Attendance
Consistent school attendance is important for Prairie Creek’s community life, since each member’s contribution is valued. Regular attendance is necessary to allow our teachers to best meet the needs of each child. It also allows students and families to take full advantage of the creative daily opportunities offered at Prairie Creek.
Parents, your children are expected to arrive at school on time each day, healthy and rested.
Prairie Creek School values regular and punctual attendance for many reasons:
- Consistent school attendance is important for the community life of the classroom since each member’s contribution is significantly valued. Regular attendance is necessary to allow the teacher to best meet the needs of each student. It also allows each student and family to maximize the daily opportunities offered by the Prairie Creek program.
- Frequent absences may put the child at a learning disadvantage because it is often difficult to extract a classroom conversation or experience and fulfill that opportunity on a separate or individual basis.
- Some expectations of routine and structure are important in a child’s life. If there is a problem or concern regarding school, the child’s presence is crucial to pursuing a satisfactory resolution. Families can rely on their partnership with the teacher and the school to handle any difficult situations that may arise.
- Prairie Creek encourages families to take vacations or leaves from school during periods outside our student contact days. If for some reason this is not possible, please inform the school as soon as possible.
- Prairie Creek adheres to state laws and guidelines for student attendance. Our complete attendance policy can be found on the school website
What to do in the case of tardiness or absence
- Children are expected to arrive at school on time each day.
- Parents must contact the school when children are to be absent.
- 507-645-9640
- attendance@prairiecreek.org
In case of illness
Parents, you must contact the school when children are ill and will be absent from school.
We ask that you contact us by 8:15 am on the day of your child’s absence. If your child is sick and out of school for more than one day, we ask that you inform us each day she or he will miss.
Let the Prairie Creek office know the specifics—flu, strep, vomiting, fever, head lice, and so on—so that staff can better track outbreaks and take measures to break the chain. School kids operate in close quarters, especially during Minnesota winters, and it is one of Prairie Creek’s duties to see that contagious illness be curbed. If there has been contact with a communicable illness at school, classroom teachers will send an informational note to parents.
Any child who shows signs of contagion should not attend school.
Keep your child home—no exceptions—if they have symptoms of the flu, serious colds, strep, or other communicable illness. Sick students must stay home for at least 24 hours after their fever is gone, without the use of fever-reducing drugs like Tylenol or Motrin.
If your child has vomited within the past 24 hours, they should not be in school.
Sometimes a child comes to school, feels too ill to stay, and parents must be called. Your child will be sent to rest in a quiet area until you arrive. To avoid this uncomfortable situation, and to avoid contagion, if your child doesn’t feel well enough for school or has not been fever-free for a full 24 hours—without medication—do not send your child to class!
INFO FOR PARENTS: fifth's disease
(Minneapolis Star Tribune article, January 2012)
In the case of head lice, should this be discovered at school, parents will be notified immediately so they can care for their children as soon as possible.
Watch a video about treating and preventing head lice
Parents, the school needs to be informed of any medical condition or allergies your child may have. This information will be recorded on the back side of the Student Emergency Data card that you fill out and the office keeps on file. If there is a need to dispense medicine to your child during the school day, you must complete a permission form, which will also be kept on hand in the office. Please keep Prairie Creek updated on any changes that may occur during the school year.
The Minnesota Department of Health recommends vaccinating all children against regular, seasonal flu. To ensure the health and wellness of our entire Prairie Creek community, please consider getting the regular flu vaccination for your child.