance/punctuality at school.
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES The School Attendance Officer (Assistant Principal) has responsibility for the administrative aspects of student attendance. Duties would include: ●
Compilation of attendance/punctuality registers at the beginning and throughout the school year;
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Collection and filing of absence notes;
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Monitoring attendance/punctuality, sending absence cards and informing relevant post-holders in relation to students with poor/irregular attendance;
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Facilitate meetings with parent/guardian(s) as per appendix A & B.
The School Attendance Officer has overall responsibility for attendance and punctuality. Specific duties include: ●
Liaising with the Principal, Deputy Principal, Staff, Assistant Principals, Class Tutors, Administrative Staff, Community
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Gardai, NEWB Attendance Officer appointed under the Education Welfare Act; ●
Ensuring compliance with the terms of the Education Welfare Act;
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Establishment and implementation of systematic monitoring and follow-up of student attendance and punctuality;
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Application of sanctions in accordance with school policy for breaches of the Code of Behaviour in relation to attendance/punctuality;
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In association with Parents, Pastoral Staff, Home School Liaison, School Completion Programme and outside agencies to work at addressing those factors which are within the school’s control and could help to improve attendance/punctuality;
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Keeping accurate records and files of all notes and correspondence.
IMPLEMENTATION a)
Students are required to register, electronically, on entering the school building. This system records the time of entry and marks the student present.
b)
School assembly for the purposes of student registration, will take place at 9.00am and 1.05pm on each school day. Timetabled teachers will verify the presence or absence of each student named in their class list.
c)
Students who become ill during the course of the school day must obtain a note in their journal from their class teacher and present themselves to their respective Yearhead. Such students will be allowed home when: (a) the Yearhead has made contact with a parent/guardian who has agreed to either come and collect the student, or authorises the school to allow the student to make their own way home;
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(b) the student has signed the ‘Student Signing Out Book’ in the school office. If the Yearhead is unable to make contact with a parent/guardian the student will not be allowed home until contact is made. d)
Students attending games and/or other extra-curricular activities during the school day must have their names on a list for this purpose. This list should be emailed to the attendance officer and other relevant personnel and a copy must be deposited by the teacher in charge of the activity in the school office.
e)
A student who wishes to leave school for some other reason must present himself/herself to the appropriate Year Head at a designated time with a signed letter from his/her parents/guardian requesting permission to leave. The Year Head will issue the student with a Class Release Note, which will be presented to the class teacher prior to leaving the class. This note must also be presented at the main office where the student will be required to sign out.
f)
At the first assembly on returning to school after an absence, a student must present to his/her respective Yearhead, a note/letter signed by his/her parent/guardian stating the student’s name and address, base class, date(s) of absence and reasons for same (Education (Welfare) Act, 2000; Section 18).
g)
The student with the best attendance and punctuality vis-à-vis their peers are to be rewarded periodically with a prize. The student will be identified by the Class Tutor.
h)
The School Attendance Officer will refer a student to the Education Welfare Board when concerns are raised in relation to persistent punctuality problems and/or poor attendance.
i)
The School Attendance Officer will inform the Board of Management, not later than 6 weeks after the end of the school year, of the levels of attendance at the school during the school year just ended.
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SANCTIONS Punctuality Students who are persistently late for school will be sanctioned as per the attached schedule (Appendix A). Attendance Students who are absent from school without explanation will be sanctioned as per the attached schedule (Appendix B). Absenting during school hours The parent/guardians of those students who absent themselves from class and/or the school grounds without permission will receive a letter informing them of the breach of school rules. Subsequent absences without permission will result in a 3-day suspension from school. Effective from: This policy is effective from: 1st August 2011 and will be reviewed at regular intervals (maximum 3 year cycle).
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APPENDIX A Sanctions - Punctuality School commences at 9.00 a.m. each day. It is vital that students are on time each day and for every class throughout the day. Students who develop patterns of poor punctuality, not only lose out on valuable tuition time, but this often leads to difficulties with attendance, if not addressed. Punctuality patterns will be monitored from September each year with the following targets and sanctions being applied: No. Of Days
Sanction to be imposed
5 days unexplained late
Lunchtime detention from 12.45 to 1.05
10 days unexplained late
Wednesday after school detention 2.30 to 3.30 (1 hour)
15 days unexplained late
Wednesday after school detention 2.30 to 4.30 (2 hours)
20 days unexplained late
A student, if late for more than 20 days, will not be permitted entry to the school, for each subsequent unexplained late arrival, unless accompanied by a parent/guardian.
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The parent/guardian(s) will be notified, in writing, at each stage when the target number of days has been reached and the sanction is being applied.
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Students who persistently fail to complete the detention sanctioned, will not be permitted entry to the school, for each subsequent unexplained late arrival, unless accompanied by a parent/guardian.
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On reaching 15 days unexplained late arrivals the Attendance Officer will arrange a meeting with the parent/guardian(s) to discuss the schools concerns.
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Those students who continue to arrive late for school may be brought before the Disciplinary Committee for further sanctioning as per the College’s Code of Behaviour.
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A report will issue at the end of each Academic Year to the parent/guardian(s) of students who have had a poor punctuality record.
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The Principal may seek a meeting with the parent/guardian(s) prior to the student returning to school for the next Academic Year, at which, further conditions/sanctions may be imposed, as per the college’s Code of Behaviour.
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APPENDIX B Sanctions - Attendance It is vital that students attend school on a regular basis. Students, who develop patterns of poor attendance, not only lose out on valuable tuition time, but this often leads to difficulties with completing course work/projects and, if not addressed, often leads to early school leaving. Attendance patterns will be monitored from September each year with the following targets and sanctions being applied for unexplained absence: Period of Absence
Sanction to be imposed
4 days unexplained
Letter home informing parent/guardian(s)
8 days unexplained
Parent/guardian(s) will be required to attend a meeting with the Attendance Officer
12 days unexplained
Parent/guardian(s) will be required to attend a meeting with the relevant Yearhead
16 days unexplained
Parent/guardian(s) will be required to attend a meeting with the Deputy Principal
20 days unexplained
The Attendance Officer will refer the student to the NEWB.
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The parent/guardian(s) will be notified, in writing, at each stage when the target number of days has been reached.
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A report will issue at the end of each Academic Year to the parent/guardian(s) of students who have had a poor Attendance Record.
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The Principal may seek a meeting with the parent/guardian(s) prior to the student returning to school for the next Academic Year, at which, further conditions/sanctions may be imposed, as per the college’s Code of Behaviour.
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APPENDIX C We have read and understood the St. Nessan’s Community College Attendance/PunctualityPolicy. We accept that it is a condition of accepting/maintaining a place in St. Nessan’s Community College that we comply with the Attendance/Punctuality Policy. I/We, the parent(s)/guardian(s), will ensure that our son/daughter complies with this policy.
SIGNED: _________________________________________________________ Parent/Guardian
SIGNED: _________________________________________________________ Parent/Guardian
SIGNED: _________________________________________________________ Student
DATE: ________________________________
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