Attendance Line: 403-777-6030 ext. 1

Regular attendance is mandatory as per the Education Act, and it is the responsibility of the parent or guardian to ensure regular attendance. The school will maintain an accurate record of student attendance and share this information with students and parents/guardians as required.

If your child will be absent or late from school, please phone 403-777-6030 extension 1. The line is available 24 hours a day, including weekends.

When leaving an absence message, we request that you:

• speak slowly and clearly
• provide your child’s first and last names, spelling each name if required
• provide their grade and teacher
• provide the reason for your child’s absence as well as the anticipated length

If we have not heard from you and your child is absent, we will take the time to contact you to ensure the safety of your child. We need everyone’s cooperation in reporting their children’s absence from, or late arrival to, school before the start of each school day.

The administration, with support from parents/guardians and teachers, will work with students to help resolve critical attendance problems. If attendance concerns cannot be resolved at the school level, the concern will be escalated to a system level.

Attend School Today for More Choices Tomorrow!

Research shows that regular school attendance has an important impact on a student’s success in school starting in kindergarten and continuing through high school. When students miss too much school, it can cause them to fall behind academically and socially.

• By grade 3, students with chronic absenteeism are less likely to read at grade level
• By grade 6, chronic absenteeism puts students at risk of not completing high school
• By grade 9, regular attendance is a better predictor of graduation rates than test scores

A Whole School Approach is widely recognized to promote students’ health, safety, and well-being; research supports using this comprehensive model to address a complex problem like attendance. As educators, school support staff, and professionals, we all play a part in promoting and facilitating opportunities for students to attend school regularly.

We realize some absences are unavoidable due to health problems or other circumstances. Please take note that the following absences will be excused by CBE schools:

• If your child is sick or has a medical or dental appointment. Sometimes your child’s school may request a medical note to support these absences.
• If you have a family emergency or a funeral.
• If you have a religious or cultural observance.
• If there is a court appearance directly related to your child.
• If the CBE advises of extreme weather; if there are transportation cancellations due to weather.

We recognize enrichment activities and travel may present unique learning opportunities for your child. It is important to remember that these absences can create gaps in student learning and social development. It will be your responsibility as a parent/guardian to support your child’s learning if you choose to allow your child to miss school days for these activities.

Vacations or Family Holidays on School Days

If your child needs to start late or leave early from school, due to non-school related extracurricular activities (athletic activities, enrichment programs, music programs, theatre performances, etc.). It would be helpful for us if we were notified in advance of your child’s absence. Please call our office to inform us of days when your child will be away. For absences of 5 days or more, you are required to complete an Extended Absence Form.

Students are responsible for catching up on all work, assignments, and tests when they are absent. If a student is going to be absent, phone the school office at the number above, and leave a message on the attendance line.

Late for School

Any students arriving after 9:05 AM must go to the Main Office for late slips before going to class. Students who are late miss out on important classroom announcements and teaching time. When a student enters the classroom late, they create a disruption that interferes with the learning environment of all students who are prepared and ready to learn. Chronic lateness is habit forming and can impact a student long term.

Early Check-Out

A note to the teacher would be the preferred method if a student is regularly leaving early. When the office is constantly phoning a classroom to have a student sent down it is very disruptive and also interferes with the learning environment. For all other appointments, please call when you are on your way and we can have your student waiting for you in the office.

All students who are leaving early must be signed out by a parent or other person who is on the contact list in the office. The meeting place for early pick-up is always the Main Lobby. Please wait there and staff will send your student to meet you in the lobby.

Phone Calls

The safety and security of students is our priority at Dalhousie School. We need the support of parents to ensure that students understand, prior to coming to school, how they will be going home and with whom. This is helpful for your child so they do not need to wonder/worry about this during their school day. Predictability helps children feel secure. Without this in place, the volume of calls received during the school day about such matters quickly becomes unmanageable and at the end of the day, it is not always possible to locate a child for a last-minute change.

Do not use the office to change your end-of-day plans, except in an emergency.

If you decide to pick up your child/ren who normally takes the bus, please write a note for them and be waiting for them at their bus prior to 3:50 PM. If you are not there on time (buses leave at 4:00 PM sharp!) they will be sent home on their regular bus. The school is unable to orchestrate play dates, extra-curricular activities, or group work involving busing changes.