Absences

If your child will be absent, please notify the school before 9 a.m. by calling 703-227-2648 or by using our online attendance form. An answering machine will be on 24 hours to record calls regarding student absences. Please do not leave student absence information on the teacher's voicemail line.

We will communicate quickly with parents or guardians when a student does not come to school as expected. 

Accumulated Absences

Virginia State law requires that each student who is absent from school must be reported each time by a responsible person. An excused absence is one for which parents/guardians have prior knowledge, consent, and a legitimate reason. Legitimate reasons include: illness of the student, death in the family, and observance of a religious holiday.

Absences for family and student vacations are unexcused. According to School Board Regulation 2234, after the fifth unexcused absence, the school is to refer the student to the attendance officer. If an additional unexcused absence occurs in the same school year, the attendance officer will file a complaint with the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court as described in Section 22.1-258 of the Code of Virginia. Regulation 2234.4 provides additional details. A copy may be obtained from the school office.

For unexcused absences, students are responsible for completing any missed assignments. Teachers will provide the student and parent or guardian with missed work, but are not obligated to provide assignments prior to family or student vacations.

Tardiness

Students arriving after 8:30 a.m. are considered tardy and must report to the office before going to their classrooms. Please note that a written explanation for your child’s tardiness is necessary.

Release of Student

The following procedures are followed to assure the safety of children who are released during the day:

• Written permission should be sent to the teacher stating the time of release.
• The parent (or other named adult in the note) should come to the office to sign the child out and should be prepared to show identification. To protect instructional time, students will not be called to the office until a parent arrives at school to pick them up. Please allow sufficient time for your child to get to the office and for you to arrive on time to your scheduled appointment.
• We will not release any child to any adult other than the parent/guardian or persons listed on the emergency care form. Students may be released to either parent unless prohibited by a court order. If restricted custody has been legally established, a parent must furnish a copy of the custody order to be kept on file in the school office.

Dental and Medical Appointments

Dental and medical appointments are excused; however, we ask that such appointments be kept to a minimum during the instructional day. If a child must leave early for a medical or dental appointment, parents are requested to send a note in advance and must sign the child out in the office at the appropriate time. To protect instructional time, students will not be called to the office until a parent arrives at school to pick them up. Please allow sufficient time for your child to get to the office in order for you to arrive on time to your scheduled appointment.

Withdrawals and Transfers

Please notify your child’s teacher at least a week prior to a move so that we can properly withdraw your child and complete transfer records that will be needed at your child’s new school.

Attendance Video

Watch the video below in which FCPS Superintendent Scott S. Brabrand talks about the importance of attending school every day.