Attendance and Punctuality

All students must report to the office when late. Regular attendance and being on time are two key factors in your child's school life. Not only is this important to your child's learning, it is an important life skill.

Student absences

When children are absent from school, the continuity of their educational programs is often disrupted, resulting in gaps in learning. It is sometimes difficult for teachers to send work home as children lack the understanding gained through teacher direction. Please try to schedule holidays during breaks. 

How to report your child's absence

To report your child's absence, follow these simple steps:

  1. If you know in advance that your child will be absent or late, please telephone the school before 8:45 a.m. for the morning session or before 12:45 p.m. for the afternoon session. You can call the school 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Voice mail will pick up outside of office hours. Simply leave your child's name, division number, and reason for the absence; this is all we need from you.
  2. If your child is not at school for the morning or afternoon attendance checks, and we have not heard from you, our secretary will phone your home to establish the whereabouts and safety of your child.

This is a valuable program and adds to the measure of security for our children, and hopefully, increased peace of mind for parents.

Sick children at school

Sick children at school increase the likelihood that colds, flu, and other infections or viruses will spread throughout the school population. If your child is sick please keep him/her at home until well enough to resume full school activities, including outdoor recess and physical education classes. If your child becomes ill at school it is very important that the school have the current home, cell, work, or emergency contact phone numbers. Students are not permitted to stay inside during breaks as supervision is not available. 

Peanut/nut allergy alert

Rosemary Heights Elementary is a nut-free school. We do have students in our school that can have a severe allergic reaction to products with nuts in them. Please do not send any products with your child, that have nuts or traces of nuts in them. While this is a minor inconvenience for a majority of parents, this will help to keep our school safe for all of our students.

Call-back program

Be sure to call the school by 8:35 a.m. when your child will be absent from school (604-541-1613). The program operates very simply:

  1. If your child is to be absent or late with your knowledge, please telephone the school before 8:35 a.m. 
  2. If your child is not at school for the morning or afternoon attendance checks, and we have not heard from you, our secretary will phone your home to establish the whereabouts and safety of your child.

This is a valuable program and adds to the measure of security for our children, and hopefully, increased peace of mind for parents.

Telephone policy

The school telephone is not available to make social arrangements. Students must have permission from their teacher before they will be permitted to use the classroom telephone.

Telephone messages

Messages of an important, urgent nature will be taken and passed on to students immediately.

Students leaving the school 

For reasons of student safety and security, all parents or designated adults are requested to sign a child out from the office when a student leaves the school during the instructional day. Your child will be called from the classroom to meet you at the office when you arrive.

Parents and visitors 

For reasons of security and minimizing disruption to classroom instruction, all parents and visitors are asked to report to the office first. Guests and parents can then sign in and receive a visitors tag. Messages, lunches and such are to be left at the office. Please DO NOT visit the classroom to drop off these items.

 

Hospital/homebound program

Pupils who must be away from school for periods in excess of five consecutive days because of long-term illness or accidents may qualify for a hospital/homebound teacher service. This service is available upon referral from the school. Please notify your child's teacher if this is an appropriate service for your child.