Attendance and Absences

School Dismissal Manager

Riverside Magnet School utilizes School Dismissal Manager’s absent option for parents to report their child absent, arriving late, or leaving early. With questions about School Dismissal Manager (SDM), please call our office at (860) 709-6800.

REPORTING YOUR CHILD WILL BE ABSENT

When in the SDM app, select the day on the calendar that your child will be absent, then select add exception, and choose absent from the dropdown options, filling out the necessary information. SDM does not determine if absences are excused or unexcused, and you must still provide the school office with a doctor’s note when required and as specified in our school attendance policy.

All absence notices must either: (1) be submitted through SDM the day of the absence AND a note sent when the student returns; or (2) be submitted through SDM the day of the absence AND a note be sent by email.

Please note the nurse and classroom teachers do not update attendance records.

REPORTING YOUR CHILD WILL LEAVE EARLY

When in the SDM app, select the day on the calendar that your child will be picked up early, then select add exception, and choose leaving early. You will immediately be asked if your child is coming back to school. Select yes or no, and then fill out the remaining information. Depending on whether you answered yes or no, SDM will create the appropriate dismissal exception or notification to the office once you click submit. You must still come into the office to sign your child out and adhere to any rules or guidelines specified in our school’s policies.

REPORTING A LATE ARRIVAL

When in the SDM app, select the day on the calendar that your child will be arriving late, then select add late arrival, fill out the reason, and click submit. SDM does not determine if scholars are tardy, and you must still come into the office to sign your child in and adhere to any rules or guidelines specified in our school’s policies.

Absences & Tardies

The Connecticut state law requires parents/guardians be made aware of their legal obligation to ensure their child attends school. Attending school regularly helps children feel better about school and themselves. Start building this habit in pre-kindergarten and kindergarten so they learn right away that going to school on-time, everyday is important. Chronic absenteeism is an early indicator of future academic difficulty. Help us prepare your child for their bright future by getting them to school everyday and on time!

Riverside Magnet School recognizes the following attendance policies and practices for all students, including three and four year olds.

TARDies (ARRIVING LATE)

If your child arrives at school after 8:45 a.m., then they are considered tardy; you will need to sign them in at the office and receive a tardy pass. Scholars will walk by themselves and bring the tardy pass to their teacher. If your child is tardy more than 10 times during the school year, the principal or assistant principal will meet with you in order to work together to help you get your child to school on time.

ABSENCES

If your child is going to be absent from school, please input on the School Dismissal Manager. Whenever a student is absent from school, no matter what the reason or circumstance, a note from the parent or doctor must accompany the student upon their return to school. We need this note in addition to your submission on School Dismissal Manager of their absence. The note should include the following information:

Date the note is written
Name of the student absent
Reason for the absence
Date of the absence
Signature of the parent/guardian or physician if the note is a hard copy

In order for a child to be considered “In Attendance” for the school day, they must be at school for more than 1/2 of the day (3 1/4 hours) Arrival after 12:45pm is considered an absence.

EXCUSED ABSENCES

For absences one through nine, a student’s absences are considered excused when the student’s parent/guardian approves such absence and submits appropriate documentation. For the tenth absence and all absences thereafter, a student’s absence from school is only considered excused for the following reasons and must have a parent note and, in cases of illness, a medical note accompanying them when they return to school:

Student illness, verified by an appropriately licensed medical professional, regardless of length of absence
Student’s observance of a religious holiday
Death in a child’s family or other emergency beyond the control of the student’s family
Extraordinary educational opportunities pre-approved by district administrators and in accordance with Connecticut State Department of Education.

UNEXCUSED ABSENCES

A student’s absence is considered unexcused if:

There is no phone call or note from the family or SDM exception
After the ninth absence, if the absence is due to a family vacation/trip or holiday

It is important that parents and guardians understand that extended absences may severely impact your child’s learning, relationship-building, and school routine.

If a student accrues four unexcused absences in one month, or has ten or more absences in a school year, this student is in danger of approaching chronic absenteeism. Absences exceeding nine in the school year or four in one month is considered chronic absenteeism. At this time a letter will be sent home to request a parent meeting in order to work together to ensure better school attendance for the child. A review of your child’s attendance will accompany each report card in order to help you keep track of your child’s attendance.

When there is weather-related school cancellation, as decided by each child’s home district, but Riverside Magnet School has school, an absence will not be accrued. In this case, please notify RMS of your child’s absence. The child’s absence will be considered: ‘modified attendance’.

With attendance questions, concerns or resources, please reach out to our District Attendance Specialist, Silante Mendez, via email at smendez@goodwinmagnetsytem.org.