Tardy Policy

Association of Christian Schools

Member 1979 - 2009

Accredited by the

Western Association of Schools
and Colleges

Lakewood Christian Schools

5336 Arbor Road Long Beach, CA 90808

(562) 425-3358

Mission Statement | SAT Scores | Curriculum | Sports | Fine Arts

Admissions | Tuition | Extended Care | Hot Lunch | Daily Schedule

LCS Elementary Tardy Policy

We request your help reducing “TARDIES” in our K-5 Elementary school program. We really do not wish to “punish” young students for coming late to school – getting to school on time is primarily a parental responsibility. (Even if a student causes difficulty leaving the house on time, the parent would control and correct this, not the school. We urge parents to teach children responsibility for promptness and respect their authority. And this is good job training for the future!)

Attendance and starting on time are stressed in the Student / Parent Handbook which is now online. Our classroom doors open at 8:25 and class instruction begins promptly at 8:30 AM. Supervision is available in the breezeway at 8:20 and students may line up in designated areas. There is no charge for students on the playground from 8:00 am to 8:22 when they are escorted to class.

When a tardy student enters class, the learning process of classmates is distracted, even interrupted. Putting away backpacks and lunch pails takes time and in the primary grades, perhaps even takes some help. Therefore it is essential for each student to be on time! Teachers like to begin class in an orderly way. We encourage all our students be considerate of others, both teachers and classmates. As parents, the faculty asks your help to correct excessive tardies.

If you bring your child late to school, please bring him/her to the office to sign in, rather than going directly to the classroom. We request that you write a short note with a brief explanation for the tardy. Along with a tardy slip from the office, this will be taken by the student to class.

Three tardies are permitted each trimester. In order to limit tardies each trimester, teachers will track a student’s tardies. After three tardies a letter is sent home as a warning. For subsequent tardies, students will lose recess time and the citizenship grade on the report card will be lowered (ie., not following school rules.)

Promptness demonstrates self-discipline and responsibility. This can be taught best by parents and reinforced by the school. It is difficult for the teachers to change or “reteach” what is not encouraged at home. Self-discipline in punctuality is essential for developing good habits and results in success and good citizenship in every walk of life.

Thank you for taking responsibility for this and for working with your student and the teachers and classmates. Let’s all work together for the benefit of all in our classroom at school.

Click here to access the Parent Student Handbook