Attendance

Research has shown that one of the key factors in determining if a student is on track to graduate is attendance throughout the child’s education.  In order to learn the skills and concepts they need, students must be in school.  The more time out of school, the further a child falls behind in academics.  Poor results in academics lead to feelings of low self-esteem.  Low self-esteem leads to lack of motivation and frustration, which may lead to students dropping out of school.

***For the official Boston Public Schools Attendance Policy refer to the annual Guide to the Boston Public Schools for Families and Students.***

Please ensure that your child is attending school regularly.  ALL students need to arrive ON TIME.  Any arrival after 9:30 a.m. (except late buses) is considered late.  Teachers will mark a child tardy after 9:30 a.m.

Send your child to school everyday. Everyday is a learning day including the days before and after a holiday or vacation. Of course if a child is truly sick, he/she should stay home.  Please remember to send a note.  Chronic absences do require a doctor's note.  Examples of an unexcused absence include repetitive and chronic absences in which the parent/guardian has not submitted a letter from a health care provider, student needed to baby-sit, cutting school, family vacation, trip to homeland or extension of holidays.

Students need to come on time and stay the whole day. Teachers are expected to be teaching from the moment students enter the classroom until the last bus is called.  That means valuable school time is missed for late arrivals and early dismissals.  Being just 10 minutes late, twice a week, every week equals more than 2 school days' worth of work missed.A student must be in school for 3 hours in order to be considered present.  Students will need to make up the work missed while absent.

A summary of the Sumner School Attendance Protocols can be viewed in the document below: