Per board policy all students are required to attend at least 83% of the total number of instructional days held in the academic year.

At Seawell Elementary, we recognize that students may be absent due to travel opportunities or other educational experiences. Parents may request that these absences be excused. Absences for educational opportunity may be approved for up to ten days within the school year. However, no educational leave may exceed 10 days. (Please see CHCCS Board Policy 4400 below).

Family events such as weddings, reunions, etc. will not be considered excused unless there is an educational component or experience associated with the trip. This would have to be approved ahead of time. We recognize that not all family events or vacations may fall under the category of an "educational opportunity" and anticipate that some students may have unexcused absences. We do not become overly concerned with these types of absences unless they are excessive in nature.

CHCCS Board Policy 4400 (#7): Participation in a valid educational opportunity, such as college visits, service as a legislative or Governor’s page, and foreign exchange trips, with prior approval by the principal. For an excused absence for educational reasons, the request must be submitted in writing in advance of the opportunity and should include the learning objective and how the objective links to coursework or the educational development of the student. Family trips and vacations that were not designed from the outset to be educational will not be excused. Excused absences due to educational leave may not exceed 10 days in any school year.

Please complete the following information and submit the form to Ms. Goins, Principal, at least 10 days prior to the proposed trip. (If you have more than one child, you only need to complete one form. Please list all student names.)

Ms. Goins will notify you if the absence has been excused. If you have questions, please contact Principal Goins at mgoins@chccs.k12.nc.us. Thank you!