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Elementary Campus

Joy in Learning. Joy in Growing.

Attendance

Strong attendance is linked to academic achievement, character development, and future success.

Elementary Attendance

Every Day Counts!

At PACT Elementary, we know that showing up every day builds more than just knowledge—it builds confidence, friendships, and joyful routines.

When students attend school consistently, they grow academically, socially, and emotionally. Each day is a chance to learn something new, connect with classmates, and practice the habits that lead to lifelong success.

We’re proud to partner with families to support strong attendance habits and make each day count. Together, we’re helping students build a joyful foundation for learning—one day at a time.

Report an Absence 

Arrival and Dismissal

PACT Elementary Campus
8:15 a.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Doors open 7:45 a.m.
Office closes at 4 p.m.

Attendance Email:
ec-attendance@pactcharter.org

Why Attendance Matters

Academic Achievement


 

Students who attend school regularly are more likely to achieve academic success, graduate on time, and pursue higher education opportunities.

Social and Emotional Development


 

School provides a supportive environment where students can develop social skills, build friendships, and enhance their emotional well-being.

Future Success


 

Regular attendance instills valuable habits such as punctuality, responsibility, and commitment, which are essential for success in life.

Attendance Notification

The Infinite Campus Attendance Notification System is compatible with both desktop computers and the mobile app. You must be logged into your parent account to submit a request. Email is an alternative option at ec-attendance@pactcharter.org. Each request is then manually processed by the PACT attendance office. Please allow a minimum of two hours to process your request. Please enter all requests by 9 a.m.

Attendance Expectations

Early Release / Parent Pick Up: Students will be released early from school only under special circumstances. Parents are encouraged to schedule appointments at the beginning or end of the school day to minimize disruption to the school schedule. For safety and security reasons, a parent or guardian must sign the child out in the office. It is the family’s responsibility to make up any work missed during class absences.

Leaving Early Due to Illness: If a student becomes ill during the day, they must report to the Health Office and have approval from the nurse or an administrator before leaving. The office will contact parents or guardians. Failure to follow these procedures may result in an unexcused absence, a truancy, and/or disciplinary action.

Vacations Require Pre-Approval: Please plan family vacations around the school calendar to preserve in-class instruction time. If that is not possible, vacations require prior approval from the administration. Please email ec-attendance@pactcharter.org and reference the vacation dates and how schoolwork will be completed. Your student must be caught up when they join their classmates upon return.

Excessive Absences: Absences that are excessive and/or interfere with the student's educational program may be interpreted as truancy, and follow-up procedures may be implemented. As a general guideline, 11 excused absences in a school year will be viewed as excessive (including following the pre-approved vacation procedure). Parents/guardians need to be aware that if students are absent for 15 or more consecutive days, they may be unenrolled.

Attendance Responsibilities

Class attendance is a shared responsibility among the student, parent or guardian, and school personnel. Fulfilling the following responsibilities will improve the chances of enhancing student performance:

Parents or guardians are responsible for encouraging the student to attend school daily and notifying the school when the student is unable to attend. They should fill out an Infinite Campus Absence Notification (preferred) or email the office (sc-attendance@pactcharter.org) by 9:00 a.m. on the day of the absence. Parents and guardians are encouraged to schedule appointments and family trips outside of school hours or during vacation periods. They will be asked to work with the school to resolve any attendance issues that may arise.

Classroom experiences are essential to the student's educational journey, and daily attendance helps ensure continuity in the learning process, leading to greater understanding and higher achievement. Consistent class attendance and punctuality also foster self-discipline, a quality found in nearly all successful individuals. Instructional and learning opportunities lost due to class absences are challenging to replicate and may sometimes be irretrievable.

Teachers are responsible for holding students accountable for their attendance. This involves maintaining accurate attendance records, providing students with attendance information, and adhering to established procedures. Teachers will communicate with students and administrators when attendance issues hinder a student's learning or when a student accumulates six absences in a term. They may implement additional positive or negative consequences to uphold the spirit and intent of these rules.

