School Policies

DCPS has updated policies and regulations related to attendance, graduation, secondary grading, and promotion to better support our students and families.

To help navigate these updates, DCPS has created "Pre-K to Graduation: A Policy Guide for Families".

Attendance and Truancy

To review the entire policy of DCPS requirements on attendance, view DCPS Attendance and Truancy Policy.

General Attendance Requirements

All children who reach five (5) years of age on or before September 30th of the current school year are considered school-aged and must attend school on time every day until they meet hight school graduation requirements or reach their 18th birthday.

What are excused absences?

Excused absences are when school-aged students are absent from school with a valid excuse and parental approval. Examples of excused absences include:
  • Student illness (a doctor’s note is required for a student absent five or more days in a term);
  • Illness of a child for parenting students (a doctor’s note is required for a student absent five or more days in a term);
  • Medical or dental appointments for the student;
  • Death in the student’s immediate family;
  • Exclusion by direction of the authorities of the District of Columbia, due to quarantine contagious disease, infection, infestation, or other condition requiring separation from other students for medical or health reasons;
  • Necessity for a student to attend a judicial proceeding, or court activity, as a party to the action or under subpoena;
  • Observance of a religious holiday;
  • Absences to allow students to visit their parent or legal guardian, who is in the military; immediately before, during or after deployment;
  • Emergency or other circumstances approved by DCPS.
The following absences may also be excused without written documentation from the parent, as verified by the school:
  • Lawful out of school suspension or exclusion by school authorities;
  • Temporary closing of facilities or suspension of classes due to severe weather, official activities, holidays, malfunctioning equipment, unsafe or unsanitary conditions, or other condition(s) or emergency requiring a school closing or suspension of classes;
  • Failure of the District of Columbia to provide transportation in cases where the District of Columbia has legal responsibility for the transportation of the student; and
  • An emergency or other circumstance approved by DCPS.
If a student is absent for a total of up to four (4) cumulative days in each grading period, a parent's written excuse is sufficient for explaining the absence. 

If a student is absent for five (5) or more cumulative days per term, further documentation is required beyond communication by the parent for the absence to be excused. Written explanation of the student's absence must be submitted by a doctor or staff of a relevant agency, on official doctor's office/agency letterhead and signed by a relevant official.

Please address any questions or concerns about attendance to our social worker, Ms. Thompson at 202-281-2580.


Uniforms

ALL students are expected be in uniform Monday through Friday. Students may only have “free dress” on days as designated by the Noyes Administration Team.

The official uniform for Noyes Elementary School consists of the following, worn in any combination:
  • Tops: solid burgundy and/or light yellow; blouses or polo-style shirts only; no t-shirts or sleeveless shirts
  • Bottoms: solid gray - shorts, pants, skirts, or skorts; burgundy/gray plaid skorts and skirts; no jeans or athletic pants
  • Dresses: solid gray; polo-style dresses or jumpers (with a uniform top worn underneath) or the burgundy/gray plaid
  • Extra layer to be worn in the classroom for warmth: solid burgundy, light yellow, or white only (no designs); button or zipper cardigan sweaters or pullover sweaters/sweater vests only; no hoodies
  • Socks, tights, and leggings: solid burgundy, gray, or white (no designs)
  • Shoes: closed-toe and appropriate for PE and playground activity (i.e., safe and comfortable) only; no sandals, flip-flops, croc-type shoes, or high heels
  • Outerwear: any type of outerwear may be worn to/from school and on the playground, but jackets, coats and hats are not part of the uniform and may not be worn in the classroom.
  • “Free dress” or Dress down Days: Dress down days are announced and determined by the Principal. Uniforms are not required on free dress days. However, shoes must be closed-toe and appropriate for PE and playground activity (i.e., safe and comfortable); no sandals, flip-flops, croc-type shoes, or high heels.
Extremes in style and fit and extremes in style of grooming, as determined by the Principal, will not be permitted, including, but not limited to, bandanas, hats, non-prescriptive glasses/sunglasses, clothing that exposes armpits, bare backs or midriffs, and see-through clothing. This applies to uniforms and to clothing worn on free dress days.
 
If you need assistance obtaining uniforms or need more information, please contact the main office. Noyes maintains a small uniform bank and welcomes donations of clean, gently used uniforms throughout the school year.