Attendance

Missouri statue #167.031 mandates regular school attendance for children.  Many of the benefits of regular classroom instruction are lost during extended absences and cannot be regained even with extra after-school instruction.  The school may notify the parent of any concerns regarding excessive unexcused absences and/or tardiness to school.  Principals may schedule and hold parent conferences, over the phone or in person, when a student has been absent unless a doctor's note is on file in the office.  After eight absences, principals have the authority to require written verification from a medical doctor for all future absences due to illness.  All future medical related excuses may be considered excused or unexcused at the principal's discretion.  The principal's office and school nurse will work closely with parents on all medical related absences beyond ten.

All absences beyond 8 days or 40 blocks will be unexcused unless medical verification from a physician is provided and approved by the principal and/or attendance secretary.  The school will notify parent(s)/guardian(s) of excessive absences through an Attendance Letter procedure.  A letter will be sent to notify the parent(s)/guardian(s) at 5 absences and after 10 or more days of absences.  The 10 day letter will inform of possible disciplinary action and/or truancy hearing.

Tardies are disruptive to any class.  Therefore, students are expected to arrive on time to class.  If, for some reason, a student is detained by a teach or administrator, the student should have that person provide them with a pass to enter class.  If a student is more than 10 minutes late to school, discipline will be issued based on the Code of Conduct.   

NOTE:  OVERSLEEPING, MISSING THE BUS AND AUTOMOBILE BREAKDOWN ARE NOT REASONS FOR EXCUSED TARDIES EVEN WITH A PARENT NOTE! 

Truancy Court

The City of St. Charles in partnership with the Eleventh Circuit Family Court and Missouri's Children's Division will be participant in a program utilizing a truancy court in an effort to assist and encourage positive attendance throughout our schools.  As a result of this program, schools will establish systematic interventions to assist students and families in making sure each child attends school regularly in order to provide students every opportunity to succeed academically. 

As a part of this system, school officials will work in conjunction with deputy juvenile officers (DJOs), counselors, social workers, teachers, students and parents in order to coordinate the necessary interventions.  Additionally, school officials will work with the deputy juvenile officers to hold mandatory diversionary conferences for those students who meet and/or exceed five unexcused absences at any time throughout the school year.  If at any time a student reaches eight unexcused absences in a school year and a diversionary conference has already been held, school officials will file a truancy referral to the Eleventh Circuit Family Court and/or an educational neglect referral to the Missouri Children's Division.  Ultimately, it is the school district's hope that his partnership will assist our community in ensuring that all of our students are able to attend school regularly in order to reach their potential academically.

MSHSAA By-law 22.0 states "If a student misses class on the date of a contest without being excused by the principal, he/she shall not be considered eligible on that date."  The same policy will apply for concerts, performances and dances. Students are required to be in attendance on Friday to participate on Saturday.