From the Office
School Secretary
Barb Edelmann
Blsacoffice@gmail.com
Supply List
Dress Code
Blessed Sacrament uniforms can be purchased through our exclusive retailer:
Just Me Apparel
232 Old Sulphur Spring Road
Ballwin, MO 63021
Phone: 636-391-3551
Spirit Wear
https://www.blessedsacramentgear.com/
2023-2024 Parent-Student Handbook
A paper copy of the handbook may be requested through the school office or it can be downloaded here.
Absenteeism and Truancy Policy
Attendance Procedures
When a student is absent from school, the student’s parent/guardian is requested to contact the
school to communicate the student’s absence.
Leaving School Early
Students who need to leave school early for medical purposes (doctor or dental appointments)
must bring a note to the office before leaving school. The note should include: (1) the requested
dismissal time, (2) the reason the student needs to leave early, and (3) a parent signature.
If a student is ill during the day, the student must check out in the office before leaving the
building. Students should not arrange for parents/guardians to pick them up; a school
representative will contact the parents/guardians.
Absences
Schools in the Diocese of Belleville recognizes three (3) categories of absences:
Excused absences
Unexcused absences
Truant absences (after the 9th unexcused absence)
Excused Absence: An excused absence is recognized as:
A student’s personal illness
A death in the immediate family
A family emergency
Medical visits
Family vacations (up to 5 school days)
Other circumstances that cause reasonable concern to the parent/guardian for the
student’s safety or health
Other situations beyond the control of the student (such as court appearances)
Other reasons approved by the Principal.
A health care provider’s note may be required to excuse a student and/or for returning to school
after the third consecutive day of being reported ill. If medical documentation is not provided,
the absence may be marked “unexcused.” Students who have 9 or more days of absences due to
being sick may be required to provide a doctor’s note to excuse the absences.
Unexcused Absence: An unexcused absence is defined as an absence from school for a reason
other than those listed above as an excused absence and/or an absence not authorized by the
student’s parent/guardian or the Principal. When a student’s absence is unexcused, the
parent/guardian may recognize the absence as being valid or legitimate; however, the school
does not. The following are unexcused absences (even with parent/guardian consent):
Missing the bus
Family vacations that are 6 or more school days
Needed at home
Other avoidable absences.
Truant Absences: Truancy is defined as absence without valid cause for one or more periods of
the student’s school day. Parents/guardians may be notified following 3, 5, and 9 days of absence
or tardies within a school year, and a school intervention may be initiated. After the 9th school
day (5% of regular attendance days) on which a student is absent without valid cause, he/she is
deemed to be truant under Illinois law. Interventions to address truancy may include attendance
letters, parent/teacher/principal conferences, student counseling, and/or involvement of the
county truancy officer and/or local law enforcement. No punitive action, including out-of-school
suspensions or court action will be taken against a chronically truant student unless available
support services and other resources have been provided to the student, or offered to the student
and refused. Any person who has custody or control of a child subject to compulsory attendance
who knowingly or willfully permits the child to persist in truancy, if convicted, is guilty of a
Class C misdemeanor and may be subject to up to 30 days imprisonment and/or fine up to
$1,500.
Family Vacation Absences: Family travel during the school year does interrupt a student’s
regular progress; however, we recognize the potential educational value of these trips.
Therefore, five (5) vacation days per school year will be allowed as excused. Any days after five
(5) school days will be unexcused. Early notice of travel will help school personnel to
accommodate parents and students during that period. It will be the student’s responsibility to
obtain all missing work from their teachers during their absence. Some assignments may not be
available until the student returns to school. All missed assignments will be prepared for the
student upon his/her return. Work shall be completed and returned to the teacher.
Tardiness: Students are expected to be in class on time so they may maximize their learning
opportunities. Teachers and the Principal will monitor student tardies. Students may be
considered tardy if they arrive after the bell has rung. Students may receive consequences for
excessive tardies.
Make Up Work
Students who have excused absence(s) from school will be allowed to make up work for
equivalent academic credit. It is the responsibility of the student (and his/her parent/guardian),
not the teachers, to get the assignments, complete them, and turn them in, and to arrange a time
with the teacher to make up any missed quizzes or tests. Incomplete work or failure to do the
work may result in a lowering of grades.