Saunders Middle School is required by the Virginia Compulsory Attendance Law 22.1-254 and PWCS Regulation 724-1 to uphold the attendance rules out-lined in these documents. Saunders has made some changes to reflect our commitment to these regulations and procedures, by creating forms for our families to use in absence situations.
Please be advised that vacations should be scheduled during the many breaks though-out the school year or over summer break. If your student is absent due to a doctor/dental/therapy/PT/OT/etc. appointment, we ask that you bring in a note from the provider upon your student's return to school. If you take your student to the doctor when they are absent do to being sick, it's always a good idea to provide a doctor's note upon returning to school. If your student misses 10 or more days of school, excused or unexcused, a formal letter will be sent home and a doctor's note will be required to excuse any further absences.
We hope this email and these forms make it easier on our families to understand the attendance rules and help stream-line the attendance process. As always, if you have any questions or concerns regarding attendance, please contact Sally Murray, Principal's Secretary and Attendance Secretary at 703-670-9188.
When your child is absent we require a note from a parent. An absence of 3 or more consecutive days requires a note from your doctor. After your student has had 10 total absences for the year a doctor note is always required for any absence.
Pre-arranged absences of 3-5 days require pre approval. Absences of more than 5 days will automatically be denied at the school level but can be appealed at the office of student services per regulation 724-1. Please contact Sally Murray if you are planning a pre-arranged absence. Email: [email protected]
Late Arrivals (Tardy to School): Anytime a student arrives to school after 8:20 A.M., the student is tardy to school. A tardy to school is only excused with a doctor’s note for appointments or by a parent or legal guardian note for emergency situations. Oversleeping, traffic, car problems, and failure to bring in a note will all result in an unexcused tardy to school. Late students must check in at the lobby desk and receive a tardy pass.
Early Dismissals: A note signed by the parent or legal guardian must be presented to the front office in the morning. At that time, the student will be given a pass to come to the office at the time designated. A student will not be released from class until a parent or approved emergency contact has presented a photo ID and signed the student out in the office. All appointments will require a doctor’s note in order to be excused.
FOR SAFETY REASONS, EARLY DISMISSALS ARE NOT PERMITTED AFTER 2:30 PM. AFTER 2:30 STUDENTS MUST WAIT UNTIL REGULAR DISMISSAL TIME.
