Attendance

SCHOOL HOURS

School is in session from 7:55 a.m. to 2:25 p.m. On early release Wednesdays, school ends at 11:45 a.m. 

School doors open at 7:45 a.m. Parents may not drop children off earlier than 7:45 a.m. as there is no supervision for the children.

LATE ARRIVAL

A student is considered tardy if arriving after 7:55 a.m. A student arriving late to school must report to the main office with a parent, and be signed in by the parent with a reason for tardiness. The student then obtains an office pass before proceeding to class.

REPORTING A STUDENT ABSENT FROM SCHOOL

Parents are asked to notify the school whenever a student will be absent. Whenever your child is absent from school, please call the office before 7:45 a.m. on the day of the absence, or call/email the Haynes office (haynes_office@sudbury.k12.ma.us) anytime before the day of the absence. The Haynes Attendance Line is (978) 443-1093 (then press 1). Please leave a message with your child's full name, teacher’s name, the reason for the absence and the anticipated date(s) of absence. 

Families of students whose absence has not been reported will be contacted by the school office the morning of the absence. If no emergency contact can be reached to verify a child’s absence, the Sudbury police department will assist in locating the missing child.

EARLY DISMISSAL

If your child will be leaving during the school day, please send in a note to the homeroom teacher. Then, plan to pick up your child at the office where personnel will call the homeroom to notify the child and teacher. All students are picked up from the front lobby. Please note, students will only be dismissed from their classroom once the parent/guardian picking them up has arrived. 

CHANGING A DISMISSAL ROUTINE

Advance notice is required for a change in a student’s dismissal plan. When changing your child’s dismissal plan, including dismissing a child to another parent, either call the main office, Attendance Line or email haynes_office@sudbury.k12.ma.us by 1 p.m. Changes in dismissal cannot be guaranteed if received after 1 p.m.  Please do not make dismissal changes after 1:00 p.m. (10:30 a.m. on Early Release Wednesdays) as we cannot guarantee the change will be received in time.  

EXCUSED AND UNEXCUSED ABSENCES

Chapter 76, Section 1 of the Massachusetts General Laws states that all children between the ages of six and sixteen must attend school.

An EXCUSED ABSENCE/TARDY includes:

• Documented illness or injury
• Bereavement/family funeral
• Major religious observances
• Extraordinary family circumstances (excused at the discretion of the principal)

The Sudbury Public Schools may request a doctor's note for medical absences of five (5) or more consecutive days.

An UNEXCUSED ABSENCE/TARDY is not covered by the aforementioned definition of “Excused Absence/Tardy.” Examples of an unexcused absence may include, but may not be limited to:

• Repetitive or chronic absence or tardiness due to illness or injury not documented by a doctor or other medical professional
• Truancy
• Family vacations
• Undocumented absences
• Non-emergency family situations

Parent(s)/Guardian(s) can monitor their students' attendance records through the Aspen Follett Parent Portal. Attendance is also be included in Report Cards. Information about SPS attendance policy can be found in the Sudbury Public Schools Parent Handbook. 

FAMILY VACATIONS & TRAVEL

Massachusetts General Law requires compulsory attendance for students. We strongly discourage family vacations or travel when school is in session, and instead to schedule travel only during school holidays and vacations. In addition to compromising the attendance law, family vacations interrupt the educational process in ways that make-up work cannot reverse. Teachers will not provide homework assignments prior to a family vacation or travel.