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Reporting Student Absences

If a child is going to be late or absent from school, parents/guardians must contact the school office. Families may contact school by phone at 708-453-6172, x204 to report the absence or by email as described below. You may call anytime, day or night and leave a message for the school staff on the voicemail system. Please explain the reason for the absence. 

Additionally, Parents/guardians may submit attendance notes via email to the school email listed below. The email must include the child's full name in the subject line, the dates of absence, the reason for the absence, and the parent/guardian name as a signature.

attendance@rivergroveschool.org

If the child has a doctor's note, the note may be scanned and emailed to the attendance email address. The school Health Aide reserves the right to request the original doctor's note or may contact the doctor's office if more information is needed.

Failure to notify the office will result in an unexcused absence or an unexcused tardy. If a call has not been made to RGS by 10:00 a.m. on the day of a student’s absence, a school official will call the home or send an email to inquire why the student is not at school. 

Valid Cause for Absence
A child may be absent from school because of:

  • illness (including mental and behavioral health of the student)
  • medical appointment
  • observance of a religious holiday
  • death in the immediate family
  • attendance at a civic event
  • family emergency
  • special or unusual events approved by the parent(s)/guardian(s) and pre-approved with the school
  • situations beyond the student’s control as determined by the Board of Education
  • such other circumstances which cause reasonable concern to the parent for the safety or health of the student

Students who are excused from school, including those who are suspended, will be allowed to make up all missed work, including homework and tests, for equivalent academic credit. The student will have the same number of days to complete and submit work as the number of days absent.