Regular attendance at school is vital to children’s academic success. We do, however, understand that students may be absent throughout the school year for a variety of reasons. State regulations (please see attendance law information below) require that all absences, late arrivals, and early dismissals be properly documented.

On the days that your child is absent or will be late, please call the school no later than 9:30 AM to let us know. We make this request so that we will know that absent students are accounted for at home. If we do not hear from you, we will use the ALERTNOW emergency phone system to contact you to make sure you are aware of your child’s absence. This procedure ensures the whereabouts and safety of our students.

If you would like to use voicemail to inform us of your child’s absence, please use our voicemail number (215-453-2765); press extention 541003 for the Attendance Clerk and leave a message. If you prefer, you may email the school at Deiattendance@pennridge.org and and we will use your email or voicemail as the documented excuse for your child’s absence.

Please do not leave a voicemail message in a teacher’s mailbox regarding your child’s absence as the teacher may not be available to check voicemail that morning. If a call was not made by the parent or guardian, a hand-written excuse or an absence form signed by the parent/guardian must accompany your child upon his/her return to school. The note must include the date of the absence, the reason for the absence, and a parent/guardian signature supporting the absence.

The excuse blank/note is to be given to your child's homeroom teacher who will then forward it to the Attendance Clerk in the Main Office. An excuse blank/note must be presented within three (3) days of your child’s return to school. If an excuse blank/note is not returned, the absence may be considered unlawful and subject to magisterial fine.

Timely arrival to school is also important for a student's academic success. If your child arrives after 8:50 a.m., a parent/guardian must accompany the student to the Main Office and complete a tardy slip. In addition, if your child needs to leave early, please send a note to your child’s homeroom teacher indicating the reason and time of dismissal. Upon your arrival, we will call your child down to the lobby. Please note, parents/guardians must sign students out for all early dismissals. 

The Pennridge School District enforces the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's school attendance law. The law states: "A maximum of ten days of cumulative lawful absences verified by parental notification may be permitted during the school year. All absences beyond ten cumulative days require an excuse from a physician." Absences include illness, quarantine, required court appearance, death in the family, educational tours and trips, and family vacations. The law clearly states that no student may be absent from school more than ten cumulative days without a written doctor's excuse, including prearranged/approved educational trips or family vacations.

Cumulative absences include: illness covered by parental contact (written excuse, fax, email, verbal communication via telephone call), family vacation while school is in session (pre-approval needed), truancy, and other absences not classified as non-cumulative. Non -cumulative absences include: extended illness verified by a doctor's note, death in the family, religious holiday as designated by the Department of Education, and out-of-school suspension.

If you plan family vacations during the school year, please understand that this time away from school for vacation will be combined with any other absences. If the total cumulative absences exceed ten days, a written doctor's excuse will be required or the absences will be considered unlawful. Also, please do not schedule any family vacations or educational trips during the time that our school administers the state PSSA exams as those requests will be denied.

Homework Requests: Upon your child’s return from a single day of absence, he/she will learn what assignments need to be made up and when they are due. On the second consecutive day of absence, parents may call to request that work missed so far be sent home with another child or sent to the office to be picked up after school.