Attendance

If it is necessary for a student to be absent, it is requested that the school be informed by telephone on the day of the absence. The phone number for the attendance office is 610-775-1465 or email msattendance@gmsd.org.

When a student is absent for three or more consecutive days, a physician’s note will be required. Students have three days to return a signed excuse/physician’s form for absences. Failure to comply will result in an unlawful absence. A doctor’s certificate is required for those pupils who frequently are absent because of sickness. This is done in the interest of the student’s health.

On the day a student returns to school from an absence, he/she shall present to the homeroom teacher an excuse written entirely by a parent or guardian explaining the absence.

This excuse should contain the following:

1. Student’s full name
2. Student’s homeroom
3. Date of absence(s) and reason(s) for absence(s)
4. Parent’s or guardian’s signature
    

Excused Absences include:

1. 1. Personal illness
   2. Death in the immediate family
   3. Religious holidays
   4. Emergencies
   5. Educational family trips (up to five days)

When a student is charged with an unlawful absence, parents are liable to legal action under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Examples of unlawful absences include, but are not limited to: cutting classes, skipping school, missing a bus, illegal employment, oversleeping and failing to arrive at school, pursuing outside interest and hobbies, babysitting younger children in the family, family or personal car trouble, accompanying family on a business trip, early start for a weekend trip and any other excuse that is not acceptable according to the School Code. Failure to provide a doctor’s excuse, when required, will also be considered an unlawful absence.

Educational trips, vacations, or other compelling reasons: A parental/guardian request for excused absence must be submitted to the building principal for consideration at least 10 days prior to the date of the trip. A maximum of five school days is allowed for each student per year. Forms are available in the attendance office or by clicking the button below.

Download the Educational Trip Excuse Form

1. Students must arrive at school prior to 9:15 a.m. to be counted as present for the morning session. Students must remain at school at least until 1:15 p.m. to be counted as present for the afternoon.
    
2. In no case is a student to leave school during the day without written permission from the office.
   
   If such permission is necessary, the student must bring to the attendance office, prior to first period a request, written and signed by parent/guardian, stating the exact time at which the student is to be dismissed and the reason for leaving school early.
3. Health Care: Absences for a portion of the school day may be excused for medical or dental which cannot be arranged after school hours. Appointments resulting in 90 minutes or more will be considered a half day of absence. Students should return a card or note from the appropriate medical office verifying the visit to the attendance office.
   
   The student will be issued an early dismissal pass which must be shown to the teacher whose class the student will leave.
4.  
5. All students must sign-out in the attendance office before leaving the building. Students returning from appointments must sign-in when they return.
    
6. If a student needs to be excused from any class or study hall, he/she must have a pass signed by the

An accumulation of absences regardless of excuse could result in a violation of the compulsory attendance laws and result in a citation at the district justice level. Doctors’ notes may be required for all absences if a student is excessively absent from school. A letter will be sent home and doctor excuses will be required once a student misses ten days of school with a parent excuse notes.

A parental/guardian request for excused absence due to a pre-planned trip must be submitted to the building principal for consideration at least ten days prior to the date of the trip.
This form is available in any school office or the Education Center. This form can also be downloaded by clicking the button below.

DOWNLOAD THE PRE-PLANNED EDUCATIONAL TRIP FORM

The School District will approve trips up to a maximum of five (5) school days per student per school year. Any days beyond five (5) will be considered unlawful absences. Any planned trip during scheduled PSSA testing dates will not be excused.