Regular attendance is essential for academic, workplace and life success. Students demonstrate commitment, respect, initiative and responsibility when they are in class and on time, all the time. To earn a credit, a student is expected to accumulate a total of 110 hours of in-class instruction for each full-credit course, complete the exam, and achieve a mark over 50%
Report Attendance
Parents/guardians should contact the Attendance Office to indicate when their child will be absent. The Attendance Office can be reached at 905-727-3131 ext. 100. If the attendance secretary is busy please leave a voice message OR send an email to drgwwilliamsss.attendance@yrdsb.ca.
If a student leaves school resulting in a late or an absence to a class period, they are to go to the attendance office to sign out. If a student arrives late for Period 1 and before 8:40 a.m., they are asked to report directly to their class where their homeroom teacher will let the office know the time of arrival. If the 8:20 bell has rung, students are asked to stand in the hallway for the anthem and announcements to be completed before proceeding to their period 1 class. For any other period, whenever a student arrives at school after the first scheduled class period has begun they are to report to attendance to sign in.
Students are expected to be in class by the times listed above.
Students, parents, and staff have a role to play in ensuring that students attend classes regularly and punctually. Students are responsible for:
- attending all scheduled classes, and being on time;
- being prepared for classes, and participating fully in the planned learning activities;
- reporting absences (preferably in advance), and presenting proper documentation to staff, and covering the material missed when they are absent.
Absences must be both valid and authorized by a parent. Examples of valid reasons include illness, bereavement, medical appointments, court appearance, etc. If no phone call, e-mail, or note is received by the school, the absence will be considered “truant”. Truancies are unacceptable.
Students who have been signed out of classes by a parent/legal guardian cannot remain on school property.
Parent(s)/guardian(s) and students aged 18 and older and students who have declared their independence must report all absences, late arrivals and/or changes to departure plans to the school in a timely manner. Where possible, notify the school in advance by calling the school and leaving a message on the answering machine or emailing the school’s attendance address.
If a student is unable to attend school and will miss more than two school days, homework may be requested from the Guidance Department and picked up at the school. Teachers require 24 hours to complete homework requests. If a student is absent due to a prolonged illness, he/she may be required to provide a medical note.
Late for Class (Arriving After the Bell Rings)
Students who arrive to class after the bell has rung are considered late. Late students must go to the Attendance Office to sign in and get a Late Slip. The Late Slip must be shown to the teacher for admission to that class.
Extended Absences
Planned absences of three or more consecutive school days require the completion of an “Extraordinary Absence” form at least one week in advance of the leave. The form is available in the Attendance Office. The process includes obtaining signatures from teachers and a school administrator. It is the student’s responsibility to catch up on all work missed.