La Grange School District 105

Every morning attendance will be taken. When a student is absent the parent must phone the school during the morning of absence BEFORE 8:30 a.m. The school phone number is:

Gurrie Middle School: 708-482-2720

Hodgkins Elementary School: 708-482-2740

Ideal Elementary School: 708-482-2750

Seventh Avenue Elementary School:708-482-2730

Spring Avenue Elementary School: 708-482-2710

For absent students who have not been called in by a parent/guardian, a school representative will contact parents/guardians to ensure that students will not attend class. “Missing the bus” will not be accepted as an excuse for an absence, and students who have repeated experience of this kind will be asked to make up the time after school. After 3 days of absence, the principal may request a written excuse from a physician.

Attendance is crucial for a student's academic success and personal development. Regular attendance ensures that students engage with the curriculum, participate in class, and benefit from teacher instruction. It also fosters responsibility, discipline, and social skills, helping students stay on track and avoid falling behind. Attendance below 90% is considered chronic truancy. Additional steps will be taken to support the student and parents in improving attendance, such as parent meetings, Dean referral, attendance contracts, and referrals to truancy programs. 

Parents may request homework when their child’s absence covers 2 or more days. For shorter absences, students are expected to check with a classmate and with each teacher upon return to school.

After an absence, students are expected to contact each teacher about missing schoolwork. As a general rule, students are allowed one day for make-up work for each day of sickness.
 

For some grades, students can use Google Classroom to keep up with work during absences and should check with their teacher about missed work upon returning. Generally, students have one day to make up work for each day they are sick.

Any student arriving late to school must report to the office for a tardy slip before he or she may be admitted to class. Students who report tardy to school unexcused will be expected to attend an after school session that day to discuss and plan for a timely arrival at school. Anyone reporting late for a class will be disciplined by the teacher concerned. Repeated tardiness will be reported to the Advisor, Dean of Students, or the Principal. Three or more unexcused tardy slips will disqualify a student from perfect attendance.

A student must be in attendance at least half of the day (including the afternoon) to participate in any extracurricular activity after school. Absences not related to illness may be reviewed by the Principal.

The school strongly encourages that vacation trips be scheduled only during those times when the school is officially not in session. Make-up work does not adequately substitute for missed class time on regularly scheduled school days. Teachers may not have all assignments available in advance of vacations.