Attendance Policy

According to State Statute 1003.21, each parent/guardian of a child within the compulsory attendance age shall be responsible for their child’s attendance.  The following reasons for absence are valid: illness, serious injury or death in the immediate family, prearranged absences approved by the Principal or religious holidays.  The following are not excusable in accordance with State Statute: truancy, out of school suspension, missing the bus or trips to special occasions not approved in advance.

Absences: Imagine South Vero’s average daily attendance goal is 96%. Your student’s attendance in school is of the utmost importance. A written excuse to the teacher dated and signed by the parent or guardian is required for all absences.Absence will be excused in case of illness/injury of the student, illness/death in the immediate family, doctor or dental appointment, recognized religious holiday or other serious events beyond the student or family’s control. To report your student’s absence call (772) 567-2728.  If a note is not received, the student will have an unexcused absence for the day.  If family business should require a student to miss school, a prearranged absence must be requested in writing to the Principal.

Prearranged Absences:  Absences from school for a family trip other than an emergency are greatly discouraged.  In almost all cases the student’s grades can suffer from being absent from regular classroom activity.  In some cases advanced approval for a prearranged absence can be obtained from the Principal.  Attendance records will be reviewed before a permitted absence is granted by the Administration.  No more than five prearranged days are excused each year. Students are responsible for missed assignments and should check with their teacher(s).Anything more than 5 school days will be unexcused and you may be asked to withdraw your child from school if the time is more than 10 days.  Students may re-register if an opening exists upon their return. Please see your child’s teacher or the front office for a prearranged absence request form.

Tardiness: We begin learning promptly at 7:50am for middle school and 8:20am for elementary school.  Having your child to school on time ensures that they have access to a full day’s learning. Having your student at school on time will help our teachers begin the day with the least amount of disruptions. Students are tardy after the start of the day and a tardy slip must be obtained from the front office.  Five or more unexcused tardies is considered excessive. Middle school students will serve an after school detention for five tardies. Elementary school students will receive a phone call from administration and further excessive tardies may result in an attendance contract. Only tardies for doctor/dentist appointment or unusual emergency will be considered excused.  When arriving to school from the appointment the student must submit proof of the date/time of this appointment.

Returning to School After Absence: When returning to school after an absence, the student must bring a signed note from the parent/guardian stating the nature of the absence; otherwise the absence will be considered unexcused.  Parents/Guardians are asked to call in absences daily.

Make-up Work: All students are expected to make up class work missed during excused and unexcused absences. For absences due to an illness of student, an illness of an immediate family member or a death in the family, the student has a week to make up the work for each day the student is absent, not including the day of return.

Excessive Absences: Any absence in excess of 7 days per quarter is considered excessive and must be accompanied by a doctor’s note.  Excessive absences may result in failure to be promoted to the next grade level and may also affect enrollment for the next school year and may need to be placed on an Attendance Contract for the next nine weeks.