The administration is responsible for ensuring that parents or guardians are informed about the student's absences, collaborating with students, teachers, and parents to improve or maintain positive attendance patterns, and ensuring compliance with attendance rules.

  • Parents or guardians are responsible for encouraging the student to attend school daily and notifying the school when the student is unable to attend. They should fill out an Infinite Campus Absence Notification (preferred) or email the office (sc-attendance@pactcharter.org) by 9:00 a.m. on the day of the absence. Parents and guardians are encouraged to schedule appointments and family trips outside of school hours or during vacation periods. They will be asked to work with the school to resolve any attendance issues that may arise.

  • Classroom experiences are essential to the student's educational journey, and daily attendance helps ensure continuity in the learning process, leading to greater understanding and higher achievement. Consistent class attendance and punctuality also foster self-discipline, a quality found in nearly all successful individuals. Instructional and learning opportunities lost due to class absences are challenging to replicate and may sometimes be irretrievable.

  • Teachers are responsible for holding students accountable for their attendance. This involves maintaining accurate attendance records, providing students with attendance information, and adhering to established procedures. Teachers will communicate with students and administrators when attendance issues hinder a student's learning or when a student accumulates six absences in a term. They may implement additional positive or negative consequences to uphold the spirit and intent of these rules.

  • The administration is responsible for ensuring that parents or guardians are informed about the student's absences, collaborating with students, teachers, and parents to improve or maintain positive attendance patterns, and ensuring compliance with attendance rules.

How We Can Help

We are here to help you. Let’s be partners in this journey.
 

We understand that there are many reasons why your student might miss school. Our goal is to set you and your family up for success. If there are ways PACT Charter School can help you, please reach out to the following individuals:

  • Mental Health: AnnaRae Klopfer, Director of Special Services | Email
  • Health: Karen Nelson, Secondary School Nurse | Email
  • Transportation: Joel Hedberg, Operations Coordinator | Email
  • Social Conflicts: Samantha Peltier, Dean of Students | Email
  • Attendance Coordinator: Carole Ronsberg, Receptionist | Email

PACT's Commitment

Attendance Resources

    • Illness (physical/mental)
    • Serious illness in the student’s immediate family
    • Funerals of immediate family members
    • Religious instruction (not to exceed three hours a week)
    • Catastrophes, such as fire
    • Official school field trip or other school-sponsored outing
    • Medical and dental appointments scheduled during the school day
    • Religious holidays
    • American Indian cultural practice, observance, or ceremony
    • Suspensions (OSS/ISS)
    • Court appearances
    • A student’s condition requiring ongoing treatment for a mental health diagnosis.
    • Pre-approved vacations or family trips.
  • AE - Excused Absence

    AU - Unexcused Absence

    VAC - Pre-Approved Vacation

    M - Medically Excused 

    TE - Tardy Excused

    TEB - Tardy Excused Bus

    EE - Early Release Excused

    TU - Tardy Unexcused

    EU - Early Release Unexcused

    OSS/ISS - Suspension

    CNS - Counselor’s Office

    OFC - Office

    EXC - Extracurricular

    FT - Field Trip

    SS - Support Services

    PSEO/STEP - Post Secondary Options

  • Parents or guardians are often faced with the decision of whether to keep their student at home or send them to school. However, if a student remains at home and receives the necessary care when first becoming ill, the length of the illness is often shortened. 

    It is often challenging to decide whether it is essential to keep your student home. There are no specific rules to follow as we are dealing with variables. Hopefully, the above guidelines will be helpful to you in making this decision. If your student stays home, please email sc-attendance@pactcharter.org to notify the school of the absence.

    Here are some guidelines regarding sick students: 

    When Your Child is Sick

  •  

    Regular school attendance is essential for students' academic success. Because PACT has fewer instructional days than most Minnesota schools, attendance is even more essential for our students. If school is open, attendance is expected, and we ask families to do their best to have their students in school. However, parents/guardians have the final decision on whether or not to send their children to school during a weather event. The absence must be reported.

    Read More About Weather-Related Closings