The State of South Carolina has adopted a uniform attendance policy to assure that students attend school regularly.  A correlation showing that attendance directly affects academics led to the statewide adoption of this policy.  Each day students are not in school, they miss hours of valuable instruction and opportunities that may never be experienced again.

All children are required to attend a public or private school or kindergarten beginning at the age of five and continuing until their seventeenth birthdate.  If parents choose not to send their children to kindergarten, they must sign a waiver which may be obtained at the local school.

Students are counted present only when they are actually in school, on homebound instruction, or are present at an activity authorized by the school principal.

The school year consists of 180 school days.  To receive credit, students must attend at least 85 school days of each 90-day semester course or at least 170 of the 180-day year course, as well as meet all minimum requirements of each course.  Accrued student absences, either lawful or unlawful, or a combination thereof, may not exceed ten (10) days during the school year. Any absence in excess of ten (10) days may cause the student to lose credit for the year.

Lawful Absences

1. Personal illness of a child shall be verified by a statement from the parent or a physician within two (2) days of the student's return to school.  Absences for chronic or extended illness will be approved only when verified by a physicians statement.

2. Serious illness or death of an immediate family member shall be verified by a statement from the parent within two (2) days of the students return to school.

3. Absences for religious holidays shall be requested in advance.  Such requests must be made to the principal in writing.

4. Absence for extreme hardships may be approved by the principal.  Such approval should be prearranged when possible.

Unlawful Absences

Any student absence, with or without the knowledge of the parent, which does not meet the conditions for a lawful absence shall be counted as unlawful.

Procedures for Makeup Work

1. Provision for makeup of school work missed during the lawful absences shall be worked out with the teacher(s) concerned at the earliest time possible, but the time should not exceed five days after the student returns to school.

2. Provision for makeup of school work missed during unlawful absences may be approved only with permission of the principal after consultation with the teacher(s) concerned.

These rules apply to all schools within the district

Questions regarding attendance rules should be directed to the principal of the student's school.

Notes Required

Please send a note to the teacher if your child:

1. is absent due to illness, death in the family, or in advance of a religious holiday.

2. is tardy.

3. needs to be picked up early.

4. needs to take medicine during the day.

5. needs to be excused from recess or physical education.

6. has a change (temporary or permanent) in transportation.

Bryson Elementary is an orderly, disciplined school where students are responsible and accountable for their behavior.  Students are expected to act with honor and with respect for themselves, each other, and the teachers.

Our target behaviors, which are subject to disciplinary referral to the school administrators, will be in line with the discipline codes stated in the Parent Express which was mailed to all parents of Greenville County students during the summer.

1. Possession of any kind of weapon.

2. Possession, sales, or distribution of any illegal drugs, toxic substances, or paraphernalia.

3. Threatening to inflict or inflicting bodily harm, however slight, on any school employee.

4. Ganging or participating as a member of a gang.  A gang shall consist of two or more persons acting together.  Participation includes any act that interferes with or hinders a staff member from stopping threats or the infliction of bodily injury that was taking place.  This would include refusal to disperse from a situation when ordered to do so by a staff member.

The school alone cannot teach and reinforce responsible behavior.  It requires the school, home, and the community to develop responsibility as a way of life.  With love and support, education and training, children can express their feelings, learn to avoid and diffuse situations, help each other control peer violence and use the very same reasoning and problem-solving skills developed as tools for violence prevention.

Below is an easy reference for our students to follow:

1. Students will walk (not run) between classes.

2. Students will talk quietly in the classrooms, hallways, and cafeteria.

3. Students will respect teachers and obey their instructions.

4. Students will respect other students, school staff, and property of others.

5. Disruptive behavior such as fighting, verbal clashes, physical contacts with other students, profanity, intimidation, or throwing objects will not be permitted.

6. Tobacco or alcohol products will not be brought to school.

7. Toys and valuables items must not be brought to school.  The school takes no responsibility for broken, lost, or stolen items.

8. Theft will not be permitted.

9. Cheating will not be permitted.

10. Chewing gum is not allowed at school.  Candy or other food items are not allowed in the classrooms without approval of the teacher.

11. Students will keep the school grounds clean and will avoid any destruction of school property.

12. Students will behave in an orderly manner in the cafeteria and will be responsible for cleaning their areas.

13. Students are not allowed in the teacher's workrooms or lounge.

14. Students will remove hats upon entering the building.

15. Visits to the restroom will be limited except for medical reasons.

At Bryson Elementary, we want to present ourselves and our students in the most positive light possible.  While no attempt is made to dictate fashion or style, we believe that there is a definite correlation between a person's attitude and attire.  Cleanliness and proper dress are important in setting the tone for the school day and for social conduct and interaction.  We encourage the dress code guidelines listed below.

1. Children should wear comfortable, neat, clean clothing.

2. Shoes must be worn at all times.  Flip-flop (shower shoes) and thong-type shoes are not permitted.

3. Blouses and tops should meet the waistband at all times.  Shoulder straps must be at least 3 inches wide.

4. Tank tops, bicycle shorts, halter tops, fish-net shirts, short shorts (shorts that do not meet fingertips when the child's arms are extended along both sides of the body) should not be worn.

5. Sagging pants or shorts should not be worn.  Pants must fit at the waist; clothing should not drag the floor.

6. Overalls should be fastened properly.

7. Hats, sunglasses, hair curlers, skullies, or do-rags may not be worn.

8. Clothing or jewelry with alcohol, tobacco, profanity, or any discriminatory or inflammatory display should not be worn at school.

Discretion and modesty are the best guides in determining proper attire.  The administration reserves the right to determine whether the overall appearance of the student is disruptive to the school program.  Those who are not dressed properly will have their parents contacted and the apparel problem corrected.

Each year we find that there is quite a large amount of clothing and other items that are unclaimed.  Please encourage your child to try to keep up with coats and other personal belongings.  If an item is lost, quickly check with the school.  The school is not responsible for the loss of personal items.  Unclaimed items are discarded or donated to local agencies periodically.

Bryson is very proud of its beautiful facilities.  We would certainly like to keep the building looking fresh and clean for future Bryson Bears.  Students who deface or destroy school property or the property of others in the school community, either intentionally or accidentally, shall be required to pay for the damage.  Intentional damage will warrant disciplinary action.