Attendance Policies

If your son is absent from school a parent/guardian must (1) phone the Absentee Hotline before 9:00 am and (2) provide a note upon return to school signed by a parent with a valid excuse for the student’s absence. If needed the school will require a signed medical professional’s note.

1. The 24/7 Absentee Hotline is 412-621-1766. When leaving a message please provide your name, your relation to the student, the student’s full name, reason for absence and date of his absence. For example: “this is Jane Smith, mother of Samuel Smith, and he is absent due to illness for today, September 29th.” Once the message is verified, the absence will be marked called off (i.e. “ACD") before the end of the day.
2. When your son returns to school it is his responsibility to provide the school with a properly written excuse before 1st period to the Welcome Center. If the student is late, he is to provide the note to the Welcome Center when he checks in. The note should state the student’s name, reason for absence, signature of parent/guardian and a phone number to contact. Once the note is verified the absence will be marked excused (i.e. “AEI”).

If there is no call off or the information left on the hotline is insufficient your son will be marked “A,” unexcused absence. Insufficient information would be not providing your name, your son's name or giving a vague reason such as “will not be in today.”

“ACD” is not an excused absence, but rather a temporary status awaiting excused or unexcused notation. This may result in a follow-up call from a school staff member or social worker. If a student is not called off, a robo-call will notify the number provided by the family in PowerSchool at approximately 10:00 am. This call will notify the parents of the student’s absence from school.

The student will be marked unexcused absence. This may also be followed up with a call from a school staff member or social worker asking to rectify the unexcused absence. If a student does not provide a written excuse or a sufficient excuse on the morning of his return, school staff will meet with him to follow up on the written excuse. Without a sufficient excuse

If a student is out for 3 or more days in a row the family may be contacted by the school social worker to help support the student/family and verify the well-being of the family. 

1. Excused
   1. Illness, hospitalization
   2. Death in the family/funeral
   3. Religious observances
   4. Approved college visits (3 pre-approved per student)
   5. Family trips/days that have educational, cultural, or religious value (Must be approved by Administration 10 workdays in advance)
   6. School District transportation issue or cancellation
       
2. Unexcused
   1. Oversleeping, missing the bus, traffic, car problem, “personal day,” blamed on parent or guardian
   2. Employment
   3. Unapproved family trip or college visit
       
3. Illegal Absences
   1. Truancy
   2. Falsifying phone call or note
   3. Skip days

Early dismissals and late arrivals are discouraged and should be requested only when necessary. If
necessary, it is recommended that appointments be scheduled as early or as late as possible during the
school day, to allow for maximum school time. Early dismissals will be granted only for the same reasons
as excused absences. (1) Parents must call the absentee hotline before 9:30 am the morning of the
anticipated dismissal/late arrival (hotline is 24 hrs), (2) provide a written note, (3) student is to sign out,
(4) provide a valid excuse for an early dismissal upon return to school.

1. Please call the Absentee Hotline at 412-621-1766 with your name, your relationship to the student, student’s name, date and time they are to be dismissed and the reason for the dismissal. For example, “This is Jane Smith, mother of Samuel Smith and he needs to be dismissed tomorrow, 9-29 at 2pm for a medical appointment.”
2. Students must also turn in a note from their parent or guardian as validation to the Welcome Center.
3. Students are required to sign out appropriately at the Welcome Center before they leave school.
4. When your son returns to school it is his responsibility to provide the school with a proper written excuse. If it was for medical reasons, then the student must provide an excuse from a medical professional.

A student whose parents have not called and/or have not sent in a note will not be allowed to leave school unless a parent/guardian comes to the Welcome Center to sign him out. For late arrivals or return to school a student must check in at the Welcome Center with verification from a medical professional.

Failure to follow the stated policy will result in discipline.

Students who miss 4 periods will be marked absent for half a day. Students who miss more than 4 periods are considered absent for the entire day and may not participate in practice, games or attend any school activity that day/night. Students leaving school before 10:00 am will be marked absent for the entire day.

