Absence and Lateness
Children are asked to be in the yard when the bell rings at 8:05 AM and no earlier than 7:50 AM due to lack of adult supervision. (Lateness and irregular attendance interfere greatly with a student’s academic progress.)
Parent(s) must notify the school office and homeroom teacher beforehand of any planned absence.
Parents are asked to use the special phone line – 610-436-5538 x 300 – to call in all student absences before 8:15 AM. Please give name of child, room number, date and reason for absence ONLY. NO CHILD MAY CALL IN THEIR OWN ABSENCE.
PLEASE DO NOT CALL THE SCHOOL NUMBER TO REPORT ABSENCE UNLESS THERE IS AN EXTREME NEED.
Parents are required to send in the date and reason for the absence of their children from school. These notes are to be presented to the homeroom teacher on the day the student returns to school. Even when the principal or the homeroom teacher knows of an absence in advance, it is a requirement to send in this information.
Pupils present a Permission-to-Return-to-School note from a physician when their absence falls under any the conditions listed below:
- After measles or any contagious disease
- After 5 or more days of illness
- If a child wishes to attend school with a rash or similar condition
All work that is missed during absence is expected to be made up.
Lateness
If a child will be late for school because of a doctor, dental appointment or other reason, parents must call the absentee number to inform the school.
- Classes begin at 8:15 AM. Students who arrive after 8:15 AM are considered late.
- Students must report to the office for a late slip before reporting to class.
- Parents are REQUIRED to send a written note if child is late.
- Three latenesses in a two-week period may result in a detention.
Early Departures
Once the school day has begun, no student may leave the school grounds without the written permission of the parent and principal. When an emergency makes it necessary to have a student dismissed early, the parents are asked to send a written request giving the reason. This note is first presented to the homeroom teacher and then forwarded to the principal. The parent must then come to the school to pick up the student and sign the EARLY DISMISSAL BOOK at the office.
Parents are discouraged from making medical or dental appointments during school hours unless it is an emergency.
Emergency School Closing
In the event of inclement weather, please listen for a radio announcement on WCOJ (1420 AM), KYW TV, radio, www.kyw1060.com (code 890), Fox 29 TV, WPVI TV 6 ABC, www.WPVI.com. We follow the decision of the West Chester Area School District. Please do not call the convent, rectory, or school . . . listen to the radio and TV sources.
Emergency School Dismissal
If the students are already in school and a situation arises which makes it advisable to close, the decision will be made by the school. The emergency phone chain numbers will be used when there is no answer at an individual home.
It is MANDATORY that each family devise what plan is to be followed on such a day. PLEASE BE SURE YOUR CHILD KNOWS WHAT TO DO if school is dismissed early. The use of the school phones on such a day is extremely limited!
Vacations
Vacations, pleasure trips, are highly discouraged by the principal and faculty since learning continues at school during this interrupted period for the student. If parents make a decision to take a student out of class for this reason, the teacher and school office must be notified at least one week in advance by written note.
Although missed class work can not easily be covered; it is the full responsibility of the students and family to make up the work upon their return. Teachers are not obligated to give assignments before students leave for vacation.
Also, please be sure to notify both the school office and the homeroom teacher when the parent(s) will be out of town. We must know whom to contact if the need arises and who the appropriate caretaker(s) is in such an instance.
