Attendance Guidelines

General Guidelines 

FCPS believes, and research has shown, that students who regularly attend school have the most academic success.  Parents and school staff members can work together to encourage students to participate fully in the school program—by being present, arriving on time, and being connected, committed, and engaged in the learning process.

Absence or tardiness for the following reasons are considered  excused:

  • Illness of the student
  • Death in the family or family emergency
  • Medical appointment
  • Observance of a religious holiday

Absence or tardiness for the following reasons are considered  unexcused:

  • Family trips
  • Childcare problems
  • Oversleeping
  • Non-school related activities
  • Traffic
  • Missing the bus

Reporting an Absence

Report attendance using one of the methods below.

When reporting a student's absence, please be specific about why your student will not attend school today.  If reporting an ill student, include symptoms, especially if they have a fever, nausea, vomiting, sore throat, and/or cough. If your student has a diagnosis from a healthcare provider, please include that information.

School Arrival and Tardiness

Children should arrive at school no earlier than 8:50 a.m. and no later than 9:15 a.m. Classes begin promptly at 9:20; therefore, children are considered tardy if they are not  in their classroom  by 9:20 a.m. Parents must bring students into the Main Office when arriving late to sign them in and receive a late pass. 

Absences and Late Arrivals

Parents should send a written note/email to the teacher and copy @email   by 9:00 am when their child will be arriving late to school. Please include the following in your written note/email:

  • the date when the student will be late
  • the estimated time at which the student will be arriving in the main office
  • the student’s first and last name
  • the student’s teacher and grade level
  • the reason for the late arrival

Early Dismissal Guidelines

Greenbriar West will excuse a student during the day for valid reasons. Parents should send a written request/email to the teacher and copy @email  when their child must leave early. Parents must come to the school office to pick up and sign out their child. We will not allow a student to walk home alone during the school day, nor will we release your child to anyone other than a parent or guardian without prior approval by a parent.  

Please include the following in your written requests:

  • the date when the student will be dismissed early
  • the time at which the student will be picked up from the office
  • the student’s first and last name
  • the student’s teacher and grade level
  • the reason for the early dismissal

Changes in Dismissal Guidelines

The parent/legal guardian can email  @email to request a change in the dismissal routine.   All requests should be made by 2:00 p.m.For any changes or emergencies after 2:00 p.m., please contact the office at  703-633-6700 . Please include the following in your written note/email:

  • the date(s) when the student’s dismissal routine will be different
  • how the student normally is dismissed (bus rider, walker, kiss and ride, afterschool child care transportation, SACC, etc)
  • how the student will be dismissed on the dates provided
  • the student’s first and last name
  • the student’s teacher and grade level
  • When a student is going home with another student, it is expected that parents have coordinated plans beforehand.  Each family must email @email  by 2:00 p.m

Emails/notes will be forwarded to the classroom teacher indicated. 

Family Trip Guidelines

We encourage family trips during scheduled school vacations. We strongly discourage such trips during the school year because these extended unexcused absences interrupt sequential learning in many subject areas. Homework is not given in advance. In the event of a prearranged absence of 5 or more days, please complete the Request for Prearranged Absence Elementary school form and email it to @email . 

We must withdraw any student from our enrollment who is absent from school for 15 consecutive days or more. Upon the student’s return, a parent must again officially enroll him or her.