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Attendance
Policy

Students at Maʻemaʻe Elementary School need to attend school daily and be in class on time so that optimal benefits of education can be achieved.  Excessive absences and tardies are unacceptable and prevent maximum teaching and learning from taking place.

Absent Students

In order to ensure students' accountability for their attendance and to ensure consistent data collection, Ma'ema'e School will process and maintain attendance on a daily basis.

A student is considered ABSENT if attendance is less than one half of the school day. The parent or guardian is responsible for notifying the teacher or office personnel from the first day of their child’s absence and should include the REASON FOR ABSENCE. Parents must notify the school administration in writing of any EXTENDED absence resulting in missing 10 or more consecutive school days.  The principal will determine if the absence will be excused or unexcused by considering if student academics is adversely affected and/or if attendance is a concern.

 

The parent or guardian is responsible for notifying the teacher from the first day of their child's absence by note/voicemail/email and should include the following information:

  • Child's first and last legal name

  • Grade/Room Number

  • Date(s) of absence

  • Reason for absence

  • On written notes: write the date and parent's signature

Excused Absences

  • Illness, injury, quarantine (chicken pox, measles, etc)

  • Doctor/Dental appointment

  • Death in the family

  • Court attendance or approval

  • Family emergencies

  • Special cases approved by the Principal

Unexcused Absences

  • Entertaining visitors/guests

  • Parent request without explanation

  • Family vacations (on/off island), trips*

  • Youth camp*

  • Sports competition events*

*Note: Parents must notify the school administration in writing of any extended absences due to vacations, camps, and/or sports competitions.  The principal will determine if the absences will be excused or unexcused by considering if student academics is adversely affected and/or if attendance is a concern.  Teachers are only required to provide make-up work for excused absences.

Homework Procedure for Absences

If a child is absent from school for two or more consecutive days, the parent/guardian may request homework by informing the teacher before 9:30 a.m. Please note that teachers are only required to provide make-up work for excused absences. 

 

Homework may be picked up at the office on the day of the request from 2:15--4:00 p.m. (M, T, Th, F) or 12:45-4:00 p.m. (W). Return homework to the school office on Friday if the absence continues. After requesting homework, parents must assume responsibility for ensuring that homework is completed and turned in on a timely basis.​

Automated Attendance Calls

Telephone calls are automatically generated at 9:30am if a student’s attendance is marked ABSENT with an UNKNOWN reason.  Please inform the school office of the reason for the absence and the office will correct the attendance accordingly.

Late Arrivals

Students who arrive at school AFTER the official start time (7:55am) but BEFORE the half day of school is over (11:05am on Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri or 10:20am on Wed) will be marked TARDY for that day.  Students who arrive after half of the school day is over will be marked ABSENT for that day.

Excused Tardy:

  • Medical/dental appointment

  • Student detained by teacher/school official with note

  • Unusual weather/traffic circumstance (including car trouble)

  • All excused absence reasons apply

Unexcused Tardy:

  • Overslept/late start

  • Traffic

  • Missed the bus

  • Personal Business

 

*Note: Any student who acquires seven or more tardies (excused or unexcused) will not be eligible to receive a Perfect Attendance Award.

Early Departures

Students who leave school before half of the school day is over and are not returning will be marked ABSENT for that day. 

If a student needs to leave campus, parents should inform their teacher. A note or call on the morning of the release should be made to the office, who will make every effort to have the student present when the parent/guardian signs for a Student Pass at the office. 

Off Campus Pass

If a student needs to leave the campus for medical, dental or other reasons, a note from the parent or guardian should be sent to the office in the morning.  The office will prepare the authorized Student Pass.  When the parent or guardian reports to the office to obtain the pass, our staff will contact the teacher to have your child meet you in the office. If you contact the office the morning your child is to be excused, we will try to have your child ready and waiting when you arrive.  The parent or guardian reports to the office to obtain the pass prior to picking up their child from the classroom.  Issuance of a campus pass for authorization to leave campus will be documented.

Kindergarten Orientation

At the start of the new school year, Maʻemaʻe School has kindergarten orientation days during which only some of these students are required to report to school.  Students who are not present on their designated days will be marked ABSENT.

Perfect Attendance

Students qualify for a Perfect Attendance Award only if they have NO absences or tardies for the year.

Bell Schedule

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, & Friday

7:50 a.m. - Warning Bell

7:55 a.m. - Morning Business

8:00 a.m. - Block 1

9:35 a.m. - Recess

9:50 a.m. - Block 2

11:20 a.m. - Lunch (K, 1, 2)

11:50 a.m. - Block 3 (K, 1, 2)

12:05 p.m. - Lunch (3, 4, 5)

12:35 p.m. - Block 3 (3, 4, 5)

2:15 p.m. - Dismissal

Wednesday

7:50 a.m. - Warning Bell

7:55 a.m. - Morning Business

8:00 a.m. - Block 1

9:35 a.m. - Recess

9:50 a.m. - Block 2

11:20 a.m. - Lunch (K, 1, 2)

11:50 a.m. - Block 3 (K, 1, 2)

12:05 p.m. - Lunch (3, 4, 5)

12:35 p.m. - Block 3 (3, 4, 5)

12:45 p.m. - Dismissal

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