Please refrain from taking vacations during school time. There are many days off throughout the school
year that provide families with opportunities to travel. For a trip having a major educational value to
be considered as an excused absence, pre-approval must be requested from Administration through the
Student Affairs Office at least 10 days prior to the trip and is recommended months before so family is
aware if the absences are being excused or unexcused. The Administration through the Student Affairs
Office will determine approval and notify the parents/guardians of the decision. If the trip is excused a
student will be responsible for notifying his teachers at least 5 days prior and is responsible for having
all work, tests, and other materials made up by the second day of his return. If the trip is unexcused the
school staff will not be obligated to provide make-up work or extend any deadlines for work, tests, etc.

Other trips include 3 college visits, 1 college fair, March for Life. Pre-approval is to be requested 5 days prior to the trip. For college visits, please utilize the school system provided by the College Counselor or contact the College Counselor directly. The school does provide a trip to the College Fair and March for Life, however if a student is desirous of going outside of the school-provided trip, they must seek preapproval 5 days prior through the Student Affairs Office.

The main school building is open by 7:10 am. Students who arrive before 7:50 am may wait in the Quadrangle, dining hall, or stand in the first-floor corridor. Students are not permitted in the stairwells or above the second floor until the 7:50 am bell.

Students in the Academic Support Program or who are being tutored by a teacher may go to their classroom at 7:40 am, with the Academic Support Program card or a note from a teacher. Students who are not in 1st period at 8:05 am are marked absent. Any student participating in tutoring, liturgy, TV, etc. must report to the Academic Support Coordinator, program moderator, or to the Student Affairs Office.

All late students are required to check in at the Welcome Desk. A student reporting to 1st period after 8:05 am must report to the Welcome Desk before going to any other area or class. Students will receive a tardy slip indicating the time of arrival. This slip must be turned into the 1st period class’s teacher.

• Failure to report to the Welcome Center will result in a procedural violation, which is 3 points and 1 detention.
• A student who exceeds 10 tardies will receive 1 conduct point and 1 detention for each unexcused tardy accumulated thereafter. This may also be followed up with a call from a member of the school staff.
• An unexcused tardy of 20 minutes or more will result in 3 conduct points and 1 detention.
• Chronic lateness could result in further consequences, such as referral to Discipline Review Board, suspension and even dismissal. This may also be followed up with a call from the Dean of Discipline.

There are resources available for students and families who need support in improving punctuality, such as the Student and Family Support counselor. Students who are late due to school bus (but not PAT bus) delays receive an excused tardy.

School refusal behavior refers to a student’s refusal to attend school, or difficulty remaining in classes for an entire day. The causes of school refusal vary in reason and frequency, i.e.: medical, mental health, conduct matters. As a college preparatory school, multiple absences present serious consequences for the college-bound student. Policy concerns, interference of education, academic limitations, truancy, and state legal requirements are among these concerns.

We recognize that students may need individualized intervention or support related to school refusal behavior. The Dean of Counseling and Family Support, Mrs. Amy Wienand, is available to address these concerns. Unresolved school refusal may lead to a referral to the student support team, Discipline Review Board and/or dismissal.

Healthcare appointments require documentation by the visited healthcare professional in order for the absence or tardy to be excused. A note from a parent/guardian is not sufficient.

Truancy violates Pennsylvania law and is a major violation of Central Catholic policy. A truant student will be suspended from school until his parents meet with the Administration. Truancy is 3 unexcused absences from school (‘T’ in PowerSchool). The student's district magistrate or local school district will be notified. Repeated truancy, habitual truancy, or 6 or more unexcused absences will be referred to the Discipline Review Board pending dismissal from Central Catholic. (Note: unexcused absences and truancy days do not need to be in a row)

Students will NOT be given the opportunity to complete academic work/tests missed due to truancy, unexcused absences, skipped, or other similar reasons. Students who call themselves off school (or for early dismissal) or have a non-parent/guardian call and/or forge a note are also considered truant and will receive school discipline.