Attendance

Attendance is critical to the success of your child in school. All children are expected to be in attendance each day unless they are ill. McClelland Elementary School and the State of Indiana recognize legal and excused absences only due to illness of the child, death in the immediate family, or subpoena of the student to court.

Perfect attendance recognition is for students who have been neither tardy nor absent. If a student is picked up prior to 3:00, this counts against perfect attendance as well.

1. If your child is absent from school, please call the 24 Hour Attendance Line at 317-988-8050 before 10:00 a.m. School personnel may contact your home if a call has not been made to report an absence.
2. If contact from you is not made, either by phone or by written note, the absence is automatically marked unexcused.
   a. After a student has been absent 3 days, the office will send an attendance letter in order to improve attendance.
   b. After 5 and 9 days, a follow-up letter and contact by the school will be made in order to improve attendance.
   c. After 15 days, a visit by a Wayne Township Truancy Officer may occur.
   d. Paperwork for truancy court will begin if attendance does not improve after a Truancy Officer visit.
3. Please schedule doctor’s appointments and dentist appointments outside of school hours. Please do not keep your child out of school for a full day for an appointment unless it is absolutely necessary. If you do need to take your child to an appointment during school hours please send a note to their teacher. You will need to sign your child out in the front office. Office staff will not call students down to the office prior to their parent’s arrival.
4. If homework is desired, please leave a message before 12:00 p.m.
5. A student tardy to school, not in their classroom by 8:30 a.m., must check in at the office when he/she arrives to obtain a pass to class. If later than 8:45 a.m.; an adult must walk the student(s) into the office and sign them in to obtain a pass to class.
   a. After 3 tardies, the classroom teacher will make contact to improve timeliness.
   b. After 5 tardies, the school will send a tardy letter in order to improve timeliness.
   c. After 9 tardies, a follow-up letter and contact by the school will be made in order to improve timeliness. Additionally, parents will be referred to the district’s tardy court where they will meet with the district and school administration to devise a plan to reduce the student’s tardiness.