Attendance and Punctuality

Regular classroom attendance and punctuality are fundamental to student learning, academic success, and community engagement. Students are expected to attend all scheduled classes and co-curricular activities on time.

Ontario’s Ministry of Education has introduced a new attendance policy. Effective September 2026, high school students’ final grades reflect attendance and participation: 15% of the final course grade for Grades 9 and 10, and 10% for Grades 11 and 12. The Ministry’s policy distinguishes between excused and unexcused absences.

List of 6 items.

Reporting Absences and Early Dismissals

Parents must notify the Upper School Academic Coordinator’s Office within 24 hours of an absence.

Absences can be reported by emailing usattendance@crescentschool.org or calling (416) 449-2556 ext. 300 (select option 3). Please state the student’s name, grade, and dates/times missing.

For early dismissals, parents must provide advance notice, and students must sign out at the Academic Coordinator's Office before leaving campus.
Excused Absences
Examples of excused absences include:
- Co-Curriculars & School Events: Crescent co-curricular activities (e.g., Robotics, MUN, Arts, Athletics, Outreach), exams, and classroom field trips.
- Health & Personal: Medical/dental appointments, documented illness or mental health concerns, Wellness Centre visits, bereavement, religious holidays, and Take Your Kid to Work Day.
- Administrative: Scheduled meetings with Upper School Administration or Executive Team members, and suspensions.
Unexcused Absences
Examples of unexcused absences include:
- Travel & Personal: Family trips, vacations, travel, Grad Formal preparation, or Grad Skip Day.
- Academics: External AP exams, university visits, or studying for another class during scheduled class time.
- Documentation & External Activities: Non-Crescent affiliated co-curricular activities or any absence missing proper parental/medical documentation.
Attendance Review Process for Excused Absences
While individual absences may be excused, cumulative missed time impacts learning. Patterns of excused absence follow a progressive support model:
- 10% Missed: Subject teacher contacts the family via the Crescent Student Network (CSN) and monitors learning impact.
- 15% Missed: Upper School Administration contacts the family to discuss concerns and identify supports.
- 25% Missed: Upper School Administration meets with the family to establish next steps.
- 50% Missed: A formal review is required; course completion and credit promotion may be in question.
Discipline Model for Unexcused Absences
Unexcused absences violate the Code of Conduct and accumulate across two tracking cycles (September–December and January–June). Missed evaluations due to unexcused absences receive a grade of zero.
- 1 Absence: CSN email sent home
- 2 Absences: CSN email home and detention
- 3 Absences: CSN email home and removal from 1 co-curricular rehearsal or practice
- 4 Absences: CSN email home and removal from 1 co-curricular game or performance
- 5 Absences: One-day in-school suspension
Late Arrival to Class
The schedule includes five minutes of transition time between academic blocks. Students arriving late must sign in at the Upper School Academic Coordinator’s Office. Chronic lateness accumulates over two cycles (September–December and January–May) and adheres to the following sequence:
- 5 Lates: Detention
- 10 Lates: Community service
- 15 Lates: Suspension from co-curricular participation
- 20 Lates: In-school suspension