When a student is ill and unable to attend school, the parent or guardian should notify the grade office by phone between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. by calling 357-9020 and the extension for the grade (i.e. 6 for grade 6). An absence excuse, written by the parent, must be sent to the homeroom teacher upon the student's return to school. A regular check of daily attendance is conducted by the administrative office for each grade. This check is usually a phone call to your residence or the number designated on your child's enrollment verification form.

If a student is late to school, he/she must immediately report to the attendance office to obtain an admittance pass. A late student will receive one detention if they do not bring with them a written excuse, or if the school does not receive a phone call from a parent or guardian. Students with excessive occurrences of being tardy or improper reasons for tardiness will also be subject to discilinary actions.

Early dismissal from school requires a written request from a parent or guardian. This request must be brought to the main office before school on the day of the appontment. At the time of dismissal, the student must again report to the main office before leaving the building. Dismissal, in general, is for doctor appointments and family emergencies. Students may be excused from school or class when illness or unusual circumstances arise during the day. Parents are notified and must normally provide transportation if the pupil is to return home. Students must never leave school without permission from the main office.

If a student is to be excused for medical reasons from any class activity, the school requires a written statement from a doctor.

School will continue to operate in New Hampshire School Administrative Unit #29 according to the school calendar unless conditions make it impossible or not sensible to do so. According to the policy, the Superintendent has the authority to close schools. However, this is normally done after consultation with the highway departments, the major transportation contractors, and insofar as possible, with the chairman of the school boards. The #1 consideration is the safety of the pupils. This is no longer limited to safety on the roads. We have to consider the situation in the homes of the children. Many parents work, leaving youngsters unsupervised if schools are closed early. This also means that a decision to close schools must be made as early as possible. THE PARENTS HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF KEEPING THEIR CHILDREN HOME IF THE SUPERINTENDENT INTENDS TO MAINTAIN SCHOOLS, IF, IN THEIR OPINION, DANGEROUS CONDITIONS EXIST. The buses often have to begin their runs very early in the morning. The Superintendent will be involved in discussions with the transporters and highway people as early as 5:30 a.m. A decision must be made by 6:30 a.m. The Superintendent will make the decision and then immediately communicate with his assistants. The Assistant Superintendent for Keene will notify all Keene principals. The Assistant Superintendent for towns will notify all town principals. The Superintendent will notify the Keene, Peterborough and Vermont radio stations, the bus drivers of the smaller and feeder routes as necessary, and will also communicate with the Assistant Superintendents of Marlow and Stoddard.

In the event of severe weather or an emergency every effort will be made to decide on school cancellations by 6 a.m. School delays and cancellations will be made over local radio stations: WKNE,WKBT,WNHQ,WKVT,Q106.5,WYRY,WBZ,WMUR T.V., or you may call the Keene Sentinel Info Line at 352-2424 ext. 6116.