Attendance and Absences | |
Punctuality Punctuality is a sign of respect. We expect students to arrive at school by 8:10 a.m. so they will be on time for Period 1, and to return from lunch on time for Period 3 or Period 4. Any student arriving late to class will be sent to Senior School Main Reception for a late slip. If a student has three unexcused lates in a month, she will be asked to meet with Dr. Siamak Boroomand, Assistant Head, Senior & Middle School, Operations, to discuss strategies to address her tardiness. Further lateness will result in progressive disciplinary action, including parental notification, or a TRAC. | |
Absence from School Parents of all students in Grades 7–12 must call or send an email to report that a student will be absent. Please call the Attendance Line at 416-920-6265, ext. 344, before 8:00 a.m. and leave a message that states the student’s name, grade and the reason for her absence. Parents may also email this information to attendance@branksome.on.ca. If parents do not inform the school in advance and a student is marked absent from class, a phone call and email will be sent home using our automated attendance program. The messages are sent home three times each day and may be followed up by further email correspondence. Please contact Senior School Main Reception immediately after receiving the attendance message to confirm your daughter’s absence. | |
Late Arrival or Appointments It is essential that we know at all times where a student is to ensure her safety and well-being. We strongly discourage students from missing class time for appointments. | |
Sign In and Out For an appointment: If any Grade 7–12 student leaves school for an appointment, her parents should contact Senior School Main Reception to notify when she will leave and if applicable, her time of return. The student should sign out at Senior School Main Reception, and must sign in at the Senior School Main Reception upon her return. For the Health Centre: When a student goes to the Health Centre, she must sign out at the Senior School Main Reception and sign back in when she returns. While parents may give permission for their daughter to leave school, parents may not give permission for her to work in the Resource Centre or elsewhere on campus, rather than go to class. | |
Extended Absences Requests for permission for extended absences (absence for three or more consecutive days), for reasons other than illness, must be made directly in writing to the Assistant Head, Senior & Middle School, Operations. Aside from family emergencies, parents must submit the request at least one week before the extended absence. Permission will be granted only in special circumstances, as exceptions create inconvenience and difficulties. If your daughter is going to be away, please read the guidelines about missed work. If parents plan to be away during a school term for any extended period of time, the school should be given the name, address and telephone number of the adult caregiver to be contacted in the event of an emergency. | |
Illness During Exams If your daughter is ill on an exam day, do not send her to school to write the exam. Please call Senior School Main Reception before 8:00 a.m., and arrange to have a doctor’s letter sent to Ms. Kate Hebdon, Assistant Head, Senior & Middle School, Academics. Diploma 2 exams missed in May will be rescheduled to be written in November. | |
School Closure If it is necessary to close the school due to a winter storm or other cause, an announcement will be made on the following stations: AM Station: 680 News Additionally, a notice will be posted on the Portal and parents will be sent an email notification. In the event of an early closing, there is a parent contact procedure in place for Grades JK–6. For Grade 7–12 students, parents will be notified via email and students will be dismissed. | |