BWWS Attendance Policy and Strategies for Success

LATE ARRIVAL Procedure - Students must sign in at the office from 8:15 AM. Students must have either a note indicating the reason for the absence signed by a parent/guardian or must have a parent/guardian sign them in. If a note cannot be provided, a parent/guardian may call the school directly at 206-624-6176. The school will determine if the late arrival is excused or unexcused based on the information given by the parent/guardian.

 Strategies for arriving on time

  1. If your family consistently struggles with school attendance, professionals suggest tracking the average time you’re late by, and adding that time to your schedule. For example: if you are consistently 15 to 30 minutes late in the morning, set your alarm 15 to 30 minutes earlier. This creates a cushion of extra time for unexpected delays.

  2. Lay clothes out the night before

  3. Pack backpacks and lunchboxes the night before

  4. Create a “Last Stop” area – Last stop area is near the door you leave from each morning.  This is where you place your keys, backpacks or musical instruments each evening.

  5. Pack the Car – Since everything you have to pack is in the past stop area, you won’t be running around the house looking for the items.

 

BWWS Attendance and Promptness Policy

 Our school attendance and truancy guidelines follow state requirements, which apply to all students ages 8 to 18 inclusive. Regular school attendance is vital at BWWS, and the integrity of the school depends on the participation of each member of the school community.

Our policy allows for 2 tardy arrival a month to a maximum of 10 tardy arrivals for the year.

 Washington state law requires schools to:

  • notify parents of the attendance rules and get a signature to show they received notice

  • notify parents every time a student is absent

  • meet with parents and students to find out why

  • try different strategies to improve attendance and in some cases

  • refer a student and/or parent to a Community Truancy Board or to court

 Washington State law requires students to be:

  • in school

  • on time

  • every day, unless there is a valid excuse (medical document).

https://oeo.wa.gov/en/education-issues/attendance-and-truancy

To uphold our BWWS policy, these are the steps we take when children are absent or tardy:

  • A record is kept of all attendance on a daily basis

  • A review of our records is done on a weekly basis

  • An email will be sent to parents when students have reached an unacceptable level for tardies and attendance.  The limit is set at 2 tardy arrival a month to a maximum of 10 tardy arrivals for the year.  A copy of the Attendance and Promptness policy in the handbook that refers to our responsibility to the state will be included in the email.

  • A meeting will follow with the Pedagogical Administrator if absences or tardies continue to increase.   The meeting is to determine a resolution or if the student can continue attending the school as per the agreement of the enrollment contract