Attendance Information
Every School Day Matters - Attendance is key to 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 one (1) 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. Tardy's 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 Make-Up 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 make-up 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 one (1) 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, get the necessary signatures, and explain the procedures.
- 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 forwarded to the teacher who will prepare the assignments that will go home with the student the day before his/her scheduled time away.
- Short-term IS contracts can range from one (1) school day to fifteen (15) school days.
- The contract and all assigned completed work are due to the professor upon return to the school to receive attendance credit.
