Attendance – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
 What should I do if my child is going to be absent?
 What should I do if my child is going to be absent for an extended
period of time?
 What should I do if my child is going to be late to school?
 What should I do if my child needs to leave school early?
 What time does my child need to be in school by in order to
participate in after school activities?
 What is a Chargeable Absence?
 What is a Non-Chargeable Absence?
 What are the absence limits per course?
 Why did my child get a Loss of Credit Warning Letter?
 Why did my child get a Loss of Credit Notification?
 What is considered an Excused and Unexcused absence?
 Why did my child get an Absence Notification?
 What should I do if I notice a mistake on my child’s attendance
record?
 Why did I get an Automated Truancy Alert phone call for my child?
 Can my child hand in an absence note even if it’s past the 5 day
limit?
 What should I do if my child is going to be absent?
You can call or email the attendance office before 8:30am.
o Call 908-231-8660 and then press # 4 to report the absence.
OR
o Email highschoolabsences@brrsd.k12.nj.us. Please provide the student’s
name, grade level, your relationship to the student and the reason for
absence.
If you call to report the absence, it is still necessary to provide a note within 5 days of
the student’s return to school. If you report the absence by email, it will also count
as a parent/guardian note (if emailed the morning of the absence). If you have
additional documentation such as a doctor’s note, please have your child bring it to
the attendance office/homeroom teacher.
 What should I do if my child is going to be absent for an extended
period of time?
If possible, your child should bring a note to his or her Administrator, Guidance
Counselor, Teachers and the Attendance Office prior to the absence.
 What should I do if my child is going to be late to school?
o Call 908-231-8660 and then press #4 to report the lateness
o Write your child a note explaining the reasoning for lateness
When your child arrives to school, he or she must go the PlascoTrac System
located in the Attendance Office. Your child will need his or her School ID and a
note.
 What should I do if my child needs to leave school early?
Students requesting an early dismissal must deliver a parent/guardian note to the
Attendance Office prior to the start of period 1 on the day of the dismissal to
receive a pass.
Early Dismissal note must include:
1. Student’s name
2. Reason for dismissal
3. Time he/she needs to be dismissed
4. Parent/ guardian signature and telephone number
5. If anyone other than the parent/guardian is picking the student up, this
factor must be stated in the written note.
Freshmen, Sophomores and Juniors must be signed out by parent/guardian or
designated person stated in the note in the Attendance Office.
Seniors who bring in a note from their parent/guardian, receive a pass and have
their own means of transportation may leave at the time stated on their pass.
 What time does my child need to be in school by in order to
participate in after school activities?
Students must be present by the beginning of Period 5 (10:34am) on the day of
an event in order to participate in or represent our school in co-curricular
activities such as athletics, drama, band, etc.
 What is a Chargeable Absence?
While absences are excused and unexcused for verifications purposes, it does
not exempt the student from academic/ or behavioral consequences.
A Chargeable absence counts toward the total number of absences allowed for a
particular class.
Examples of Chargeable absences:
o Personal illness (regardless of parent note or doctor’s note)
o Death in the family
o Truancy
o Medical appointments
o College visitations
o More than 20 minutes unexcused late from class
o Class cuts
o Nurse’s office visits
o Driver’s license test
o Take Your Child To Work Day
 What is a Non-Chargeable Absence?
A Non –Chargeable absence does not count toward the total number of
absences allowed for a particular class.
Examples of Non-Chargeable absences:
o Participation in field trips, athletic competitions, school activities
o Suspensions from school
o Religious holidays – as recognized by the NJ Department of
Education
o Mandatory quarantines – as ordered by a medical professional
o Court Appearances
 What are the absence limits per course?
Types of Courses
Absence Limit (per course)
Full year
16
Semester
8
Physical Education
12
Health/ Single Marking Period
course
4
 Why did my child get a Loss of Credit Warning Letter?
Loss of Credit Warning letters are sent out to inform you about the amount of
absences that your child has accumulated in a specific class to date.
 Why did my child get a Loss of Credit Notification?
Loss of Credit Notifications are sent out to inform you that your child has
exceeded the amount of absences allowed per course. If you wish to appeal,
please click on the Appeals form at the bottom of this page, fill it out and bring it
to the guidance office.
 What is considered an Excused and Unexcused absence?
The difference between an excused absence and unexcused absence is a matter
of verification. In some cases, even if verification was received, absences are
still considered unexcused.
Examples of Excused absences
Student illness, necessary medical, dental and legal appointments, death in the
family, college visits. (Refer to Board Policy 5121 for more details)
Examples of Unexcused absences
Family trips, vacations, non-school related sports events. (Refer to Board Policy
5121 for more details)
 Why did my child get an Absence Notification?
Absence Notifications are intended to inform you that:
o Your child was absent due to reasons that are considered “unexcused” as
per Board Policy 5121. (Regardless if the school received verification or
not).
o Your child was absent due to reasons that are considered “excused”
according to Board Policy 5121 BUT proper verification, such as a note,
was not provided or proper verification reached the attendance office after
the 5 day limit.
If you have received notification that your child has been absent and your child
has not yet returned to school, have your child hand in a note when they return
and attendance records will be updated accordingly.
 What should I do if I notice a mistake on my child’s attendance
record?
You may call the attendance office at 908-231-8660 ext: 2205 or 2248 or email
the subject teacher to express your concern.
If your child attended a school field trip or sports activity during school hours, it
may take 1 – 2 days to view the proper information on the Parent Portal.
 Why did I get an Automated Truancy Alert phone call for my child?
o If a parent or guardian has not reported an absence by email or phone
o If your child was marked absent during his or her homeroom period
(8:06am – 8:10am).
 Can my child hand in an absence note even if it is past the 5 day
limit?
Yes. Notes that are handed in beyond the 5 day limit will be put in the student’s
file; however, no changes will be made to your child’s attendance record.