PARENT STUDENT HANDBOOK | Page 34

Background Checks

All faculty, staff, and volunteers are required to have a DCF background check conducted before working on campus or with our students. Criminal background checks, including fingerprinting, are also run on all employees of the school.

Mandated Reporters

“ Connecticut law requires certain citizens to report suspected child abuse and neglect. These mandated reporters are individuals in professions or occupations that have regular contact with children or whose primary focus is on children. The law requires the report of suspected child abuse or neglect.” As such, all Cornerstone faculty, staff, and volunteers with supervisory duties are mandated reporters, receive related triennial training, and are expected to comply with the relevant laws.

ATTENDANCE

For a student to gain the most from the school experience, regular attendance at all classes is essential. Both parents and students should understand the following:

1. Time lost from class is irretrievable. Assignments completed upon return from school after an absence are an attempt to meet minimum requirements, but they cannot replace the benefits of attending class in person. 2. Excessive absences negatively impact the student’ s ability to master concepts. 3. Excessive absences are a drain on the resources of the teachers, which detracts from the classroom at large.

Reporting All Student Absences & Illnesses

Parents must inform the school office directly whenever their student will be absent for any reason. Please notify the office before the school day begins at 8:30 to prevent our office staff from having to contact you directly. Each consecutive absence must also be reported to the school office until the student returns to school( unless a return date was communicated at the onset). When a student has been absent for the day, the student is generally not permitted to attend after-school events that same day. Unusual circumstances may be presented to the building principal before attending afternoon / evening events to determine if an exception will be made. Please note that all absences, even those that are“ excused,” are considered absences that count towards the student’ s 15 maximum allowed absences per year.

Make-Up Work

In the event of illness for elementary students in Kindergarten through Grade 5, parents may request that school work be available to allow the child to keep up with classroom assignments to the best of their ability. Parents are asked to make their request directly to the classroom teacher. All other missed work is expected to be completed and submitted according to the number of days that the student was absent.( An absence of 2 days would typically allow the student 2 days to complete assignments given during the absence.)

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