Student Attendance Policy

The official attendance policy for Compass International School is based on four fundamental assumptions:

1. The best way for any student to learn is to attend school and classes.
2. The responsibility for ensuring such attendance is shared by the student, parents, teachers, and school administrators.
3. A student’s absence from classes may only result from illness, religious or legal obligations, or family emergencies.
4. Excessive student absence from school or lateness to school is legitimate grounds for the school to ask the student to repeat a year.  

Absences by students from required attendance shall be permitted only for observance of recognized religious holidays, illness, or family emergencies which are deemed acceptable to the respective School Head. Students are expected to attend at least 90 percent of their scheduled classes in order to be eligible for promotion to the next school year group. Any student who fails to meet this 90% minimum criteria may be asked to repeat the academic year.

Given that the adopted school year is comprised of 180 school days, this guideline means that no student at Compass International School may be absent more than 18 school days in a full year and only for the above mentioned reasons. A student who has been absent due to his/ her illness for one or two days shall bring a written excuse signed by his/her parent or guardian to his/her form tutor or homeroom teacher, and if the absence was for more than two consecutive days, the parent/guardian note shall be accompanied by a report from a physician.  

In certain extenuating circumstances (long term illnesses, hospitalization, death in the immediate family) parents have to submit documents and a decision will be made by the Campus Principal in conjunction with the Head of School.

Students need to arrive at school on time. Where a student is late more than three times within a one month period, this will be counted as an absence (6 lates will count as two absences, etc.)  

Any decision will be based on: 1) the standing of the student, 2) the seriousness of the extenuated circumstances, 3) the possibility of this situation to be repeated in the future, and 4) the possibility of providing remedial measures that will compensate for the loss of time. Unexcused absences are strongly discouraged.

Students will receive warning letters at the following points:  

1. After their total absence days reach 9 days (50% of total permitted) to remind the student and parents of the school policy – sent by Campus Principal
2. After their total absence reaches 13 days (75% of total permitted) – a request to meet with parents to discuss the situation and warn of the potential consequences of continued absence – sent by Campus Principal.
3. After their total absence reaches 16 days (90% of total permitted) – a requirement for the student and parents to meet with the Campus Principal to inform them about the seriousness of the situation and the potential danger of not receiving credit for the school year – sent by the Head of School.

Should the 18 day total be reached (or exceeded), the Head of School will meet with the Campus Principal and then the student and parents to discuss the situation and will make a decision inline with the School Attendance Policy.