American Group International of Agadir, Morocco shall maintain a strict attendance policy that adheres to students’ best interests as well as the law.
As a qualification for promotion to the next grade level in grades K-12, students must be in attendance 90% of the year. In accordance with State laws, parents must provide a dated and signed excuse stating the reason for any absence. The excuse must be submitted no later than two days after the student returns to school. A student who arrives at school after 10:00 a.m. is considered absent for the full day. A student is considered late and will be marked on school records as such if he/she arrives after 9:00 a.m.
Furthermore, if a student has (5) unexcused tardies past 9:00 am, that equates to one (1) unexcused day absent.
Students have the right to make up assignments missed during any excused absence. Parents and students have the right to review school policies which clearly define what is considered an excused absence, an unexcused absence, and tardiness. Parents and students also have the right to appeal a decision concerning whether an absence is excused or unexcused.
Tardiness: When a child reports late, they must obtain a late slip from the front desk (whether he/she is arriving to school late or has arrived at school early but is late getting to the classroom). The admin office shall be responsible for recording the student’s name, date, time, and reason for tardiness on a Late Slip designed for that purpose. After recording the information, the receptionist shall give the student that slip to give to the teacher. Teachers will mark tardiness or absence on the student record . Students arriving to school after 9:00 must provide the office with a written note from the parent stating the reason the student is late or “absent”. Once the note is received the student will be given a late slip to be admitted to the classroom. If a student does not have an acceptable reason for being tardy, he/she will be marked unexcused tardy.
Arrival after 10:00 a.m.: Students arriving after 10:00 a.m. are considered and remain marked as “absent” for the full day. Parents should make every effort to have their children well rested, fed and in school on time daily.
Absences: Students who are absent must return to school with a note from a parent/guardian. A student absent for three or more days due to illness must have a signed excuse from their doctor upon returning to school. Students who are absent or sent home because they contracted a communicable disease such as COVID-19, pinkeye, head lice, ringworm, chicken pox, etc. must be seen by a physician and provide a doctor’s note indicating they can return to school. The admin office shall keep all parents notes or doctors’ excuses in the student file. Notes that state long-term absences from school, i.e., vacation, extended family trip, are not counted as excused; hence, parents are encouraged to plan voluntary, non-emergency extended absences around the school calendar. Acceptable absences, such as death in family, hospitalizations, family emergency shall require a written and signed note from the doctor or agency indicating the date(s) of absences. The school administration will determine if an absence or lateness is excused or unexcused.
Early Dismissal: in the event your child has a medical or other appointment which that may require an early dismissal (being picked up prior to the 1:30 p.m. scheduled dismissal time), please write a note and give to the administration office stating the reason and time for the early dismissal. All early dismissals will be held in the front lobby, not from the classroom. When you come to pick up your child at the office, will ensure he/she arrives to the lobby to meet you. No early dismissal will be allowed after 2:30 pm.
Rights
Parents have the right to:
- Receive policies that clearly define absence, unexcused absence, and tardiness.
- Appeal a decision concerning whether an absence is excused or unexcused.
- Make up assignments missed during any excused absences.
Responsibilities
Parents/Students/Clients have the responsibility to:
- Attend all classes daily and on time.
- Provide the program with a written excuse from parents/guardians explaining the reason for an absence upon return to AGI.
- Request the make-up assignments from their teachers upon the return to the office and to complete the work within the length of time specified by the teacher.
Unexcused Absence and Tardiness Consequences
First Offense (1 Day)
- Parent/guardian notification
- Complete missed assignments.
Second Offense (3 day)
- Parent/guardian notification
- Complete missed assignments
- Written notification
Subsequent Offenses (5 day)
- Parent/guardian notification
- Written notification
- Parent Conference (Mandatory)
- Complete missed assignments
- Attendance Contract
Additional Options
- Referral to School AGI Operation Committee for possible disenrollment (after 10 days)
Excused Absences
Only the following will be accepted as valid reasons for excused absences or tardies:
- Illness of student. The school will require doctor’s validation for absences over three consecutive days or for any single day once a student has accumulated 5 absences due to illness.
Contagious disease within the student’s home.
- Death in the student’s family.
Legal business that must be scheduled during school time that is verified by a court order, summons, or other formal documentation.
- Observance of religious holidays.
- Remedial health treatment that must be scheduled during school time, verified by a doctor’s note or receipt.
- Medical or health appointments that must be scheduled during school time, verified by a doctor’s note or receipt.
- Emergency situations as determined by the principal.
- Participation in school sponsored academic or extracurricular activities events.
- Pre-approved family obligations in accordance with the provision below:
Family Obligations
AGI strongly encourages families to schedule family vacations to not conflict with AGI’s published calendar. However, we recognize that there are times when a student must be absent from school due to family/work obligations. Therefore, once a year, the principal may approve a one-time absence of up to five school days. To have an absence excused as a family obligation, the parent must submit a written request to the principal 30 days prior to the anticipated absence. In excusing absences for family obligations, the student’s past and current attendance, academic status, and the timing of the absence will be considered. Absences that exceed 5 days will not be excused. Students will be responsible for all missing learning and assignments and will be required to make up the work at home with the assistance of their families.
All children that miss the maximum number of days (20) without proper excuse will be required to attend the summer sessions. A full calendar year is made up of 180 days.
Regards,
Julie Wilburn, Principal