Attendance Information
Report an Absence
If you need to report an absence click here. If you need more information on absences, read below.
School Closings
Occasionally schools are closed for emergencies. The final decision is made by the Superintendent upon advice of the Transportation Supervisor. Except in very rare instances, decisions about closures are generally made by 5:30 a.m. This information is immediately posted on the district website near the top of the BVSD website homepage. After the web notice has been posted, an email and text message (for those who have opted in to receive text messages from BVSD) will be sent to everyone whom the closure or delay directly affects. In cases of all-district closures, the messages will be sent to ALL BVSD parents/guardians and staff. In cases of mountain school closures, only mountain schools and mountain bus parents/guardians and staff will get the email and text messages. Media will also be alerted in both cases, and Facebook and Twitter notices will be posted. No notices means no closures or significant delays have been reported. Teachers are not required to report to school on these days. Any time there is a change in your phone number/s, please notify the school registrar at 720- 561-8007 immediately so that the phone list can be updated.
When the weather is bad, but school is open, parents/guardians must make a family decision regarding attendance or late arrival for their children. A personal contact by the parents/ guardians or a written note to our school office will excuse a student’s late arrival or absence during these conditions. Once students have arrived safely at school for the day, they will remain in class, in spite of the weather, unless a parent/guardian chooses to pick up his/her child. Occasionally, the weather is severe enough that it is necessary to close schools in all or part of the District.
Attendance
BVSD policy requires that students are in school unless they are too sick to attend. When students are absent from school, parents/guardians are expected to call the school attendance 24 hour line, 720-561- 8002, prior to 9:00 a.m. (M,T,Th, F) and prior to 10:00 a.m. (Weds.) to excuse the absence. Automated calls are made to families at 9:00 a.m. ( M,T,Th, F) and at 10:00 a.m (Weds.) for all absences that have not been called into the attendance line.
If a student is tardy and it is after 8:50 a.m., they should report to the office to get an admittance slip before reporting to class. The teacher will assign appropriate consequences based upon pre- established classroom rules. We appreciate parent/guardian support in this matter as all students benefit from a timely start. If tardiness becomes a serious problem, a referral to the school administration will be made and appropriate consequences imposed.
Ways To Report Absences
⧫ Attendance Line: (720) 561-8002
⧫ Email: aspencreek.attendance@bvsd.org
⧫ Click here to report absence online.
Please use the Attendance Line instead of calling the Main Office to report any absences. Always call when your child is absent or tardy even if it will not be excused.
Excused Absences Please call the Attendance Line to have absences excused or provide documentation. It is a good idea to always get a school excuse when leaving an office of appointment. Excused absences are those due to illness or injury, participation in religious observances or extenuating circumstances (emergency, serious illness, death in the family).
Unexcused Absences may include:
1. Truancy
2. Skiing, hunting or other recreational activities not pre-approved
3. Babysitting
4. Not attending one or more periods
5. Leaving during the school day without permission
Illness During the School Day If your student becomes ill during school, please have them go to the Health Room. Going through the Health Room will excuse and document the absence. Students should not call parents on a personal device before they go to the Health Room.
Single-Period Absences Per BVSD School Board Policy, the Attendance Office will not excuse single-period absences without documentation (e.g., doctor’s note, dentist’s note).
Appointments During the School Day If your student has an appointment, please return to school with documentation to excuse the absence.
Documentation to Excuse Appointments or Absences Please bring any documentation from doctor, dentist, and so forth to the Main Office. You can also fax documentation to Attendance at 720-561-8001 or email to aspencreek.attendance@bvsd.org.
Tardies The tone of each day (elementary) and period (middle level) is set during the first few minutes of class and an important portion of the daily lesson is presented during this precious time. Students should be in their seats and ready for instruction at the assigned time. Please see the Bell Schedule.
Excused Tardy Examples
1. Medical appointments
2. Temporary illness
3. Inclement weather
Unexcused Tardy Examples
1. Oversleeping
2. Missing the bus
3. Stopping for coffee
Truancy If a student is absent without the consent of their parents/guardians or an administrator, the student will be considered TRUANT. Truancy is a violation of the Colorado State Attendance Statute and may be cause for disciplinary and legal action.
Notification regarding a student’s absence:
● A parent or guardian has the responsibility to call the above attendance line. If a parent does not call in with an explanation of the student’s absence(s), the student will be marked UNEXCUSED.
● Students who receive four (4) or more unexcused absences will be contacted for a conference. An action plan will be developed to ensure more regular attendance. Unexcused absences are defined as one class period for the middle level and one day for the elementary level.
● Parents will be notified of excessive excused absences by letter. If excused absences continue, parents will be required to provide medical documentation to excuse the student’s absences.
● Further absences will result in consequences such as an attendance contract, a conference with the Attendance Advocate for Boulder Valley Schools, court action and/or notification to the Department of Social Services.
Checking In/Leaving School Early If a student is leaving during the day, they should bring a note to the office before school and get a blue slip in order to leave school during the day. Parents may call the main office in order to get a blue slip to their student. We request that these calls be made at least one hour prior to the student’s departure. Any time a student arrives after 8:50 a.m. or leaves early, they must sign in or out of the office. The school office will contact parent/guardians of students who have not been excused.
Whenever a student is being picked up at school, the receptionist will ask the adult for current picture identification and will check emergency contact names if the adult is someone other than a parent/guardian.
Vacations and Family Holidays Aspen Creek staff believes in the importance of family activities and vacations. However, we also believe in and support the importance of daily school attendance and continuity of learning. Sometimes, these beliefs can conflict with each other. Extended vacations and absences from school can cause gaps and difficulties in learning. Please plan family vacations and activities when school is not in session. In the event that your child will not be in school due to a family vacation, please know that teachers will not provide assignments to complete during vacations. Parents are encouraged to have their child keep a journal and read daily. Students will make up missed assignments upon their return. All missed work must be turned in within two weeks of the student’s return from vacation.
Make-up Work If your child is ill and misses more than one day of school, parents/guardians should talk with the K-5 classroom teacher regarding make-up work. At the 6-8 level, because each teacher sees up to 150 students/day, it is not feasible to send homework if a student is absent for only one day; please refer to the homework from Schoology, emails and Infinite Campus. If you foresee a longer absence, please call the school office immediately and request work from your student’s teachers. Please allow 24 hours to give our teachers adequate time to gather the work.