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Attendance & Punctuality

Attendance: Every Day Matters

We want you to be in school every day, but we know that sometimes you may need to miss school or arrive late.

Excused Absences

We want you to be in school; however we understand that sometimes there are unavoidable conflicts that result in absences or late arrivals to school. Excused absences/tardies are based on Section 175.6 of the Commissioner's Regulations defined as: personal illness, serious illness or death in the family, impassable roads due to weather conditions, religious observance, quarantine, court appearances, attendance at health clinics, approved cooperative work programs, approved college visits, military obligations, disciplinary detention of an incarcerated youth or any other reason approved by the Commissioner. Please remind your parent or guardian to provide an excusal note via ParentSquare, phone call, or email or absences will count as unexcused.

Unexcused Absences

Most absences not mentioned above are interpreted under the law as "unexcused absences" and include but are not limited to vacation, shopping, babysitting, haircut, oversleeping, needed at home, cold weather or missing the bus.

  • If you are present for the school day, but do not report to an assigned instructional period without advance parent/guardian permission that is communicated to the attendance office (ie: skipping class), you will receive an automatic lunch detention for each class missed. This includes scheduled study halls.
     

Making Up Work After an Absence

Each day of instruction is important! Therefore, you are responsible for all lessons and assignments missed during the period of any absence.

  • For an excused absence, the allowable time for turning in your assignments will be one school day for each excused absence, not to exceed 10 school days.
  • If you are absent for more than three consecutive days, you or your parents or guardians may contact the counseling or main office to collect missing work. CCS may require a note from a medical professional.
  • If you have a planned unexcused absence (i.e. a family vacation), it is your or your family’s responsibility to contact your teachers at least 5 days before the absence through direct conversation and/or email, stating the dates you will miss school. You are responsible for completing all work and notes provided during this absence.
  • If you are absent for a local midterm or final exam, you will make up the missed exam(s) on the day of your return to school, which may result in a student completing multiple exams in one day. Any excused absence of two or more days during an exam period MUST be accompanied by a note from a medical professional.
     

How CCS Supports Attendance

We want you to be here every day for your academic and social success! We will use a tiered approach to attendance to ensure all students receive the support they need to attend school consistently:

Tier 1 – All Students
Every student benefits from a strong school culture, regular communication with families, attendance updates on report cards, daily absence notifications, and access to the support team (counselor, nurse, social worker, principal).
Tier 2 – 10+ Absences: For students approaching chronic absence status
  • Tier 1 supports continue
  • An attendance success plan is created
  • Families receive a letter expressing concern and offering support
  • Regular check-ins with the student support team
Tier 3 – 20+ Absences: For students identified as chronically absent by New York State
  • Tiers 1 and 2 supports continue
  • Families receive a follow-up letter with next steps
  • More frequent check-ins and/or home visits
  • Connection to community resources if needed

On Time, Every Time

We value your education and want you to arrive promptly each day. To see which tardies will be excused, please see the “Excused Absence” section above. Please note:

  • If you are late five or more times within a quarter, consequences may include lunch detention, counseling, and/or parent/student meetings with the student support team.
  • Tardiness to school or class may impact eligibility for extracurricular and athletic activities. Students arriving late without a valid excuse (such as a medical note) will be considered unexcused and may be ineligible for participation that day. Repeated tardiness will result in progressive disciplinary action and may affect participation in future activities. For more info, please read the CCS Extracurricular Activities and Athletics Handbook.
  • If you are late returning from lunch, you will receive at least one automatic lunch detention.
  • If your teacher holds you after class, please request a pass so as not to be marked late to your next class.