Attendance/Calendar

What is your policy on attendance?
Students must be in school every day unless they are ill or have another excused absence. School districts are required to monitor student attendance and take action if attendance falls below the mandatory level. According to state law, students are required to be in attendance at least 90% of the time in order to be promoted to the next grade level. That means if your child misses more than 18 days of the school year, he/she is in danger of retention. Excessive absences can also be referred to the truancy officer and/or the legal system for prosecution.

At what time would my child be considered tardy?
Students should be in class by 7:40 a.m. Arriving on time is very important to your child and contributes to a smooth start to the day. Students who are tardy not only miss out on important instruction, they disrupt the beginning of the day for the teacher and the other students in the classroom.

If we do arrive late, what time is too late to be considered present for the day?
Your child must arrive to school by 9:00 a.m. in order to be considered present.

What if my child has been to the doctor, and then reports to school later in the day?
If you have visited the doctor that day and bring verification from the doctor’s office, your child will be counted present regardless of what time you arrive. This does not count for a parent note, only verification from a doctor's office.

How can I keep up with what days the district will observe as holidays?
Each year the district publishes a calendar, which is distributed to all students. At Deer Park Elementary we also have a weekly newsletter that is very helpful in keeping you informed of school events, holidays and other important dates. You can also reference the Newsletters and Calendars previously sent out by email under the Newsletter and Calendar tab. 

Should I be receiving emails from DPE? 

Every Friday, Mrs. Rich will send an email out containing important school information and the Newsletter for the upcoming week. If you are not receiving these emails, please contact our attendance clerk to get this fixed. Also, please remember the DPE emails that go out to families are from an automated system. If you reply to it, it will not go to anyone. The best way for additional information or clarity around an event is to call the school at 832-668-8000.