Policies and Procedures

Student Attendance Policy

St. Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic Secondary School actively encourages and promotes regular attendance. Educational research has consistently shown that a student’s progress and academic success are closely related to regular attendance and participation in the day to day activities of the school.
Students are expected to be in attendance at all classes in order to participate in extra-curricular activities. Failure to comply may result in a student not being allowed to participate.

Our automated phone and e-mail systems will keep parents informed of student absences.

Although trips and vacations may provide diverse learning experiences, the school does not support travel or vacations during class time. The content covered in each course is important and requires daily attendance. While parents may choose to travel during the school year, the time missed from class is recorded as an absence and counted in the total absence record for the semester. A significant number of absences may place a student’s mark and credit in jeopardy.  Some assessments and evaluations can not be made up. Prior to the trip, the student should consult with their teachers and make notes on what will be covered in each course. Any assignments that are due while they are away should be completed and handed in prior to the trip to ensure they are accepted.

Students who are missing 15 or more days of class time are required to fill out an Extended Absence Form and have it completed by their teachers and Vice Principal.  These forms are available in the Attendance Office.

Student Absences

Parents and Guardians, there are 3 ways to report your child’s absence using the SafeArrival Student Attendance Management System

All students must always sign in and out at the Attendance Office when arriving late or leaving early even if their parents have notified the office. Students should have a dismissal slip from the Attendance Office prior to attending the class they will be dismissed early from.

All absences from school must be justified by parents or guardians.

1. If a student becomes ill while at school, they must report to the Attendance Office immediately.
2. Students who miss class, without an acceptable reason from their parent/guardian prior to the absence, will be recorded as truant.
3. All medical certificates submitted must be date specific and must be submitted directly after the absence.
4. Students are responsible for all course work and assignments while absent.
   1. i) Any examination and/or culminating activity missed that is validated by a doctor’s note may be rescheduled.
   2. ii) Any examination or culminating activity missed due to vacation or truancy will not be rescheduled, and may be assigned a mark of zero (0).
   3. iii) Any test missed due to illness may require a parent note acknowledging that a test has been missed and, in addition, may require a doctor’s note to be rescheduled.
5. All notification of absence due to vacation or family trip should be submitted in writing to the Vice Principal prior to the vacation.
6. Students with excessive truancies or unexplained absences in any course may be removed from that course.
7. If a student is signed out to leave class early for an appointment, students need to sign out at the attendance office prior to leaving.

Late Policy

• Students being on time for class is important for their success in any given course. Per the HCDSB Code of Conduct, it is the students responsibility to come to school prepared, on time and ready to learn.

1–4 Occurrences

• Subject teacher speaks with student.
• Lates tracked by teacher.

5th Occurrence

• Teacher contacts home.
• Vice-Principal is also notified

6+ Occurrences

• Referral to Vice-Principal.  Parental contact and / or meeting with the Vice-Principal. 
• Detention issued by Vice-Principal; student may be withdrawn from one or all classes for the entire day.
• Student may be suspended for habitual lates.

Note: Staff will exercise discretion in cases of extenuating circumstances.