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Attendance

ATTENDANCE

If a student will be absent for any reason, parents are asked to contact the school on the day of the absence before 8:00am and provide a reason. Parents can call the attendance line at (314) 213-6170, ext. 7020 or email stef.watkins@kirkwoodschools.org.

Any student who has been ill should not return to school until their temperature or other symptoms have subsided for 24 hours. Parents are asked to call in or email each day your child will not be attending school. Students must be at school to attend any after-school activity or ceremony.

SIGNING IN

All students who arrive after 8:00am should report to the main office to sign-in where they will receive an e-hallpass and be expected to go directly to their locker and then to class. Students will be marked tardy unless a parent calls, emails or the student has a valid doctor's note to excuse their tardy. 

SIGNING OUT

Parents/Guardians must sign their student out in the main office. Students cannot leave without a parent/guardian present in the office. Students returning to school after an appointment are to sign-back-in with the main office where they will receive an e-hallpass admitting them back to class.

2:45pm is the latest a student can be signed out. Please plan accordingly as the front lot gets busy with buses at dismissal. 

PLANNED DISMISSAL/ABSENCE

If a student will miss school due to a pre-planned trip or appointment, parents are asked to contact Stef Watkins and the student's teachers in advance. If a student needs to be picked up early, parents can call the attendance line at (314) 213-6170, ext. 7020 or email stef.watkins@kirkwoodschools.org to communicate when they need to pick up their student.

TARDY PROTOCOLS

MORNING TARDY PROCEDURES

  • All students are to be in their assigned classrooms ready to work by 8:00 AM.  Any student not present at this time is tardy.  
  • A warning bell will ring at 7:55.  
  • Students arriving after 8:00 but prior to 8:30 will be admitted to class, and teachers will mark the student “tardy” in Infinite Campus.  
  • PLEASE NOTE: Chronic tardiness may result in an after-school detention, a referral to the administration, ISS, Social Worker and possibly a referral to the Department of Family Services. Office-assigned after-school detentions are generally assigned for the day after the tardy so parents can be notified.

TARDINESS TO CLASS DURING THE SCHOOL DAY

Tardies are office-managed. Students who accrue 5+ tardies in a quarter will meet with their administrator or counselor to determine the root cause of the tardies so we can support them getting to class on time. From there, consequences (lunch detentions and Power Hours) will be assigned. 

  • Consequences (per quarter):

    • 5th tardy: Conference with administrator or counselor; parent contact; lunch detention

    • 10th tardy, and every five tardies after that: Discipline referral entered; after-school detention assigned

EXCESSIVE ABSENCES

As a school, we realize that some absences are unavoidable. It becomes very difficult for a child to master a subject and to succeed in school when they are excessively absent. Missouri law mandates that we report excessive absences to the Family Court. Communication between school and home is very important for the success of our students. The following procedures are in place in order to assist in providing each child with the best opportunity to be successful.

  • If the student’s attendance does not improve, we will be obligated to file a report with either the city or county Family Court.

  • The attendance secretary may request a doctor’s note for each absence due to medical reasons beyond 10 days.

  • If the student continues to have excessive absences, a counselor or principal will contact a parent/guardian via telephone and schedule a family conference to identify the barriers to attendance and to develop a plan.

  • When a child’s absences exceed 10 days, for any reason during the school year, a second letter will be sent home.

  • When a child is absent for more than five days, for any reason during the school year, a letter will be sent home making families aware of the exact number of days the child has been absent from school.