There is a direct correlation between good attendance and success in school–and later in life, too! Please do all that you can to ensure that your child is at school each day. Illness, family emergencies, and other unavoidable reasons for absences are understandable. Vacations, extended trips, and other recreational activities, which can be scheduled during holidays or during the summer, should be avoided during instructional days.
When a student is going to be absent, AISD policy requires that the parent call the school office to notify the Bryker Woods Attendance Clerk. Please call (512) 414-2054 before 9:30 a.m. Please leave a message on our voice mail if you call before/after school hours or if no one answers your call during the instructional day. We routinely check our voice mail. You are encouraged to send an email concerning your child’s absence to Denise.Wolfe@austinisd.org. AISD requires a note from the parent explaining the reason for the absence. Please send a note with your child when he/she returns to school.
Students are expected to attend school regularly and to arrive punctually. Official attendance is taken at 10:00 a.m. daily. To be considered “present” for the day, a student must be physically present on campus at this time. If a student is not present at 10:00 a.m. the student is not counted absent if he/she arrives at or returns to school later and has a note from a medical professional indicating that the absence was due to a doctor’s appointment. Certain religious practices and holidays also may allow a student to miss school without being considered absent. A note from the parent is required when a student is eligible for participation in such holidays. These attendance requirements are in compliance with district and state regulations. If a student must be absent for more than two (2) consecutive days, the parent or student may ask the teacher(s) for make-up work which can be sent home. Otherwise, the student will be expected to work with the teacher(s) to complete missed work upon returning to school. If possible, please make arrangements with the classroom teacher to pick up missed work beforehand.
NOTE: Late arrivals (tardies) as well as early departures (any time before the standard dismissal time) are considered absences for part of the day and also count toward the allowable number of unexcused absences before a court case is filed. When arriving after 7:40 a.m., students must report to the office first. All notes should be submitted directly to our attendance clerk in the office.
Tardies (Late Arrivals)
When children are habitually late in arriving at school, this poses a real disruption to his/her education. The late student misses introductory remarks and activities and is not a part of the opening instruction. Therefore, please do all that you can to make sure that students arrive on time on a daily basis. When a student arrives after 7:40 a.m., a tardy will be recorded. Please be aware that you will receive a letter from the AISD District office if your child is tardy or absent more than three days in a four-week period and the tardies/absences are unexcused. You must bring a note stating that your child has been home ill in order for the absence to be excused.
Leaving School During the Day
Any student leaving our campus during school hours must be signed out by the parent or designated adult in the main office. The office staff will issue a permit to leave school, which must then be presented to the teacher before the child can be released. Please do not go directly to a child’s classroom. Students will be released only to parents/guardians or other adults who are on the official emergency card. We need written permission from the parent or guardian if other individuals are to take students from school. Persons who are picking up students must provide identification in the office upon request. If a child has permission to eat with another adult off campus or outside the cafeteria, this must be prearranged, and the teacher or office staff must have a note so indicating.