Attendance and Dismissals
Regular and punctual school and class attendance are essential to a student’s educational success. Students are expected to attend school every day unless they have an excused absence. We provide adult supervision starting at 7:45 am, so we encourage students to arrive after 7:45 am. At 8:05 am we welcome students in the building. Breakfast will be served in the cafeteria until 8:15 am. All students are expected to be in Advisory before 8:20 when the school day officially begins.
Absences
Maine State Law and the Portland School Board of Education define excused absence as:
- personal illness
- appointment with a health professional that must be made during school hours.
- observance of a religious holiday
- family emergency
- planned absence for personal or educational purpose which has been pre-approved by the principal/assistant principal
- educational disruption as defined in Maine Law
- absences for other reasons are unexcused
Tardy to School
Students who are not in Advisory at 8:20 am will be marked tardy in attendance. Students arriving after 8:20 am will check in at the main office to a get a pass to go to class. A signed note from a parent/guardian explaining why the student is tardy will be needed to excuse a late arrival at school. Parents/Guardians, please do your best to notify the school office before 8:20 am if your child will be absent or tardy. Parents/guardians may call our attendance hotline at 874-8150 or email libbyt@portlandschools.org to report absences and tardies. Tardiness to school is excused for the same reasons listed above for excused absences.
All missed time at school means a student missed valuable learning opportunities. A student may be asked to access After School Support with Teachers and/or After School Support for Restoration to catch up from absences. Consistent unexcused absences and unexcused tardies will result in family contact and increased supports at/from school to help a student continue to make connections at school and make academic progress.
Student Dismissal
Dismissal Expectations for Students
- Closest door. All adults in the hallways to support.
- We do not provide general adult supervision after school, so we encourage students to go directly to after school activities or home when the bell rings.
- Outdoor Courts and Fields open for public use at 4:15, after school activities have ended.
Students are not allowed to leave school during the school day without the permission of the principal or assistant principal and the student’s parent/guardian. Parents/Guardians, please send a note to school on the morning when your child needs to leave early whenever possible. Students should take their parent’s/guardian’s request for dismissal to the main office for approval before school begins in the morning. To ensure the safety of students, we require that the parent/guardian or other authorized adult sign the student out at the office. No student will be dismissed to an adult whose name is not on the Emergency Release Form.
The principal has the authority to deny release of students to unknown or unauthorized persons. Please remember to update the school with any changes to emergency contacts, address and phone numbers. Thank you!
For more information please visit https://www.portlandschools.org/about/board-of-education/board-policies or refer to the following board policies: