- Email address: sutherland_attendance@sd44.ca
- Please ensure the word “absence” or "attendance" appears in the subject line.
- First Name of Student
- Last Name of Student
- Date of Absence (whole day or specify the portion of the day)
- Explanation for Absence (e.g., “excused”, “ill”, “appointment”, “vacation”). It is critical that student absence explanations are specific to ensure accurate reporting to the School District.
- Your Name & Relation to the Student (Only messages from parents and legal guardians are accepted.)
When emailing is not possible, may also leave a message at 604-903-3500 to report a student absence, late arrival or early dismissal. Students cannot call in their own absence. Only messages from parents and legal guardians are accepted.
Excused absences will be entered into the school attendance system so teachers will see that the absence is excused. Parents/Guardians are urged to try to schedule appointments for students outside of school time whenever possible. Students are encouraged to contact their teachers directly via MS Teams to view any missed assignments. Additionally, students can meet with teachers during Tutorial most mornings.
If You Receive a Phone Call About an Absence
If you receive a phone call stating that your child was absent from a class and your child believes they were present, they must speak directly with the teacher who marked them absent. Only the classroom teacher can verify attendance and make any changes.
Leaving the School During the Day
If a student needs to leave the school after classes have begun for any reason, parental permission is required. The student must sign out at the office before leaving. This procedure is extremely important for student safety and in case of an emergency.
Extended Absences
The school policy on extended (five or more school days) absences for family holidays or for other non-medical reasons is that:
- The school does not give approval for or recommend such absences.
- The responsibility for the decision to take a student out of school and the resulting consequences rest with the student and the parent.
- The school and teaching staff are not expected to make special arrangements for students to make up missed work, learning, or assessments.
- The parent/guardian must communicate any extended absences to the school – in addition to completing the Sutherland Student Extended Absence Form. Hardcopies of this form can also be picked up in the office.
Attendance Matters!
There is a direct relationship between attendance and academic success in school. Students absent from class are missing out on key learning opportunities and chances to work cooperatively with peers and teachers. Therefore, every attempt should be made by students and their families to minimize the amount of time absent from school. It is the responsibility of the students, with the support of their parents, to attend and be on time for all their classes.
Please take a look at the AttendanceMatters flyer, and feel free to contact the grade counsellor if you have any questions.
Student Drop Off and Pick Up
Sutherland Secondary strongly encourages students to walk, bike, or take transit to school whenever possible. If you must drop off your child, please do so before 9:00 a.m.
Dropping students off shortly before 9:15 a.m. often results in them arriving late to class, which disrupts teachers’ lessons and interferes with other students’ learning. Classes begin at 9:15 a.m., and we expect all students to be seated and ready to learn before the bell sounds.
When travel by car is necessary, we ask parents to use the designated drop‑off areas. To ensure safe and efficient traffic flow, please do not stop in the middle of the parking lot or in crosswalks for drop‑off. Please also note that our parking lots are designed for one‑way traffic movement only.
