• Tuesday 1/31 PTO Meeting @ 6:00 pm
• Wednesday 2/1 Early Release: Dismissal @ 12:50 pm
• Thursday 2/2 Parents as Teachers Playgroup 9:30 am -10:30 am
• Tuesday 2/7 Release Time Bible
• Thursday 2/9 1/2 Day: Dismissal @ 11:20 am
• Thursday 2/9 Conferences
• Friday 2/10 1/2 Day: Dismissal @ 11:20 am
• Monday 2/13 No School Mid Winter Break

Students at South learn about how to be a "Mighty Panther" in and out of the classroom. We focus on positive behavior centered on being SAFE, RESPECTFUL , and RESPONSIBLE.

Panther Pride Tickets:

Students earn individual Panther Pride tickets for demonstrating these 3 qualities. When a student has earned 10 Panther Pride tickets, they come down to the office for a sticker. Their name is announced on the morning announcements the following day and they are entered into a drawing that is held of Friday morning each week. Students chosen in the drawing earn a free book from the book vending machine.

Mighty Class Tickets:

Classes earn Mighty Class tickets for demonstrating these 3 qualities as well. Classes are rewarded with fun activities such as extra recess, parachute parties, popsicles, etc. for earning class tickets. Working together as a school, we have earned 300 Might Class tickets. We will be celebrating this Friday with a special surprise!

ATTENDANCE

Attendance Law: Compulsory School Laws of the State of Michigan provide that every parent, guardian or other person in the State, having control and charge of any child between the ages of six and eighteen years of age, shall be required to send such child to school during the entire school year, and that this attendance shall be continuous and consecutive for the school year fixed by the district.

Attendance Policy: Per board policy, absence from school is excused for illnesses (principal may require a doctor’s confirmation if he/she deems it is advisable), funerals with documentation, observance of religious holidays, and court appearances (with documentation that the child was required to be in court).

Routine dental, medical appointments, and vacation days should be arranged during non-school hours whenever possible. If it is absolutely necessary to schedule an appointment during school hours, the student must present a doctor’s note upon returning to school.

If your child will not be in school for any reason, please notify the school of the absence before 8:30 a.m. on each day of absence. An answering machine is available 24 hours to leave messages regarding student absences. The office will be open at 7:40 a.m. for calls.

In case of contagious disease, please inform the school as soon as possible so that necessary health precautions may be taken.

Arrival to school past 9:00 am is considered an absence for the morning. A student is considered absent for the afternoon if they are picked up from school prior to 2:00 p.m.

Please refrain from picking your child up early to beat the traffic. Students should only be picked up early if they have an appointment or emergency situation. Parents should try to notify the South School office by noon of any school day if you plan to pick your child up early. Last minute changes and calls at the end of the day cause confusion during dismissal. Students that are picked up between 2:00 and 2:50 will be marked as an Early Leave.

Truancy: Truancy is defined by Michigan School Code as 10 or more unexcused absences from school . Truancy may result in a referral to the Berrien County Intermediate School District Truant Officer. Chronic Absenteeism is defined as a student missing 10% or more of school regardless of excused or unexcused status. Data shows that a 1st grade student with 9 or more absences are two times more likely to drop out of high school than their peers who attend regularly. School attendance is so important!

Tardies:

10 Tardies A Letter home to parent(s)/guardian(s)

15 Tardies Phone call home to parent(s)/guardian(s)

20 Tardies A second letter home and a meeting with the principal and/or

school counselor to develop an attendance improvement plan

Absences:

5 unexcused absences A Letter home to parent(s)/guardian(s)

10 unexcused absences) A second letter home and a meeting with the principal and/or school counselor to develop an attendance improvement plan

Any additional unexcused absences will result in a referral to the Berrien County Truancy Officer and/or Child Protect Services.