Attendance & punctuality

In short

KSIM expects at least 95% attendance across the academic year (180 days). Report an absence by calling the school in advance. A doctor’s note is required for any absence over two consecutive days. Students arriving after 07:55 report to Reception.

The expectation

At KSI Montenegro students are expected to achieve a minimum of 95% attendance across an academic year (180 days).

The school’s position is that academic achievement is closely related to physical presence in classes, and that parents, students and staff must work together so that students attend all classes. Attendance is monitored closely and parents are alerted if there is an issue.

What each band means

Band	Attendance	What the school says
Excellent	above 98%	As well as being an excellent attender you are considerably more likely to achieve the best results possible and recognise your potential ability.
Good	95–97%	Your child will almost certainly achieve the results for their ability.
Satisfactory	90–94%	Below the generally accepted international expectation threshold of 95%, meaning up to 18 days missed. Research shows this makes it more difficult to achieve full potential. A letter is sent home to alert parents.
Concern	85–90%	Progress and results will certainly suffer. For DPDiploma Programme — Years 12 and 13. students, a minimum of 90% attendance is required, and KSI Montenegro will not fund final exams below this level.
Serious concern	below 85%	Almost impossible to keep up. Progression to subsequent years and, for Year 13 students, the award of a KSI Diploma is in jeopardy.

Persistent absence

Students with attendance at or below 90% may fall into the persistent absentee category. When attendance falls at or below 90%:

• A member of the Senior Leadership Team monitors the student’s attendance daily.
• A letter is sent asking parents or carers to contact the school and arrange a meeting with the Head of School.
• The child’s attendance is monitored for a three-week period, during which the student is expected to attend every day.
• If the child is absent during the monitoring period, parents are expected to provide medical evidence — a medical appointment card, a copy of a prescription, a letter about a hospital appointment, a letter from a professional organisation, or a doctor’s medical certificate.

Reporting an absence

Parents are required to provide the School Nurse with a doctor’s note for any absence that exceeds two consecutive days.

For children with a chronic condition this may not be required for every period of absence. Parents are encouraged to disclose and discuss any conditions likely to result in persistent absence with the School Nurse and the Head of School. If attendance becomes a serious concern, year group completion or graduation would be in jeopardy.

Call the school in advance to tell the School Nurse and the teacher — see illness & transmitted diseases.

Punctuality

Students are expected to arrive at school between 07:40 (earliest) and 07:55 (latest), in order to report to their class or homeroom for registration at 07:55, receive important informational updates, and prepare for the school day.

Punctuality matters because students disrupt their own learning and the learning of others when they enter a class late.

How attendance is recorded

The school records student attendance in ManageBacThe school system where attendance, behaviour records and reports are kept. Referred to as "MB" in the Handbook., which is reported in interim and final reports. In PYP every class teacher, and in MYP/DP every homeroom teacher, takes attendance using ManageBac each day at 07:55.

Students who arrive after 07:55 report to the main Reception desk, and Reception staff record the late arrival.