Chesapeake Public Schools Non-Attendance/Truancy Policy

The Code of Virginia requires that schools follow certain procedures to address violations of the truancy and compulsory attendance laws.  In an effort to comply with these laws and improve attendance in the public schools, the Chesapeake Public School system in conjunction with the Chesapeake Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court will be monitoring truancy and reporting this to the court.  A student who has accumulated seven unexcused absences within the school year (excluding suspensions) will be referred to Truancy Court . Legitimate excuses for absence or tardiness are sickness of a student, medical appointments, severe illness or death in the family, exposure to contagious disease, religious holidays, or extenuating circumstances such as fire, accident, or extreme inclement weather.   Excessive tardiness, as well as absences, are considered for possible referral to Truancy Court .

School hours are 7:45 a.m. until 2:14 p.m.

Any student who is not in his/her classroom at 7:45 is counted tardy.

Chesapeake Public Schools provide buses to transport your children to and from school.  If you are unable to ensure your child arrives to school on time, please have them ride the appropriate bus for your neighborhood.

Clinic News

Medication Protocol

Ø      If you wish to have your child take medication at school, (this includes prescription and over-the-counter medications) I am required to have a prescription from a physician.

Ø      The medication must be in a properly labeled container.

Ø      Students ARE NOT allowed to carry any medication on them.  Medication is to be brought to or picked up from school by an adult.

Ø      Cough drops are not considered medication.  If the student’s teacher is okay with the student having cough drops in the classroom, they may bring them to school.

Ø      If at all possible, please administer short-term medications at home.

Ø      If your child takes daily medication(s) in the clinic, please keep track on a calendar at home when your child will need a refill at school.  As a courtesy, I try to call 2 – 3 days before the refill is due but this is not always possible.

Illness/Injury

v     If your child has a fever, DO NOT send them back to school until they are fever free for 24 hours.

v     If your child is vomiting, DO NOT send them back to school until they can keep food/fluids down for 24 hours.

v     If your child sustains an injury at home and you are questioning its severity, please have the injury evaluated by a doctor.

v     If you receive a call from the clinic requesting that your child needs to be picked up due to illness or injury, please have your child picked up as soon as possible.  The clinic is small and there is only one bed.