Skip to main content

Student Attendance

  • Our school hours are 8:45 a.m. - 3:25 p.m. 
  • Students must be in their classroom for the day by 8:45 a.m.
  • No early dismissal of students will be allowed after 3:15 p.m.
  • Student attendance can be viewed and monitored in ParentVUE.

All Day Absence Information

  • When a student will be absent, notification should be provided to the school before or at the start of the school day, when possible.
  • To excuse an absence, written or electronic communication citing the reason(s) for the absence must be provided to the school no more than five school days following the date of the absence. 

How to report an absence

  • Absences can be reported in ParentVUE the same day of the absence.
  • If your child is sick or going to be absent for another reason, please email your student's teacher or call the absentee line 571-222-6135 and leave a message.

Tardy Information

  • Students who are not in their classroom by 8:45 a.m. will be marked tardy.
  • If your child arrives late, please walk him/her into the office to get a tardy pass.
  • If a child is late to school due to a school bus that is running late, he/she will not be marked tardy.
  • A student's tardy will be recorded as excused or unexcused based on whether the reason for the late arrival meets the excused or unexcused absence criteria outlined in the PWCS Attendance Guidelines.

Early Dismissal Information

  • We ask that early dismissal of students happen before our school begins dismissal around 3:15 p.m.

Additional Information

Community Attendance Plan

In an effort to promote student success through consistent daily attendance the Alvey school community has developed a plan to support and clarify Prince William County and Virginia attendance policies. In addition, a template has been created to request a preapproved absence. Research shows that student success is linked to attendance. Prince William County has identified improved student attendance as part of the Strategic Improvement Plan. Alvey teachers, counselors, and administrators have taken the following steps while formulating the plan:

  1. Reviewed State and County attendance regulations, Code of Virginia 22.1-22.54, and PWC regulation 724-1 respectively.
  2. Conference with attendance officer Margaret Weathers.
  3. Reviewed plans currently in place at other PWCS elementary schools.
  4. Reviewed plan with and sought input from Associate Superintendent.
  5. Shared plan with and sought input from the Alvey Parent-Teacher Advisory Council

Attendance Policy

J.W. Alvey Attendance Policy

Our school attendance computer program tracks tardies and absences. After 5 unexcused absences, the program automatically generates a referral to the attendance officer. Additionally, the office staff will be preparing reports for students who have 5 or more absences and/or 10 or more tardies.

ABSENCES

Number of Absences Consequence
10 School letter is sent via mail from the front office.
13 Counselor calls parents, letting them know about the importance of good attendance at Alvey, and about Alvey's attendance policy. Counselor informs parents about the number of their child's absences, and inquires as to the reasons ("Is there anything like an illness or special situation of which we should be aware?")
15 Front office staff informs both counselor and administrator. Administrator calls parents and arranges a meeting. The counselor invites the attendance officer to attend. An individualized plan for the student is developed (may include a social worker visiting the home, after school study hall, etc.). All further absences require a doctor's note.
15+ Immediate repeat referral to the attendance officer.


TARDIES AND EARLY DISMISSALS

Students who ride the BUS will NEVER be considered tardy.

Number of Tardies Consequences
10 School letter is sent via mail from the front office. Counselor encourages the student to attend school on time.
15 Counselor calls parents, letting them know about the importance of good attendance at Alvey, and about Alvey's attendance policy. Counselor informs parents about the number of their child's tardies, and inquires as to the reasons ("Is there anything like an illness or special situation of which we should be aware?")
18 Front office staff informs both counselor and administrator. Administrator calls parents and arranges a meeting. The counselor invites the attendance officer to attend. An individualized plan for the student is developed (may include a social worker visiting the home, after school study hall, etc.).
18+ Immediate repeat referral to the attendance officer.

Attendance Awards

In addition to clarifying guidelines regarding attendance, the Alvey staff wishes to provide support in helping families with attendance. This year attendance awards will only be given to students with perfect attendance and five or fewer tardies/early dismissals. Thank you in advance for reviewing the corresponding documents and cooperating with this initiative to further foster student success.

Attendance in PWCS

Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) follows the provisions of Virginia law (Code of Virginia § 22.1-254) regarding compulsory attendance for all school-aged students.

Families are encouraged to review the PWCS attendance guidelines to learn about attendance expectations, reporting expectations, excused and unexcused absences, and other important information. Additional details are available in the PWCS attendance policy and regulations.