Contact Cougar Elementary School Attendance

571-428-2833

[email protected]

ATTENDANCE POLICY

Regular attendance is the first step to being a successful student.  Good attendance and punctuality are an expectation.  The State Compulsory Attendance Law requires all students to attend school regularly.  There is no substitute for classroom instruction within the school setting even though assignments can be made up in the event of necessary absence.  IF YOU MISS SCHOOL, YOU MISS OUT.

SCHOOL HOURS

Cougar Elementary and Manassas Park Elementary hours are 8:25 a.m. until 3:15 p.m.  Monday through Friday.  Early dismissal time for CES and MPES students is generally 11:30 unless otherwise noted.  Once a child arrives at school, he/she is expected to remain and attend each class throughout the day.

Student arrival at CES and MPES is between 8:05 and 8:25 a.m. Students arriving after 8:25 a.m. will be marked tardy.

EARLY DISMISSAL

It is important that students attend school for the entire day; therefore we request that you attempt to schedule all appointments after school hours.  When a student must leave school before the end of the instructional day, the parent/guardian must send a signed note of explanation with the student to hand in to their homeroom teacher.  Please make every effort to notify the teacher of the early dismissal early in the day.  The parent or authorized adult must present a photo ID, meet the student in the office, and sign out at the time of dismissal.

 Unless there is an emergency, please contact the main office with a dismissal change  no later than 2:00 p.m. for Pre-K and 2:30 p.m. for Kindergarten-2nd grade

PROCEDURES TO FOLLOW WHEN YOUR CHILD IS ABSENT:

1. You must call or send an email to notify the school of your child’s absence. A note MUST be sent in with your child when they return for the absence to be excused.

   • Call the absence line by 9:30am (571-428-2833)

   • Send an email to the absence email address by 9:30am ([email protected])

2. If we do not receive a phone call or email letting us know the student will not be attending that day, you will receive a call from the automated system notifying you of your student’s absence.

3. Parents must contact the school within one three days from the date of the absence, explaining the absence

4. It is the student's responsibility to make up all missed assignments within a reasonable amount of time. Assignments that are not made up will be reflected in the student's grades. 

5. When a student misses three or more consecutive days of school due to illness, a parent/guardian is encouraged to call the teacher and request class assignments.

EXCUSED ABSENCES:

The following are the only legitimate excuses for absences from school:

1. Personal illness
2. Death of a family member
3. Medical or dental appointment
4. Court appearances
5. Observance of religious holiday

The following may be excused by the principal with written permission:

1. Illness of a family member
2. Emergencies
3. Trips/activities which enhance or extend the student’s education

If the parent has not informed the school with a written excuse of the student's absence, the absence will be unexcused.

UNEXCUSED ABSENCES:

If a student is absent from school for any reason other than listed above even with a parent’s note, the absence is unexcused unless approved by the principal in advance (Pre-Arranged Absence Form).

If the parent has not informed the school with a written excuse of the student's absence within three days of the absence, the absence will be unexcused.

If a student misses school with more than five unexcused absences, the parents/guardians will be contacted in order to set up a meeting to discuss an attendance plan.

THE SCHOOL RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REQUEST DOCTOR’S NOTES WHEN A STUDENT MISSES AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT (8 EXCUSED OR 5 UNEXCUSED) OF SCHOOL IN ORDER FOR SUBSEQUENT ABSENCES TO BE CONSIDERED EXCUSED.

IF A STUDENT MISSES AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF SCHOOL, A TRUANCY INTERVENTION MEETING WILL BE HELD AND RETENTION, SUMMER SCHOOL, AND COURT ACTION AGAINST THE PARENTS WILL BE DISCUSSED.

IF A STUDENT IS ABSENT FOR 15 CONSECUTIVE SCHOOL DAYS, THEY WILL BE WITHDRAWN AND WILL HAVE TO RE-REGISTER UPON RETURNING