Keeping your child safe at school is a high priority for us. It is important that we are able to reach you in the event your child has an emergency at school. If you have a new phone number or your emergency contacts change, please notify us as soon as possible. We ask that each student have an emergency contact that is not a parent. This allows us to be sure there is always someone available for your child if we cannot reach you. Please give our office a call to update your child's contact phone numbers.

Thank You!

STUDENT ATTENDANCE

The parent or guardian is charged by law with responsibility for the student’s consistent school attendance.  The McNeal Elementary School District Administrator is required by law to enforce the laws regarding attendance, with consideration for the variables that effect children and families.  The District Administrator will place emphasis on prevention and correction of the cause of absenteeism.

STUDENT ABSENCES AND EXCUSES

The regular school attendance of a child of school age is required by state law.  Regular school attendance is essential for success in school; therefore, absences shall be excused only for necessary and important reasons.  Such reasons include: illness, bereavement, other family emergencies, and observance of major religious holidays of the family’s faith.

In the event of a necessary absence known in advance, the parents are expected to inform the school; if the absence is caused by an emergency such as illness, the parent is expected to telephone the District office.  When a student returns to school following any absence, a note of explanation from the parent is required.  

State law mandates that the school records the reasons for all student absences.  Therefore, when a student is absent, it will be necessary for the parents to call the school on or before the day of the absence in order to advise the school as to the reason for the absence.  When it is impossible to call on the day of the absence, the school should be notified on the morning the student returns.  All absences not verified by parental or administrative authorization will remain unexcused.

If a parent does not have access to a phone, either at home or at work, a note will be accepted for verification purposes.

For absences greater than one (1) day in length, the school should be notified each day of the absence.

All personnel will solicit cooperation from parents in the matter of school attendance and punctuality, particularly in regard to the following:

• The scheduling of medical and dental appointments after school hours except in cases of emergency.
• The scheduling of family vacations during school vacation and recess periods.

The school may require an appointment card or letter from the hospital or clinic when a parent has not notified the school of an appointment of a medical or dental nature.

TRUANCY

A child between the ages of six (6) and sixteen (16) failing to attend school during the hours school is in session is truant unless excused pursuant to A.R.S. 15-802, 15-803, or 15-901.

Truant means an unexcused absence for at least one (1) class period during the day.  This means absences from any class, study hall, or activity during the school day for which the student is scheduled.

Unexcused absence for at least five (5) school days within a school year constitutes habitual truancy.  The District Administrator will establish procedures to identify and deal with unexcused absences, beginning with notification of parents.  Continued violation may lead to discipline of the child and/or referral of the parent to a court of competent jurisdiction.

LINKS TO USEFUL SITES:

• http://www.fns.usda.gov/fncs-recipe-box
•  
• http://www.stopbullying.gov/
•  
• http://www.azpromisingpractices.com/
•  
• http://www.ncpc.org/topics/internet-safety/social-networking-websites

Here is a link to find Head Start Centers in Arizona : https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/center-locator?latitude=34.049&longitude=-111.094&state=AZ&radius=5

• Arizona Youth Leadership Forum- Sign Up