Attendance Policy

Our goal every school year is to ensure that every student attends school regularly.

Showing up for school has a huge impact on a student’s academic success starting in Kindergarten and continuing through High School. Even as children grow older and more independent, families play a key role in making sure students get to school safely every day and understand why attendance is so important for success in school and in life.

We realize some absences are unavoidable due to health problems or other circumstances. But, we also know that research shows, when students miss too much school, regardless of the reason, it can cause them to fall behind academically. Your child is less likely to succeed if he or she is chronically absent which means missing 18 or more days over the course of an entire school year.

  • Children chronically absent in Kinder & 1st grade are much less likely to read at grade level by the end of 3rd grade.
  • By 6th grade, chronic absence is a proven early warning sign for students at risk for dropping out of school.
  • By 9th grade good attendance can predict graduation rates even better than 8th grade test scores.

Absences can add up quickly. A child is chronically absent if he or she misses just two days every month!!

Clearly going to school regularly matters!

We don’t want your child to fall behind in school and get discouraged. Please ensure that your child attends school every day and arrives on time. Here are a few practical tips to help support regular attendance:

  1. Make sure your children keep a regular bedtime and establish a morning routine.
  2. Lay out clothes and pack backpacks the night before.
  3. Ensure your students go to school every day unless they are truly sick.
  4. Avoid scheduling vacations or doctor’s appointments when school is in session.
  5. Talk to teachers and counselors for advice if your children feel anxious about going to school.
  6. Develop back up plans for getting to school if something comes up. Call on a family member, neighbor, or another parent to take your child to school.

Please take a minute to review the Sawgrass Adventist School attendance policy below. Let us know how we can best support you and your children so that they can show up for school on time every day. We want your child to be successful in school! If you have any questions or need more information, please contact the school office.

 

 

ATTENDANCE

Florida Law (Section 1003.21, Florida Statutes) states that all children 6 years of age to 16 years of age, must attend school regularly during the entire school term. 

When your child is ill, you must call or email the school office by 9:00 am to let us know why your child is absent (954-473-4622). If you cannot, you must send a note the following day. We must hear from a parent or guardian to verify a child’s absence. Please do not direct a sibling to notify the office of an absence. We will still need it to be verified by a parent or guardian. All absences are permanently recorded 2 school days after the absence. If you have not notified the office within 2 school days, the absence will be recorded as unexcused and will not be changed.

NOTE: When your child is absent with an illness for 3 or more days, a doctor’s note describing the illness will be required to excuse the absences. After the 15th cumulative absence (with no professional office note provided), a note from the professional provider (doctor, dentist) will be required to excuse every absence. If a professional note is not provided the absence will be recorded as unexcused.

You can monitor your child’s attendance by going to our FACTS Family Portal, Login (DISTRICT CODE – FC-SDA) and click on “Student” and then click on “Attendance” If you do not remember your login information, click “Forgot User Name/Password” and your login reset instructions will be emailed to you.

 

Truancy Law

Florida law defines "habitual truant" as a student who has 15 or more unexcused absences within 90 calendar days with or without the knowledge or consent of the student's parent or guardian, and who is subject to compulsory school attendance.

 

Tardy/Absent Students

Students are to check in at the office when they arrive to school after 8:20 am. Tardies are excused for medical or other appointments and other reasonable and justified parental request approved by the principal. Calling the office because you are running late does not qualify as an excused tardy. Students arriving late to school may need to make up work and time missed at recess or after school. If repeated tardies occur, parents will be contacted by school personnel to work on a plan that will help ensure that the student is at school on time. Excessive tardiness may also affect participation grade and/or in classroom reward activities.

 

Missing School Due to Illness

Parents/Guardians are asked to keep ill students at home. Examples of illnesses that should keep your student home may include, but are not limited to:

  1. Contagious diseases – such as measles, mumps, chicken pox, pink eye, influenza and COVID-19.

  2. Skin rashes – especially if the cause is unknown or if accompanied by fever or drainage. (may require Dr. note to verify that the student is not contagious)

  3. Head lice infestation.

  4. Fever – students with an oral temperature of 100.4 or greater should be kept home until they have been fever free without medication for 24 hours.

  5. Vomiting – students who vomit must stay home for 24 hours after the last episode of vomiting.

Please notify the school if your student is experiencing any of these health problems so the school is aware of the problem.



Parental Request for Student Absence

School officials realize that business and personal interests sometimes require families to be away from home for short periods of time. When a parent/guardian believes that there is a valid reason for a student to be absent, school officials will strive to honor the absence. Such absences, when approved, will be considered excused absences. Depending upon the subject, students may be expected to make up time and/or work missed because of such absences.

Related Information

Parents Dismissal Policy Home & School Parent Testimonials Supply List