Attendance Information
Every School Day Matters - Attendance is key to school success!
In many cases, absences from school are unavoidable due to health problems or other circumstances. However, missing just 2 days a month, even when the absence is excused, adds up to 10% of the school year.
- Children who do not show up for school regularly miss out on fundamental reading and math skills, as well as the chance to build a habit of good attendance that will carry them into college and careers.
- Children who miss 10% or more of the school year during kindergarten and first grade are much less likely to learn to read by the end of third grade.
OPA offers Short-term Independent Study for students who must be out of school for three (3) or more consecutive days. Short-term Independent Study can help students stay on track with their learning and not risk falling behind. See below for additional information on requesting a Short-term Independent Study.
Report an Absence
Please notify the office of your student's absence no later than 9:00 AM. Any unverified absence that is not reported to the office within 72 hours of the date of the absence will be considered unexcused.
- Use the teal attendance link above and complete the requested form.
- Email the attendance office at [email protected].
Tardy Policy
- Any student who arrives at school after the bell rings at 8:30 AM is considered tardy.
- Tardiness due to doctor's appointments will be considered excused only if accompanied by a doctor's note. Any tardy over 30 minutes without a doctor's note is considered truant.
- Morning tardiness due to illness will be considered excused without a doctor's note but will be limited to two (2) per trimester.
- Students arriving late to school must be accompanied by a parent and signed in at the front office to receive a tardy slip before going to class.
Early Sign-Out
- Students will not be released during the last 15 minutes of the school day, except for emergencies, as vital homework information and preparation for dismissal occurs at this time.
- Early sign-outs due to doctor's appointments will be considered excused only if a doctor's note is provided. Any student signed out more than 30 minutes before the end of the school day without a doctor's note is considered truant.
Requesting Makeup Work
- Students are allowed to make up schoolwork missed for any excused absences upon their return to school. As a general policy, a student is allowed one (1) day to complete makeup work for each day of excused absence from school.
- Please email your teacher by 9 AM if you are requesting work for your child's absence. Same-day requests may be picked up in the office at the end of the school day or as directed by your child's professor.
- For planned absences of less than three days, please contact the professor in advance to give time to gather work.
- Requesting work for your child's absence is not the same as requesting a Short-term Independent Study contract.
Short-Term Independent Study
- Short-term Independent Study (Short-term IS) can be requested for planned time away of three (3) or more days.
- Contracts for planned time away should be initiated through the Registrar at least five (5) school days before the scheduled time off. The Registrar will explain the Short-term IS contract and procedures and get the necessary signatures.
- In the event of unplanned time away (i.e. sickness), Short-term IS can still be requested, even after the initial absence has occurred. Please contact the Registrar for details and assistance.
- The contract will be processed by the Registrar and the professor will be notified. The professor will then instruct the student of the required work the day before their scheduled time away.
- Short-term IS contracts can range from three (3) school days to twenty (20) school days.
- Completed assignments must be turned in to the student's professor by the first day back from Short-term IS to receive attendance credit.
