Attendance Policy
K-12 Attendance
Why Attendance Matters
Warsaw Community Schools believes regular attendance is essential to student success. Students learn best when they are present, engaged, and participating in classroom instruction. Research consistently shows a strong connection between attendance and academic achievement.
Our mission is to inspire and equip all students to acquire and apply knowledge and skills while pursuing their dreams and enriching the lives of others. Consistent attendance plays an important role in helping students achieve that mission.
Attendance Expectations
Indiana law requires students to attend school regularly unless excused for a valid reason. Parents and guardians are responsible for ensuring their children attend school as required by law.
Students are expected to be in school every day and arrive on time. When an absence is necessary, families should notify the school as soon as possible.
Attendance Thresholds
Students may accumulate absences throughout the school year; however:
- After 10 total absences, additional absences must be verified by a doctor's note or approved by a school administrator to be considered excused.
- Without verification, additional absences will be considered unexcused.
Attendance Definitions
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Examples of excused absences include:
- Illness or injury
- Medical, dental, orthodontic, or counseling appointments
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Students should attend school before and after medical appointments whenever possible.
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A written request from a parent or guardian is required for release during the school day. Upon returning to school, students should provide documentation from the medical provider showing the appointment time.
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Students absent beyond the appointment time and reasonable travel time may be considered unexcused.
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- Death in the immediate family
- Family emergencies approved by school administration
- Court appearances
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An absence may be considered unexcused if it:
- Does not meet the criteria for an excused absence
- Is not approved by school administration
- Is not reported within the required timeframe
Examples include:
- Oversleeping
- Shopping trips
- Work obligations
- Transportation issues
- Unapproved family vacations
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Warsaw Community Schools strongly discourages extended absences for family trips because time away from the classroom can negatively impact academic progress.
Families requesting an excused absence for a trip must:
- Submit a written request at least five school days before the absence
- Include the student's name and dates of travel
- Obtain approval from the principal or designee
Academic performance and attendance history may be considered when determining approval.
A maximum of five school days may be approved for educational travel during a school year. All approved vacation days count toward a student's total annual absences.
Attendance Guidelines
Students arriving after:
- 9:10 a.m. (9:20 a.m. at Claypool, Leesburg, and Madison) but before 11:00 a.m. (11:10 a.m. at Claypool, Leesburg, and Madison) will be considered tardy unless arriving with a medical excuse.
- 11:00 a.m. (11:10 a.m. at Claypool, Leesburg, and Madison) will be counted absent for the morning half-day.
- Students must arrive before 3:00 p.m. to be counted present for the afternoon.
Secondary attendance is tracked by class period.
Students arriving after 7:55 a.m. will be marked tardy.
Students are expected to be in class and seated when the bell rings. Students accumulating excessive tardies may be referred to school administration and may receive disciplinary consequences.
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Students arriving after:
- 9:10 a.m. (9:20 a.m. at Claypool, Leesburg, and Madison) but before 11:00 a.m. (11:10 a.m. at Claypool, Leesburg, and Madison) will be considered tardy unless arriving with a medical excuse.
- 11:00 a.m. (11:10 a.m. at Claypool, Leesburg, and Madison) will be counted absent for the morning half-day.
- Students must arrive before 3:00 p.m. to be counted present for the afternoon.
-
Secondary attendance is tracked by class period.
Students arriving after 7:55 a.m. will be marked tardy.
Students are expected to be in class and seated when the bell rings. Students accumulating excessive tardies may be referred to school administration and may receive disciplinary consequences.