339-1500
Mrs. Patti Rovito ext. 3134
Attendance
The Mount Carmel Area School District’s attendance policy is required to ensure maximum student attendance and punctuality. No factor has a more direct relationship to a student’s success in school than a good attendance record. The school can best fulfill its goals when students are present in the classroom. The student’s parent/guardian is legally responsible to ensure that the child attends school on a regular basis and is absent only for reasons allowed by law (illness, death in the immediate family, and educational excuse are the most common). Any parent/guardian found violating the law is subject to prosecution, fines (up to $300), court costs, and sentencing to complete a parent education course. If the parent is not convicted and the child continues to be truant, the child will be fined up to $300 or be assigned to the adjudication alternative education program. In addition, the juvenile’s driving privileges may be revoked.
Absences:
- Parents should call the school by 9:00 a.m. (339-1500 ext. 3134) to report a student’s absence.
- Students must report to the television studio when returning to school and present a written excuse.
- Students who miss an excessive number of school days will be required to provide a doctor’s excuse. After 7 days of absences, a warning letter will be sent to the parent. After 10 days of absences parents will be notified in writing that a doctor’s note will be required for all subsequent absences. Failure to provide a doctor’s excuse when required will cause the absence to be unlawful. After 3 unlawful absences, a warning letter will be sent to the parent. A copy of the letter will be sent to Northumberland County Children & Youth Service and Juvenile Probation. Any unlawful/unexcused absences after this letter will constitute a fine being levied against the parent/guardian of the student and the student or another suggested disposition by the District Magistrate. Fines will continue for any unlawful/unexcused absences.
- Students with excessive absences (10 or more illegal/ unexcused days per semester) will not be allowed to participate in sports, extra-curricular activities, clubs, prom, operetta, dances, etc. for the remainder of the semester (two marking periods).
- Families are encouraged to take vacations during the summer months to ensure their child’s academic success. Vacations during the school term require pre-approval. A vacation pre-approval form must be submitted to the Superintendent’s Office. These days count towards a student’s absence record and are therefore discouraged. Approval will be denied for students who are failing and/or have excessive absences.
Tardiness:
- Students who are tardy after 8:10 a.m. will remain in the ISS room for the entire day unless they have a doctor’s note.
- To participate in after school activities, students must be in school on time the day of the event. Unusual circumstances will be handled at the discretion on the superintendent or her designee.
- After the fifth tardy without a doctor’s note the student will be assigned a detention. A detention will be assigned for every tardy thereafter. It is the parent’s responsibility to provide transportation home.