BPE Families,
As we are in our first round of state testing, I am seeing students eager to show us what they know. We will use this data to show us where our bobcats might need some extra support, intervention, or enrichment. I want to thank you all for ensuring that your students had a good night’s rest before their assessment.
Equally exciting is the growing teamwork and collaboration happening in our classrooms. Group projects, partner activities, and shared problem-solving are now daily occurrences. Students are learning not only from their teachers but from one another—listening, sharing, and building on each other’s ideas.
This collaborative approach is helping students develop important social and communication skills while reinforcing academic concepts. As they work together, they’re learning how to support one another, celebrate differences, and solve challenges as a team. The sense of community and respect they’re cultivating will serve them well, both inside and outside the classroom.
Below please see a reminder regarding excused absences:
Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) in Florida has a detailed policy regarding excused absences, outlined in their Attendance Handbook and aligned with Florida state law.
✅ Excused Absences Criteria
An absence may be excused if it meets one of the following conditions:
- Illness or injury of the student.
- Medical or dental appointments (documentation may be required).
- Death in the immediate family.
- Religious holidays recognized by the student's faith.
- Court appearances or legal obligations.
- Approved school activities.
- Other circumstances approved by the principal that offer age-appropriate educational opportunities.
- All absences are initially recorded as unexcused until documentation is provided. If the documentation meets the criteria, the absence is then marked as excused.
📝 Documentation Requirements
- For medical absences, if a student shows a pattern of frequent absences, the school may require a doctor’s note for future absences.
- If a student is absent for three or more consecutive days, or requests five or more non-consecutive medical absences, a physician’s note is strongly encouraged.
- Illness may also be verified by the school nurse.
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