WLC & Attendance Policy

August 20, 2007

Dear Woods Parents and Guardians,

Schools are being held more and more accountable for the performance and learning of their students. We know that school attendance is one of the greatest factors in the success of every student, but one that is often beyond a school’s control. The Natrona County School District has reviewed its attendance policy to reflect this factor in educational success and to provide a consistent approach to attendance problems.

The district policy states that schools have the right to be informed of the reason for an absence, and to decide whether, even with the knowledge and approval of a parent, it is to be recorded as “excused” or “unexcused.” At Woods, we will generally record any parent-approved absence as excused, as we believe that parents should be allowed to make such choices when informed of the consequences.

All absences have consequences to a student’s work in school, but of course they can’t always be helped. In the case of serious illness, for example, it is obvious that students should stay home. Life also throws us unexpected events and more difficult choices, such as a visiting relative, or other opportunities. Some students will be more negatively impacted than others by such absences, and parents should take this into account when making decisions to take their kids out of school.

We take student time in school seriously, and each day here is planned to be “important.” Woods Learning Center is a learning environment that emphasizes experiential learning through hands-on activities, science laboratories, field trips, group work, centers, and project presentations. Often our lessons and activities are modified from day-to-day to meet student needs and unexpected events. It is therefore difficult—and often impossible—to give out lessons ahead of time, or to recreate class experiences afterwards for makeup work.

On the bright side, we believe that the new school schedule provides more opportunities for family travel and events. For example, there is a three-day weekend during hunting season, a longer winter break, and a full week for spring break in March. Please check the new calendar when making plans to leave town.

Please review, sign, and return the attached attendance policy sheet. Let us know if you have any comments or questions. Copies of the district attendance policy will be available in the office and at the parent resource center.

Thank you for your attention to this matter,
The Administrative Team of Woods Learning Center

Attendance Policy of Woods Learning Center

Excused Absence: To have an absence marked “excused,” parents or guardians must communicate their knowledge and approval of their child’s absence to the front desk as soon as possible. Let the front office AND the classroom teachers know about any planned absences in advance. The front office will take calls the day of the absence starting at 7:30 a.m. As the school is responsible for knowing the whereabouts of all students, at 8:30 a.m. the front office will begin calling parents of students who are unaccounted for. Please help us by calling first.

An absence recorded as “excused” does not mean that all learning activities will be recreated, or that a child will have no gaps in his or her learning. It will be the responsibility of students or their parents to meet with teachers to make sure that all make-up work is done in a timely manner after the absence.

Parents and Guardians who excuse absences understand that there are negative consequences of absences that may affect the educational achievement of their child, and will not hold the school responsible for the gaps in knowledge or skills that may result.

They should also be aware that by state law, any student absent for more than ten consecutive days, excused or not, will be dropped from the school rolls. Because Woods has limited enrollment, it is very important to make arrangements so that this does not happen in the case of a prolonged illness or other reason.

Woods Learning Center reserves the right to mark parent-approved absences as unexcused, should it be deemed necessary by the administrative team. The parent will be notified of such a decision.

Unexcused Absence: If the absence occurs without confirmation of the knowledge and approval of the parent or guardian, it will be recorded as “unexcused.”

Truancy: Three consecutive days of unexcused absences, or a total of five unexcused absences during the school year, will require intervention as a truancy matter. Two or more additional unexcused absences will be referred to the district attendance officer and may go to legal authorities.

Early Dismissal: Students who leave school early for an illness or activity must be checked out at the front office by a parent, guardian, or other approved person. Classroom teachers must be notified before such a dismissal. Students should not call parents about an illness without notifying their classroom teachers first.

Attendance Policy

Attendance Policy of Woods Learning Center

More Information

School Information

Policies & Values