Attendance Procedures
Procedures and policies regarding student attendance
Absence or Late Arrival Notification
If your child will be absent from school or late, it is essential that parents call the Bonnie Brae attendance line at 703-321-3939 or use the Attendance Form before 8:20 a.m. to report the absence and reason. Absences that are not confirmed with the school by parents will be recorded as unexcused. These options are available 24 hours.
During the day you can also call the office, 703-321-3900 between the hours of 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Excused & Unexcused Absences/Late Arrival Types
Excused Absences or Late Arrivals
Excused late arrivals or absences include illness, death in family, doctor or dentist appointment, and observance of a religious holiday. Dental and medical appointments are excused; however, we ask that such appointments be kept to a minimum during the instructional day. Each student returning from an absence should present a note from a parent or guardian stating the reason for the absence. We encourage family trips during scheduled school vacations and strongly discourage such trips during the school year because these extended absences interrupt sequential learning in many subject areas.
Unexcused Absences or Tardies
Unexcused absences include family trips, childcare situation, oversleeping, non-school-related activity, traffic, or missed bus.
Late Arrivals
Late arrival students arriving at school late must first report to the office for correction of attendance records. Car riders arriving late should be brought to the front of the school building and accompanied into the office by a parent/guardian as the back door is locked at 8:30 a.m. The first bell rings at 8:20 a.m. Teachers begin the instructional day at 8:30 a.m. as soon as the first student enters the room. The tardy bell rings at 8:30 a.m. Students who arrive in their classroom after 8:30 a.m. will be marked tardy. Students who are repeatedly tardy in a school year will have a letter placed in their school file. If the student continues to be tardy a meeting with the principal, school counselor, student, and parent will be held to discuss the situation.
Virginia State Law
Virginia law requires us to withdraw any student who is absent from school for 15 consecutive days or more from our enrollment. Upon the student’s return a parent must again officially enroll him or her. It is critical to your child’s success that they are in school daily and on time.
Unexcused Absences Truancy – Truancy is against state law. Per FCPS Regulation 2234, the school is required to submit an attendance referral to the Fairfax County truancy officer whenever a student accrues five unexcused absences. Truancy can result in legal action for both the student and the parent.
Early Dismissal - Release of Student
If a child must leave early, parents are requested to send a note in advance and must sign the child out in the office at the appropriate time. The note should specify the name of the adult picking up the child if it is not the parent. To protect instructional time, students will not be called to the office until a parent arrives at school to pick them up. Please allow sufficient time for your child to get to the office and for you to arrive on time to your scheduled appointment.
We will not release any child to any adult other than the parent/guardian or persons listed on the emergency care form. Students may be released to either parent unless prohibited by a court order. If restricted custody has been legally established, a parent must furnish a copy of the custody order to be kept on file in the school office.
Parents who are picking their child up early from school MUST come to the office and present a valid ID to sign your child out.
Bonnie Brae ES will not allow a student to walk home alone during the school day, nor will we release your child to anyone other than the parent or guardian without a written request signed by the enrolling parent. Parents need to send in a note indicating the full name of the friend or relative that is picking up the student(s). Please add this friend or relative to the list of people permitted to pick up your child (Emergency Care Card). The person picking up your child MUST present a photo ID.
Change in Transportation (Going home an alternate way)
If your child will be going home a different way, please use this form to let us know.
If your child is going home with a friend or having a friend come home with them, a note must be brought to school by both children saying the parents agree. Both children should give the notes to their teacher first thing in the morning. If confirmation from both parents involved is not received, students will not be allowed to go home with the other child.
A permission slip will then be issued to allow a child to ride a different bus home or, in the case of walkers, to allow that child to go home on a different route.