Attendance

Full day absence, late arrival, early checkout or change in dismissal

Attendance Guidelines and Procedures

Reporting an Absence

Report attendance using one of the methods below.

When reporting a student's absence, please be specific about why your student will not attend school today.  If reporting an ill student, include symptoms, especially if they have a fever, nausea, vomiting, sore throat, and/or cough. If your student has a diagnosis from a healthcare provider, please include that information.

Schools are required to account for all absences; therefore, school personnel will call to check absentees not accounted for in advance.  Since this is a time-consuming process, your call is greatly appreciated. Students who are not in their classrooms by 8:50 a.m. are considered tardy and must report to the office before going to their classrooms. 

 

General Guidelines 

FCPS believes, and research has shown, that students who regularly attend school have the most academic success.  Parents and school staff members can work together to encourage students to participate fully in the school program—by being present, arriving on time, and being connected, committed, and engaged in the learning process.

Absence or tardiness for the following reasons are considered excused:

  • Illness of the student
  • Death in the family or family emergency
  • Medical appointment
  • Observance of a religious holiday

Absence or tardiness for the following reasons are considered unexcused:

  • Family trip
  • Childcare problems
  • Oversleeping
  • Non-school related activities
  • Traffic
  • Missing the bus

 

Early Dismissal Guidelines

Lees Corner will excuse a student during the day for valid reasons. Parents should send a written request to the teacher and send an email to @email when their child must leave early. Parents must come to the school office to pick up and sign out their child. We will not allow a student to walk home alone during the school day, nor will we release your child to anyone other than a parent or guardian without approval by a parent.  

Please include the following in your written requests:

  • the date when the student will be dismissed early.
  • the time at which the student will be picked up from the office.
  • the students first and last name.
  • the student’s teacher and grade level.
  • the reason for the early dismissal.

 

Late Arrival Guidelines

Parents should send a written note to the office or send an email to @email when their child will be arriving late to school. Please include the following in your written note/email:

  • the date when the student will be late.
  • the time at which the student will be arriving in the main office.
  • the students first and last name.
  • the student’s teacher and grade level.
  • the reason for the late arrival.

 

Changes in Dismissal Guidelines

The parent/legal guardian can email @emailto request a change in the dismissal routine.  All requests should be made by 2:00 p.m. For any changes or emergencies after 2:00 p.m., please contact the office at 703-227-3500. Please include the following in your written note/email:

  • the date(s) when the student’s dismissal routine will be different.
  • how the student normally is dismissed (bus rider, walker, kiss and ride, afterschool child care transportation, SACC, etc.)
  • how the student will be dismissed on the dates provided.
  • the students first and last name.
  • the student’s teacher and grade level.
  • When a student is going home with another student, it is expected that parents have coordinated plans beforehand.  Each family must email @email by 2:00 p.m

Emails/notes will be forwarded to the classroom teacher indicated. 

 

Family Trip Guidelines

We encourage family trips during scheduled school vacations. We strongly discourage such trips during the school year because these extended unexcused absences interrupt sequential learning in many subject areas. Homework is not given in advance. We must withdraw any student from our enrollment who is absent from school for 15 consecutive days or more. Upon the student’s return, a parent must again officially enroll him or her.

 

Keep Us In the Loop - How Do We Contact You?

Your emergency contact information is very important. It accompanies your child everywhere he or she goes—even on field trips. The information is vital to us and to you. Phone numbers, addresses, and the names of the adults you permit to take your child from school should all be kept current.

You can input, access, and update your child’s emergency care information via your ParentVue account. It is fast, easy, and safe. Parents receive a ParentVue account when they register. SIS Parent Account, please use this link to find out how to register your SIS ParentVue Account..

The paper version of the emergency care form is still available if you choose to use this method to provide your information. It is not necessary for you to complete both the paper form and the online tool.