Regular school attendance is critical for academic success. All students arriving after 8:45 AM should report to the Welcome Center for a tardy slip. Habitual tardiness will affect a student’s academic progress. You can expect a call from a Shepherd staff member if a student is consistently tardy.

Documentation must be provided for an absence to be considered excused. Examples of absences that would be considered excused or unexcused are described below. Please notify your child's homeroom teacher and the front office if your child will be absent from school.

Documentation, handwritten or via email, must be provided within 5 days after a student returns from an absence. If sending documentation via email, please copy Ms. Wilson. Please contact Assistant Principal Coles or Ms. Wilson with any questions at (202) 576-6140.