A. IMPORTANCE OF ATTENDANCE
The Archdiocesan Administrative Manual requires that children attend school every day school is in session, unless excused for a legitimate reason. However, parents are requested not to send children to school who have physical symptoms such as fever, severe coughing, sore throats, etc. Such symptoms interfere with the learning process and are also unfair to others with whom the student will come in contact.
B. POLICY REGARDING STUDENT ABSENCE
A parent/guardian must call the school no later than 9:00 a.m. to report a student's absence. If no call has been received by 9:00 a.m., the school secretary will make a reasonable effort to reach a parent/guardian by phone to verify the legitimacy of the absence. These procedures represent a mutual effort to account for the presence of the student during school hours.
When the child returns to school s/he must present to the teacher a written excuse from a parent/guardian stating the student's name together with the dates and reason for the absence. An absence of three consecutive days requires a doctor's note.
Parents should not ask that their children be released from school except for an emergency or other serious reason. Such a request, when necessary, should be in writing. Leave of absence may be obtained from the principal for a valid reason upon a written request from parents. Parents take responsibility for completion of missed school work. Excused absences are for personal illness, death in family, or other justifiable and legitimate reasons. Vacations while school is in session are discouraged, and doctor and/or dentist appointments should be scheduled for non-school hours.
If a student is absent from school because of illness or disciplinary action, s/he will not be permitted to take part in extracurricular or athletic activities that afternoon or evening.
If a student is absent from school for a reason other than illness or disciplinary action, the school reserves the right to make an individual judgment regarding same-day extracurricular and athletic participation.
A student who deliberately avoids coming to school, contrary to the wishes of his/her parent/guardian, is considered truant. A student who is truant will be subject to discipline.
C. SCHOOL HOURS
Assembly bell rings for grades K-8 at 8:25 a.m. Students are considered late if they are not in the building by 8:30 a.m.
Pre-school hours are 8:30 - 11:30 a.m. and 12:00 noon to 3:00 p.m.
School is dismissed at 3:00 p.m.
D. EARLY DISMISSAL
A written request for an early dismissal signed by the parent/guardian must be submitted to the office through the student's homeroom teacher. Parents/guardians are personally required to sign the "early dismissal sheet" in the lobby of the main entrance.
E. FACULTY MEETINGS
The school faculty normally meets on a Friday of each month as designated on the monthly calendar . There is a 12:30 p.m. dismissal on these days. Additional changes and anouncements of professional days will be noted on the monthly calendar which is distributed to the students.
F. TARDINESS
A child coming to school late must report to the office before s/he is admitted to class. Parents should make a sincere effort to have their child/children arrive on time in the morning. Continued, unexcused tardiness (5 times in a marking period) constitutes a detention.
G. EMERGENCY CLOSING
Holy Trinity Interparochial School will be closed for inclement weather conditions, if the Westfield public schools are also closed. Announcements of emergency closing or delayed opening will be made over radio station WERA, 1590 AM. Parents will also be notified via the telephone emergency chain. The principal may override the Westfield public school’s decision, if conditions warrant. Unplanned, emergency early dismissals or closings are usually the result of inclement weather, but may also be called in the event of extensive absenteeism due to flu, measles, etc. or some failure in the physical plant.