ATTENDANCE ABSENCES AND TARDINESS School begins at 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM The State Law requires that all school age children must attend school every day. Students are expected to be in school each day. Consistent attendance serves as an effective habit necessary to promote learning. If your child will be absent for any reason, or will arrive late to school, please phone the attendance line at 763-506-2106 prior to the start of the school day. Messages can be left on the attendance line at any time. Please call each day of the absence. If your child will be absent for an extended period of time please notify the Health Office at 506-2104 in advance. If we do not receive a call from you, we will attempt to contact the parent/guardian to verify the absence. Your cooperation is important to help ensure the safety and whereabouts of each student. It is essential that we have current phone numbers on your child’s emergency form at school of where parents/guardians can be reached. Please notify the school of any changes throughout the school year. If a student has excessive absences, the school will contact the parent/guardian by phone and/or letter. The school will offer assistance in improving attendance. When absences are due to an illness or injury the school nurse may be involved. ARRIVAL/DISMISSAL Students that bike, walk, or are driven to school should not arrive at the building or main crossing before 9:15 AM. Adult crossing guards will not be available for “Walkers” and “bikers” crossing Bunker Lake Blvd. until 9:15 AM. There are no staff members to supervise students waiting in line at the connecting link area or on the playground before the morning’s entry bell. We do not want students at school before 9:20 AM for safety and discipline concerns. Students will be released from their busses and should enter the building through the “Connecting Link” area with the bell ringing at 9:20 AM (Doors #2 & 5). The “Tardy Bell” will ring at 9:30 AM which also signals morning daily announcements from the Office. Our “specials (Art, Music, Phy. Ed, Computer Lab, & Media) begin at 9:45 AM. Dismissal for all students is at 4:00 PM. Busses traditionally are released for the return trip home within 10 minutes of the dismissal time. This schedule represents our daily schedule from past years. Please, also remember that all students being driven to school are to be dropped off at the East End of the school’s parking lot and will enter the building through the “Connecting Link” at entry time. All student “pickups” are done at the “main entrance” (Door #1) only at the 4:00 PM dismissal time unless otherwise arranged with the Principal, Mrs. Kortuem.