STUDENT ATTENDANCE &

PUNCTUALITY POLICY

PURPOSE
University of Toronto Schools (the “School”) believes that full and timely
attendance at, and participation in learning activities by students are necessary to
ensure student wellness and success and to obtain maximum benefit from the
instructional process. It is expected that each student arrives to classes on time
and attends classes regularly.

POLICY
The Principal/Vice Principals/ Head of Student Support shall ensure that a record
of attendance and lates is kept for each student registered at the School. The
Principal/Vice Principal or Head of Student Support shall also oversee attendance
procedures to ensure that attendance is checked and reported daily for each class
and all student absences and lates are followed up.

1. Absences
Where a student is absent from school, there must be oral communication with the
parent or guardian. If a student is absent, the parent should phone the School’s
office to explain the reason for the absence.

When absences do occur, they will be treated as either excusable or inexcusable.

The treatment of absences under this Policy will be construed and applied in
accordance with the School’s duty to accommodate protected grounds under the
Ontario Human Rights Code.

a. Excusable Absences

Excusable absences are those which generally fit into the category of
unavoidable. The administration has the authority to make the
determination of what is or is not “unavoidable”. Examples of “unavoidable”
and excused absences include the following:

● Personal Illness: The Principall or designate may require the

certificate of a physician or qualified health practitioner.
● Compassionate Leave: The absence arising from this circumstance
is limited to a reasonable length of time.
 ● Observance of Religious Holidays: Any student of any religious faith
will be excused if the absence is for the purpose of observing a
religious holiday consistent with the student’s creed or belief.
● Any other absence which the administration in consultation with the
parent(s) or guardian(s) of the students amounts to a good and
sufficient cause of absence from school.
●
b. Inexcusable Absences

Inexcusable absences are those which generally fit the category of being of
such a nature that prudence would have precluded the absence. The
administration has the authority to determine whether or not the absence
warrants being considered “inexcusable”.

A student may be released during the school day upon the written or verbal
request of the parent.

It is the responsibility of the Head of Student Support to counsel students

and parents in order to seek changes to poor attendance. To ensure that
poor attendance is remedied, the administration must ensure that each
absence is properly documented.

The School administration may notify the parent(s) or guardian(s) of a

student after the first or any inexcusable absence.

c. Lates

Students who are late for class interrupt the teaching and learning
environments at UTS and lates can have an impact on student success.
Where a student is late to any class, the student must sign in with the main
office. The Head of Student Support will work with parents and students to
address punctuality and to ensure that students attend classes on time.
Students who accumulate several unexcused lates will be subject to
progressive discipline.

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