St. Mary's College: ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION POLICY
TITLE OF POLICY:
Attendance & Participation
SCOPE: (whole -school, departmental, subject area - to whom does the policy apply?):
Whole school.
RATIONALE (why is the policy necessary?):
Every school is required by law to have a policy.
The law states that students should attend school everyday.
We need to have a policy so that we have a standardised response to non-attendance.
We wish to fulfil the aims of our mission statement.
GOALS/OBJECTIVES (in precise terms, what is the policy intended to achieve?)
- Students attend school every day in order to achieve:
- better result
- better career opportunities
- better understanding of material being taught in class
- increased confidence and self-esteem
- To promote a spirit of partnership involving principal, deputy principal, parents, teachers, students and community.
- To promote a good attendance record and active participation in school. This develops a good work ethic and prepares students to be responsible employees/employers for the future.
POLICY CONTENT (the provisions of the policy, indicating the school's approach to this policy-area):
A register of all students who have been admitted to the school will be maintained.
School attendance/absenteeism/lateness will be monitored carefully as follows:
- A roll is called at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. daily.
- This is recorded on computer and posted on Staff Notice Board by 11.30 a.m. daily
- A printout is given to each Year Head weekly.
- Year Head contacts parents if a pattern of absence is causing concern.
- Each teacher also takes own roll at beginning of individual classes.
Principal/Deputy Principal, Year Heads and teachers will listen carefully to parents' concerns re: absences.
Our school will be particularly mindful of students with different needs and put strategies in place to meet these needs.
In order to encourage good attendance, every effort will be made to make school a happy and welcoming place for students, teachers and parents.
Primary and Post Primary will liaise as closely as possible especially in the area of school absenteeism/lateness.
Awards will be given to promote good school attendance and improvements in attendance.
Particular attention should be given to children whose families are experiencing difficulties.
Communication (telephone call/ letter) with parents.
Early identification of "at risk" students.
Establishment of a "care team" for the purpose of identifying and supporting "at risk" students.
Reasoning with the student and advice on how to improve.
Sanctions include loss of privileges and detention
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (what are the responsibilities of the various parties in the school community in the development, implementation and evaluation of this policy?):
Teachers:
- To call roll for each class. To ensure accuracy the names of each student must be called aloud and answer heard.
- To write the names of absent/late students in the duplicate book at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. daily.
- To ensure the return of the duplicate slip within the relevant class period.
- To monitor non-attendance during the day and to alert the Year Head.
- To log demerits re: lateness.
- Teachers of extra-curricular activities to put list of students attending matches etc. in staff rooms.
Note for Teachers:
- It is the responsibility of students who are absent from class/school for any reason to find out details of work missed. This applies also to students who miss class due to sporting or other extra-curricular activities.
- It is also the responsibility of students to notify the teacher beforehand that they will be absent from class due to sporting or other extra-curricular activities.
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- Teachers organising sports etc need to remind students of the above points.
- Special Duties Teacher assigned to "spot check" attendance.
- Report to the NEWB.
- To contact home.
- All records regarding attendance will be kept in the school for 7 years (legal record).
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Students:
" It is the responsibility of each student to
o bring note regarding absences if they know prior to absence.
o attend every day unless for a valid reason.
o be punctual for all classes.
o sign the late book and sign in and out in the Leaving During The Day Book where necessary.
o get notes signed by the Principal or Deputy Principal.
- Extra-curricular: students need to excuse themselves from classes missed.
- Students need to ensure the accuracy of notes i.e. dates, reasons etc.
- It is the responsibility of students who are absent from class/school for any reason to find out details of work missed. This applies also to students who miss class due to sporting or other extra-curricular activities.
- It is also the responsibility of students to notify the teacher beforehand that they will be absent from class due to sporting or other extra-curricular activities.
Parents:
- St. Mary's College affirms that parents/guardians have the primary responsibility for ensuring that children of compulsory school going age attend school regularly once they are enrolled at school and bearing in mind that they are obliged to complete three years of post primary education up to their sixteenth birthday.
- St. Mary's College affirms that parents/guardians have a social responsibility to ensure that their children attend school regularly regardless of age or status and they should ensure that their children complete their education.
- St. Mary's College affirms that parents/guardians have a statutory obligation to notify the school principal or his/her nominee, in the form of a written explanation or a doctor's certificate, explaining the reason for each absence and date of absence.
- (Welfare Act 2000)
- Parents need to be aware of the negative impact of work /part-time jobs on attendance and participation in school and involvement in extra curricular activities.
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Principal:
- The Principal of St. Mary's College will maintain a register of all students who have been admitted to the school.
- St. Mary's College affirms that a student, who has not reached the age of 16 years or who has not completed three years of post primary education, cannot be removed from the register, except:
(a) For inter-school transfer and then only after all details regarding attendance and educational progress have been issued to the new school.
(b) Where for whatever reason a student is removed from the school under the Education (Welfare) Act 2000 Section 20 (4).
- St. Mary's College affirms that the Principal shall, after admitting a student from another second level school, notify the Principal of said school that he/she has registered said student.
- St. Mary's College affirms that the Principal must maintain a record of attendance and non-attendance on each school day or part thereof of each student registered at the school, which specifies the fact of attendance or failure to attend and the reasons for such failure.
Board of Management:
- The Board of Management of St. Mary's College shall ensure that the statutory obligations of the school with regard to school attendance and participation are adhered to.
- The Board of Management of St. Mary's College shall submit a report on attendance levels in the school to the Education Welfare Officer and to the Parent's Association.
- St. Mary's College shall ensure that an evaluation of the effectiveness of the process, strategy and policy regarding attendance is carried out regularly.
- St. Mary's College shall ensure that all information is collected and issued in accordance with the Data Protection Act (1988).
SUCCESS CRITERIA (what indicators will be used to gauge the effectiveness of the policy?)
- Improved attendance over a sustained period.
- Reduced disruption to class.
- Fewer numbers (especially Senior Cycle) detained for lateness
- Deputy Principal to provide statistics on lates and absences regularly.
MONITORING PROCEDURES (who will do what when to see how the policy is working?)
Management (Principal, Deputy Principal, B.O.M., Year Heads and Special Duties Teacher) will monitor the implementation of this policy.
REVIEW PROCEDURES (who will do what when to evaluate the effectiveness of the policy and to ascertain what changes, if any, are necessary?):
- Principal (per term) in consultation with Year Heads, Special Duties Teacher and staff.
- Deputy Principal (per term).
- The Principal will report to the B.O.M. (per term) with regard to Attendance and Participation.
TIMEFRAME (when will the completed policy be circulated, when will it come into force, when will the policy be subject to review?)
- This policy will be circulated to staff on Tuesday 28th August and hence to the Parents' Association and Board of Management.
- Implementation will take place in Academic Year 2007/2008 following ratification by the B.O.M.
- A review of the policy will take place in May 2009.
- This policy will also be reviewed by the Mercy Education office/CEIST.