- Gurrie Middle School
- Absences / Tardies
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ATTENDANCE
Every morning, attendance will be taken. When a student is absent, the parent/guardian must phone the school during the morning of absence BEFORE 8:30 a.m. The school phone number is 708-482-2720. For absent students who have not been called in by a parent/guardian, a Gurrie representative will contact parents/guardians to ensure that students will not attend class. Please note that missing the bus will not be accepted as an excuse for an absence. After 3 days of absence, the principal may request a written excuse from a physician.
Attendance is crucial for a student's academic success and personal development. Regular attendance ensures that students engage with the curriculum, participate in class, and benefit from teacher instruction. It also fosters responsibility, discipline, and social skills, helping students stay on track and avoid falling behind. Attendance below 90% is considered chronic truancy. Additional steps will be taken to support the student and parents in improving attendance, such as parent meetings, Dean referral, attendance contracts, and referrals to truancy programs.
MAKEUP HOMEWORK
Parents may request homework for absences of two or more days. Students and parents should check Google Classroom for assignments and can communicate with teachers there or via email.
Students can use Google Classroom to keep up with work during absences and should check with their teacher about missed work upon returning. Generally, students have one day to make up work for each day they are sick.
TARDINESS
Any student arriving late to school must report to the office for a tardy slip before being admitted to class. Students who are tardy to school without an excuse will be expected to attend an after-school session that day to discuss and plan for timely arrivals. Students who are late to class will be disciplined by the teacher. Repeated tardiness will be reported to the Advisor, Dean of Students, or Principal. Accumulating three or more unexcused tardy slips will disqualify a student from perfect attendance.
AFTER SCHOOL EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITY ON A DAY OF ABSENCE
To participate in any extracurricular activity after school, a student must be in attendance for at least half the day (including the afternoon). The principal may review absences not related to illness.
VACATION TRIPS DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR ON SCHOOL DAYS AND MAKEUP WORK
The school strongly encourages vacation trips to be scheduled only during those times when the school is officially not in session. Make-up work does not adequately substitute for missed class time on regularly scheduled school days, and teachers may not have all assignments available in advance of vacations. Please note that days taken for vacation count against the student's attendance rate and can contribute to chronic truancy.