Students are expected to be in all scheduled classes, on time, all day, everyday.  Attendance is recorded every period. 

Students will be marked late if they are not in-class by the final bell.

 ABSENCE PROCEDURES

 On your return please bring a parent/guardian note bring to the office and have it stamped with the ABSENCE NOTE STAMP at reception, and bring it to your teachers to sign before returning the note to the office. 

Alternatively, parents can email the office at tupper@vsb.bc.ca with their student name, grade, DOB and reason for absence.  Email addresses are verified with the parent/guardian profile to ensure they validity.  

Whenever possible students who will be absent at parental request (appointments, emergencies, special events, etc.) should provide a signed note in advance to their teachers.  If an early dismissal is required students need to present their note to the office before leaving the school.  Students absent because of field trips, work experience, athletic events, etc., must inform teachers in advance of the intended absence.  

 Students are responsible for all work missed during excused absences.  Students are encouraged to show initiative in finding out what work was missed and how it might be made up.  Teachers will provide reasonable assistance to students absent for acceptable reasons. 

Teachers are not obligated to provide extra work or repeat instruction for any student who misses school due to an extended absence and/or vacation during the school year.  

 When exams are missed, due to an excused absence, students need to make arrangements with their teacher to write the test or take alternative measures. 

 The following represents the continuum of procedures and consequences for unexcused absences. 

Unexcused Absence	Intervention Level	School Outcomes
1 – 3 Missed Classes in a Subject	Teacher/Parent/ Student	Phone call home, and/or marks lost, and/or attendance report sent home, and/or attendance card.
Further Absences	Teacher/Parent/ Student/ Counsellor	Interview with counsellor and/or phone call home and/or attendance report sent home, and/or  attendance card.
Continued Absences	Teacher/Parent/ Student/ Counsellor/ Administration	Attendance warning letter with attendance printout and/or parent interview and/or interview with administrator and/or              attendance card.
Chronic Absenteeism	Teacher/Parent/ Student/ Counsellor/ Administration	Second parent interview: attendance contract stating consequence for non-attendance (e.g. home schooling, distance ed, denial of school leaving ceremony, transfer, timetable dropped, and/or workforce entry.

 ABSENCES – EXTENDED VACATION POLICY/PROCEDURES

 Students who are taking an extended vacation or who will be absent for an extended period of time must complete the Notice of Extended Absences and/or Vacations During the School Year form, with teacher signatures and submit the completed form to their respective counsellor and the office.  

 Students do not have the right to make-up or hand-in work missed because of an unexcused absence.  This includes extended vacations.

Teachers are not obligated to provide extra work or repeat instruction for any student who misses school due to an extended absence and/or vacation during the school year.