What to do if your child is out sick
It is each student’s basic responsibility as a member of the school community to be on time and attend all classes. Daily telephone calls will be made to parents or guardians to confirm unreported absences.
Attendance Procedures
New York State law requires a written excuse signed by the parent or legal guardian stating why a student was absent. You may use the form provided by your child’s school or write your own note. The excuse must be turned into the classroom teacher on the day a student returns.
Procedures for Charlton Heights Elementary School
Parents should notify Charlton Heights staff in advance about all absences and late arrivals by completing the Charlton Heights Online Attendance Form, or by calling 518-399-9141, ext. 85510 to leave a message about absences at any time of the day or night. When your child returns to school, please send him or her in with a completed absence excuse form.
Procedures for Pashley Elementary School
Parents should notify Pashley staff in advance about all absences and late arrivals by completing the Pashley Attendance form online, or by calling 518-399-9141, ext. 84507 to leave a message with the school nurse. (Please note: the school administration reserves the right to contact you directly to verify the legitimacy of the form and any messages left on the voicemail.)
Procedures for Stevens Elementary School
Parents should notify the school no later than 9 a.m. each day a student is absent or will be late to arrive to school by completing the Stevens Absentee Student form. Please note that the Stevens school administration reserves the right to contact you directly to verify the legitimacy of the online form.
Procedures for O’Rourke Middle School
Parents should notify the school in advance about all absences or late arrivals by completing the online attendance form, emailing oms@bhbl.org. You may call 518-399-9141, ext. 84002, however a written excuse will still be needed. Please note that the middle school administration reserves the right to contact you directly to verify the legitimacy of the online form.
Procedures for Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School
Parents should notify the school in advance about all absences, late arrivals, and early dismissals by completing the online attendance form, or by calling 518-399-9141, ext. 83310 to leave a message on the attendance voicemail. Please note that the high school administration reserves the right to contact you directly to verify the legitimacy of the form and any messages left on the attendance voicemail. Parents are required to come into the building to sign out their child from the main office if they have not submitted the form or left a message by 10:30 a.m.
Children who are absent from school are not permitted to attend educational activities at school that day after school or that evening. The complete attendance policy is available in each school’s individual Student Handbook. To view the Student Handbook for each school, go to the school’s homepage and click on “Student Handbook” in the right-hand navigation bar. Parents may also find this list helpful: “A student should NOT attend school if …”
To report your child’s absence: Please report your child’s absence before 9 a.m. You should include your child’s name, grade, teacher and the reason for the absence. If your child is absent due to illness, please briefly share your child’s symptoms. Please indicate if your child has:
- Fever
- Nausea/vomiting
- Sore throat
- Muscle aches
- Chills/shivering
- Runny/stuffy nose
- Cough
- Been diagnosed with flu by a doctor