PHS Attendance 2nd Semester - Spring 2021
To report an absence, please use
the online form:
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Tardy students MUST report to the attendance office to sign-in, and they will be given a SmartPass to class. Please be advised that it is not necessary to walk students into the building when they arrive late.
Click here for more information about tardiness. ______________________________________________________________________________________
Early dismissal requests for doctor’s appointments:
On the day of their early dismissal, students should bring a parent/guardian signed note to the attendance office of the building they will be leaving from, before A period begins (7:20am). The note should include the student’s first and last name (student ID# is optional, but helpful), the method and time of dismissal (being picked up, walking home, etc)
Please DO NOT EMAIL early dismissal requests. All requests for early dismissal must be submitted in writing or a phone call directly to the East or West attendance office.
If the student is being picked up, the student must return to the attendance office to wait until the individual picking them up arrives.
If the student is walking home or driving his/herself, he/she can proceed directly to the exit at the time of dismissal issued on their SmartPass.
Click here for more information about early dismissals.
For Fully Virtual Students Only
Please submit all absences using the form above. Absences must be reported within three (3) days of your student's return to school.
Oversleeping, traveling, and driving tests are not valid excuses.
If there are extenuating circumstances as to why an absence cannot be reported in a timely manner, please contact your student’s management assistant:
9th Grade-Judy Neeld, East Campus
10th Grade-Stephanie Fusco, East Campus
11th Grade-Lynda Norman, West Campus
12th Grade-Tammy Lall, West Campus
During second semester hybrid learning, attendance will be taken every period. Fully virtual students are expected to log into their Canvas classrooms on time. Any issues or troubles logging in on time should be emailed directly to the teacher.
Early dismissal requests for appointments, family emergencies, etc should be sent in an email to [email protected]. Please be sure to include the students first and last name, student ID, date and time the student will miss class, and the valid reason.
Parents/guardians requesting permission to take their student out of school for an educational trip must send an email to [email protected] at least ten (10) days prior to the trip.
Click here for more information about planned absences and educational trips.____________________________________________________________________________________
Click here for more information about planned absences/educational trips.
We are dedicated to providing the best educational experience for our students and part of that is increasing attendance and reducing chronic absenteeism. For more information about our Attendance
& Lateness policies, please visit the links provided below or the left side of the page.
Dana Deidoff West Campus Attendance Office 608 S. Olds Blvd. Fairless Hills, PA 19030 PH: 215.949.6780, Press 1 Fax: 215.269.4864 |
| Frances Chase East Campus Attendance Office 705 Hood Blvd. Fairless Hills, PA 19030 PH: 215.949.6700 Fax: 215.949.3896 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the difference between excused and unexcused
absences?
Excused absences and unexcused absences all count towards attendance hours. However, excused absences do not count against a student’s truancy record, and therefore will not cause a parent and student to be filed on through the court system. Unexcused absences will count against a student’s truancy record, and can result in disciplinary measures and/or court filings. In order for an absence or tardy to be considered excused, parent and doctor notes must be submitted within 3 school days of the absence. Notes received after 3 days will not change the absence coding.
What types of absences are excused?
The only absences permitted by law are for the following reasons:
- Student illness
- Death in family
- Religious holiday & religious instruction as permitted by law
- Other urgent reasons
- Educational trip approved ahead of time
- College visits
- Court subpoenas
What are the penalties of habitual truancy?
Habitual truancy due to unexcused absences is a summary offense addressed under the Pennsylvania Public School Code Compulsory Attendance Law amended by Act 138 of 2016. As such, penalties (i.e. a fine up to $750, a jail sentence up to three days, attendance at parenting classes, community services in the school district of up to six months) may be imposed against parents, guardians and others responsible for truant children under the age of 17. In cases where the student is determined to be in violation of the compulsory attendance law, he/ she will be subject to penalties (i.e. a fine up to $300, assignment to an adjudication alternative program, driver’s license suspension for 90 days, disposition as dependent child). Referrals to the Children and Youth Agency can be made for habitually truant students. For more information, please refer to the letter from Mrs. Aldridge regarding attendance.
What is a Student Attendance Improvement Plan?
Upon the student’s third unexcused absence, a school and family conference will be completed to discuss the cause of the child’s truancy and develop a mutually agreed upon plan to resolve truant behavior.
You only need to fill out the form. You do not need to call or send in anything else once you have completed the online form to report an absence. Absences must be reported within three (3) days of your student's return to school. Due to high volume, please allow up to five (5) school days for your student’s attendance record to be updated.