Absentee Reporting
1. When a child is absent, the parents/guardians are required to enter their absence request into Skyward.

2. School personnel will attempt to contact all homes of children who are absent but have not been reported absent by their parents/guardians.

3. When a child is absent from school, the parent/guardian is responsible for entering their absence into Skyward or send a note to school stating the reason for the absence. This should be sent when the child returns to class. If a note is not received within three (3) days after an absence, the absence will be marked unexcused/unlawful.

Attendance Update
Regular student attendance is a vital part of every child’s education. Because of the importance that daily attendance plays in the educational process of every child, the Department of Education and the schools of the Commonwealth are obligated to comply with state and federal requirements for student attendance and truancy.

In response to this mandate by the Department of Education, Cumberland Valley monitors student attendance closely. When a student is absent from school, the parents will have three school days to return an excuse form to the school. The failure to do so will move this possible lawful absence to an unlawful/truant absence. It is very important that parents/guardians return an excuse to school within three days to avoid the absence(s) becoming unlawful/truant. This procedure will be strictly enforced K-12. When a student has accumulated three unlawful/truant absences, the parent will receive a reminder from the District stating the number of unlawful absences and will be required to participate in a Student Attendance Improvement Plan (SAIP) to resolve truant behavior. Any future unlawful/truant absences will result in an attendance citation being filed with the District Justice. As part of this policy, disapproved educational trips and unplanned vacations during the school year will be counted as unlawful absences from school.

Dismissal From School (Appointments & Illness)
Parents must report to the building main office and request the pupil(s) involved. Do not go directly to the classroom for child.

1. Children shall be released from school only to authorized persons.

2. In case of a child’s illness, it shall be determined that the parent or reliable adult is at home before the child is sent home.

3. Requests for released time for dental and medical appointments shall be honored when impossible to arrange them on non-school time. A written request from the pupil’s parent or guardian is necessary. Upon return to school, students will be required to provide a note from their medical provider.

4. Children shall not be dismissed during school hours for non-school activities such as private music lessons, dance lessons, scouts, etc.

The Compulsory School Attendance Law of Pennsylvania states that when a child enters kindergarten he/she comes under the compulsory attendance laws. Policy 204 stipulates the following:

Excused Absences:

1. Illness
2. Family emergencies
3. Prearranged doctor and dentist appointments
4. Authorized school activities
5. Approved student educational trips (two (2) trips not to exceed five (5) school days)
6. College visitations - two (2) days per year during grades 9-12
7. Medical documentation will be required for students who acquire ten (10) or more absences during the school year. The policy indicates that pre-approved educational trips and absences for religious holidays or religious instruction (within guidelines) will be considered a lawful absence and be exempt from the 10 days of cumulative absence necessitating a physician’s statement.

Unexcused Absences:

1. Absences from school with parents’ consent for reasons other than those considered excusable.

2. Leaving school during school hours and going directly home without office permission.

All Unlawful / Unexcused Absences Will Be Recorded As Such When A Note Is Not Received Within Three Days Of The Absence And Will Not Be Changed To Lawful Or Excused Even If A Note (Parent, Physician, Or Otherwise) Is Received After The Three-day Period.

After an accrued total of three unexcused absences, the student’s parents will receive a legal notice from the school district. A fine may be imposed for any day over three instances of illegal absence.

Educational Trips (Policy 204)
A student will be permitted to take no more than two (2) educational trips per school year, not to exceed a total of five (5) school days, with his/her parents/guardians. An excused absence will be recorded for trips complying with program requirements. An Educational Trip Form should be completed and returned to the office one week prior to the trip. Neglecting to gain prior approval for an educational trip will result in the recording of unexcused daily absences for those days absent. Educational trips will not be approved during the last 10 days of school. For students who are required to participate in the PSSA tests, Keystone Exams, and/or any other state mandated assessment, educational trips will not be approved during those testing periods. Testing windows are listed within the calendar.

Party Snack Guidelines

All foods available in district schools during the school day shall be offered to student with consideration for promoting student health and reducing childhood obesity.

Foods provided through the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs shall comply with federal nutrition standards under the school meals initiative.

The nutritional standards for a la carte items are as follows:
Less than 200 calories
Less than 35% of calories from fat
Less than 10% of calories from saturated fat
Less than 35% sugar

Classroom Parties may offer a minimal number of foods (2-3) that contain added sugar as the first ingredient. Students should also be provided with:
Fresh fruits or vegetables
Water, milk or 100% juice

Otherwise, any other foods provided during classroom parties shall follow the a la carte guidelines as outlined above.

All competitive foods available to students in district schools shall comply with the Nutritional Standards for Competitive Foods in Pennsylvania Schools. Competitive foods are described as those offered at school other than through the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs and include a la carte foods (snacks and beverages), vending foods (snacks and beverages), school store food (snacks and beverages), fundraisers, classroom parties, holiday parties and food from home.