Attendance Matters: Every Day Counts!
Regular and punctual attendance is one of the strongest predictors of student success. Every day students attend school, they have opportunities to learn, build relationships, participate in classroom experiences, and strengthen their connection to the school community. At Salmon Arm Secondary, we believe every day matters. Working together, families and schools can help students stay engaged, achieve their goals, and prepare for success beyond graduation.
Why Attendance Is Important
Attendance concerns extend beyond full-day absences and can include arriving late to class, taking extended bathroom or water breaks, and/or leaving class early. Learning moves quickly at the secondary level. Missing just two days of school each month can add up to approximately one month of missed learning during the school year. Frequent absences can make it difficult to keep up with coursework and may also signal underlying challenges such as anxiety, health concerns, bullying, sleep difficulties, or other barriers to learning.
Attendance Expectations
Salmon Arm Secondary is designed as an in-person learning environment. While teachers and staff will support students who miss classes, classroom learning experiences cannot be fully replicated through take-home packages. Families who anticipate extended absences or who frequently request packages may be referred to a Vice Principal to discuss appropriate supports and learning plans. When possible, families are encouraged to schedule appointments and other planned absences outside of instructional time. If a student will be away for multiple days, please notify the school’s office in advance.
Parents/Guardians - Report absences, late arrivals and early dismissals to the office - Monitor attendance via the MyEducation BC Parent Portal - Reinforce the importance of regular attendance | Students - Attend regularly and on time - Communicate with teachers about missed work - Follow sign-in and sign-out procedures | School Staff - Monitor attendance - Address and communicate attendance concerns - Support students experiencing attendance challenges
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To report a student absence, late arrival, or early departure please call or email the front desk.
250-832-2188 sas@sd83.bc.ca |
Attendance Notifications Families will receive an email notification when a student is marked absent from a class block. If your child is attending class, you will not receive an attendance email. |
Our Commitment
Our priority is helping students stay connected to their learning and school community. If attendance has become a challenge, please contact us. The earlier we can identify barriers and provide support, the more successful we can be in helping students re-engage and thrive.
Thank you for partnering with us.
Rob Cadden Rhys Waters Kris Hryniw
Principal Vice Principal Vice Principal