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Parent/Community News (updated 1/23/09) Putnam County Schools Title I is sponsoring a Parent Information Fair at the Technical Center on February 22, 2009 from 10-4pm. Parents from every school, including non Title I schools, are invited. The purpose of the fair is to inform the community and our parents about what is available in both the school system and the community to benefit their children.
Emergency Closing Information Emergency Closings and Delays are announced at 586-0500, ext. 404 Announcements are usually posted by 6 a.m. and updated throughout the day. You will be notified via the School Messanger system according to the information you provided. Also listen to our local TV and radio stations. SCHOOL ALERTS (school closings / emergency closings) WSAZ offers a school alert to emails and cell phones at the following link. A useful tool for those interested. www.wsaz.com/closings/misc/10224821.html
Newsletter Information Parents, just a reminder that all information regarding school activities is contained in the bi-weekly newsletter or on your monthly calendar. Please keep these papers handy as reference to questions you may have about school events. This will help eliminate the excessive number of calls to the school on a daily basis.
 Parking Lot
Thank you once again for your cooperation in implementing this procedure! There are just a few areas that need to be addressed. Parents, please do not stop your vehicle in the crosswalk. Vehicles are to stop just after the crosswalk or before. The crosswalk is designated for pedestrians only. Parents parking and walking their child/children into the building, please park and walk to the crosswalk. We have had several parents walking in between stopped cars. The bus lane is for buses only. Please do not drop your children off in this lane. The last area of concern is parents entering the parking lot through the exit. Please do enter the parking lot through the exit.
Attendance
Research shows that regular school attendance is vital to academic success and that student achievement improves with good attendance. Students must attend school regularly and be on time to classes in order to maximize instructional benefits. Additionally, regular school attendance and punctuality develop self-discipline and responsibility. Not only is school attendance compulsory, but it should also be encouraged and expected.
Putnam County Schools will cooperate with parents and students to try to improve their children's attendance, but parents and students must assume ultimate responsibility for regular school attendance.
Terms
Absence - not being present in class or approved school activity. Any student who is physically absent from school must be counted absent.
Excused absence - (1) illness/injury verified by a medical excuse; (2) death in the immediate family (limited to three days per death); (3) legal or religious obligation; (4) failure of bus to run (note from bus driver or parent may be required; (5) approved school activities; and parent notes (high school: up to six days per term) and (elementary/ middle: up to six days per year).
Unexcused absence - any absences not covered above. Suspension days are unexcused absences
Early departure - any time a parent or guardian receives permission to sign out a student prior to the end of the instructional day
Skipping - any absence from school/class and/or approved school activity without administrative permission
Tardiness - entry to school or class after the designated starting time
Verification - written documentation explaining absences. Verification is due within three (3) days upon return to school.
Parent Notification Process 5 Absences
On the fifth (5th) unexcused absence, per term for high schools or per year for elementary and middle schools, parents or guardians will receive written notification from the school. Parents may schedule a conference with school officials, and schools may offer services to help keep students in school.
10 Absences
On the tenth (10th) unexcused absence, the Putnam County Schools Attendance Director sends a legal notice advising of the consequences should the student continue to accumulate unexcused absences.
More than 10 Absences
If the student and parents or guardians do not comply with the provisions of the ten (10) day legal notice, the Attendance Director may be file a petition with the magistrate or Circuit Court against the student as delinquent or against the parents or guardians for neglect.
Please understand that it is your responsibility to make sure that your child(ren) is on time and present every day. State law requires that children attend school and provides for penalties for parents who allow children to be absent without good cause. If your child is absent, please send a doctor's excuse or note stating the reason for the absence with your child when he/she returns from an absence. Putnam County’s attendance policy allows for six parent notes a year. After six the absence is unexcused. After five unexcused absences you will receive a letter from the school and after ten you will be contacted by the county attendance director. However, there is no limit on medical excuses. Attendance is one of the points on which our school is scored in No Child Left Behind so please get those excuses in.
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