At WASS, it is expected that students will attend class every school day, all day to gain the maximum benefit from schooling in order to optimize their life opportunities.

The school will keep a record of absences, lateness, and early dismissals. We understand that for maximum transfer of knowledge 90% percent attendance is necessary. Attendance lower then 90% could impact on academic standards.

Excused Absences:

• Illness
• Doctor/Dentist appointment for student
• Bereavement
• Religious observances
• Prearranged family vacations
• Extreme family emergencies

Unexcused Absences:

• Missed taxi/bus or off bus for discipline reasons
• Overslept
• Finishing homework
• Excursions – such as attending the fair, sports events, etc.
• Doctor/Dentist appointment (for someone other than the student)
• Not reporting to school when delayed due to weather

Attendance Record

A student’s attendance is considered to be at risk if it falls below 90% – ie a total of 5 days absent in a 10-week term.

The school will:

• Keep accurate attendance record for every student enrolled at the school (including attendance at both morning and afternoon sessions for Kindergarten, Pre-primary and Primary students, and every lesson/period for Secondary students) that are able to be reproduced in a written form.
• Record in Class Attendance a student as:
  • Present for a half day when the student has attended at least 2 hours of instruction
  • Absent for a half day when the student has attended less than 2 hours of instruction
  • Attending if they are on a school-approved activity
  • Late if they are not present when attendance is recorded
  • Short term leave when the student has left and returned within a day (egappointment) less than half day absence
  • Early dismissal when the student leaves from school before the official end of school day but less than half day absence
• Record whether a student’s absence was authorized or unauthorized;
• Issue a leave pass to a student who has been granted permission to leave the school unaccompanied by a responsible adult, and record a student as:
  • Present for a half day when the student has attended at least 2 hours of instruction
  • Present if they are on a school-approve activity or attending off-site under a section 24 arrangement.