SCHOOL HANDBOOK
ATTENDANCE ADDENDUM FOR SLP SCHOOLS ONLINE ELEMENTARY
2022-2023 SCHOOL YEAR
SPRING LAKE PARK SCHOOLS ONLINE PROUDLY SERVING COMMUNITIES IN MINNESOTA
WELCOME TO SLP SCHOOLS ONLINE ELEMENTARY As a part of Spring Lake Park Schools, please take a few minutes to review our school handbook. It includes important information about our schools’ operations and opportunities within the district for your family. Find the school handbook at SpringLakeParkSchools.org/schoolhandbook. As we create student learning experiences together as a part of SLP Schools Online Elementary, attendance and absences are two areas where practices differ from other schools.
Our District Purpose High expectations. High achievement for all. No excuses.
2 I SLP Schools Online Elementary Attendance Addendum
ATTENDANCE AND ABSENCES - ADDENDUM ATTENDANCE
Regular attendance and engagement in learning benefits a student’s academic progress and social development. Parents and guardians play the most important role in their child’s education as they make sure students engage with their learning each day. Parents and guardians are also responsible for informing the school in the event of a student absence and working in partnership with the school to solve any student attendance problems. At Spring Lake Park Schools Online Elementary, our attendance practices reflect a synthesis of best practices in attendance for online learning AND will result in specific next actions to support students in “showing up” for school personalized to their need. Students will be marked “present” if they engage in daily meaningful interactions with their learning and/or learner advocate (teacher). Examples of daily meaningful interactions may include, but are not limited to: • Reciprocal communication between student/family and teacher (learner advocate) • Collaborative problem-solving for technology access issues and/or use of specific tools within our digital toolkit • Reciprocal check-ins focused on social and emotional well-being • Evidence of learning through student work and learning experiences Students and at-home coaches will submit a reflection by 3:30 p.m. each school day sharing: • What did you do to support your learning today? • What do you plan to do tomorrow to support your learning? Some assessments – state and district testing – will be done in-person and students are expected to participate.
ABSENCES
If a student will be absent (not able to participate in the agreed upon daily schedule) a parent or guardian should call the attendance line 763-600-5209. You can call 24 hours a day and leave a message. If a child is “absent” and we don’t hear from you, your child’s absence will be recorded as unexcused. The school will excuse – or not excuse – student absences according to district policy. See definitions within Policy 503: Student Attendance. Parents/guardians can request that an unexcused absence be changed to excused with a written note or phone call. Learning is compromised when students are continually absent from school. If a student is absent frequently, school staff will reach out to families to understand current circumstances and develop a plan if needed. Schools also are mandated by state law to report a truant student to the proper authorities. At six unexcused absences, the school is required to submit a referral to the Anoka County Attorney’s Office and the county gets involved.
CONTACT US
SLP Schools Online Elementary has an office at the Lighthouse School. Office Hours: 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Office line: 763-600-5245 Attendance line: 763-600-5209 Kim Fehringer Principal kfehri@district16.org
Sheri Koehn Administrative Assistant skoehn@district16.org
Families may also find a comprehensive list of school district policies for reference. Full policies can be accessed at any time on our website at SpringLakeParkSchools.org/policies.
SpringLakeParkSchools.org/Online-Elementary I 3
Spring Lake Park Schools 1415 81st Avenue NE Spring Lake Park, Minnesota 55432 Phone: 763-600-5000 SpringLakeParkSchools.org