Skip To Main Content

Attendance and Absences

EXCUSED ABSENCES

We request parents or guardians notify the office by 8:30 A.M. if a child in their care will be absent or tardy that day.  Office staff will attempt to make telephone contact with parents or guardians of absentees from which notification has not been received.  If the school is unable to determine the reason for the absence, it will be recorded as unexcused.  

Absences will be recorded as excused for a student who is ill, injured, or suffering from a mental or emotional disability with notification by the parent or guardian.  Other absences will be excused if pre-arranged or providing a note after the absence, with the office and approved by the school administrator. Though excused, the absence becomes part of the child’s cumulative record.  

In the event a child needs to be dismissed during school hours, please contact the school office explaining the reason for the dismissal and the time that child is to be released.  Parents and guardians are strongly encouraged to schedule appointments and trips after regular school hours or on days when children are not in school.

If excused absences become excessive, ten (10) in a school year, parents or guardians will be notified by school staff to express concern.  Such notifications may be accompanied by requests for conferences aimed at improving the student’s attendance and completion of missed schoolwork.  

UNEXCUSED ABSENCES

Absences not covered above or not approved by the school will be recorded as unexcused.  Students who are suspended out-of-school or expelled shall be considered excused.  Parents or guardians will be notified by mail, telephone, or personal contact by a staff member when any student has four (4) unexcused absences within one month or ten (10) in a school year.  Parents or guardians may be requested by school staff or administrators to meet with them to develop problem-solving strategies directed towards improved attendance and the accomplishment of learning objectives.

Attendance

We believe regular attendance is very important in ensuring a successful school experience for every student.  We also believe establishing the habit of regular attendance early in a student’s school experience is critical.  Please avoid scheduling non-essential trips, outings, etc. during school time. The Morgan County School District Re-3 has an attendance policy in place which Green Acres will follow (Policy JH).  This policy comes into play when a) a student has unexcused absences, or b) a student begins to accumulate a large number of excused absences.  Your cooperation in keeping us informed regarding your child’s absence is most appreciated.  If we are not notified about an absence, we will visit you and/or attempt to contact you -- in the interest of the child’s safety.  Students who attend school every day are much more likely to go to work every day as adults.  PLEASE HELP ASSURE YOUR CHILD A SUCCESSFUL SCHOOL EXPERIENCE BY PROMOTING HIGH ATTENDANCE EXPECTATIONS FROM THE VERY FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.

MAKE-UP WORK

Teachers may prepare make-up work for students who have absences depending on the instruction the student will be missing.  We ask that parents give the teachers notice of at least one day when requesting your child’s make-up work.  

Tardiness 

Students are considered tardy if they are not in their homeroom when the 8 am bell rings. An unexcused tardy is when a student comes late and there is no communication from the parent explaining the lateness of the student.

Truancy 

According to Colorado Law, a child who has attained the age of six years and is under the age of seventeen years must be enrolled and in attendance of school.  A child within this age range who has four unexcused absences from school in any one month, or ten unexcused absences from school during any school year will be considered habitually truant.  Students who fall into this category may be turned over to the District’s legal counsel for subsequent consequences.  This law is referred to as the Colorado Compulsory School Attendance Law.

Daily Schedule

Our students’ school day is from 7:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.  The daily schedule is as follows:

7:00 am 

Breakfast is served in the cafeteria.  Only students eating breakfast may enter the building at 7:00 AM.  All other students will enter the building at 7:30.

7:15 

Students play on the playground before the first bell rings.  During inclement weather, students wait in the gym for the school day to begin.

7:30

First bell rings.  Students report to classrooms.

7:45

Tardy bell rings and classes begin.

10:50 

Lunch for 1st Graders

11:20

Lunch for 2nd Graders

11:30

Lunch for 3rd Graders

11:50

Lunch for 4th Graders

12:10

Lunch for 5th Graders

3:30

Dismissal bell for bus riders.  

3:31

Dismissal for walkers and students picked up by parents.  

 

All students in grades 1-5 have an instructional day of seven hours.  Each student has a 70-minute combination of General Music, Physical Education, Art, Library, or Computers each day.  Art is offered only one semester for each grade level.  

Other services offered by the school are as follows:

  • Special Education services

  • Title 1 services

  • Speech (students qualify through various types of testing)

  • Health services

  • ELPA (English Language Proficiency Act - students learning English as a second language)

  • Individual/small-group counseling

Please do not allow your child to arrive at school before 7:30 unless they are eating breakfast.  Teachers arrive at 7:30 a.m., so students are not supervised until that time.  Students arriving at 7:30 should go directly to the playground or to the gym during inclement weather.  Students wishing to buy lunches should do so between 7:45 and 8:00.  After school, students are expected to go directly home.  Parents are encouraged to discuss with their children the importance of being safe on the way to and from school.  Due to staff meetings and the numerous after school activities, students cannot be supervised after 3:35.