Learning is enhanced by consistent class
attendance. The entire process of
education requires continuity of instruction, classroom participation, learning
experiences and study in order to reach the goal of maximum educational
benefits for each individual student.
The regular contact of pupils with one another in the classroom and
their participation in well planned instructional activity under the tutelage
of a competent teacher are vital to this purpose. This is a well established principle of
education which underlies and gives purpose to the requirement of compulsory
education in
Absence Reporting Procedure:
Students who anticipate an absence
should bring a written parental permission note to the office for an advance
make-up slip. Make-up work is to be
completed prior to departure. Upon
returning to school, an absence is easily handled by stopping at the
principal’s office first and receiving an admittance slip. Please note that the school requires a
written note or phone call from a parent or guardian for all non school
activity absences.
Admit slips are needed following prearranged,
excused and unexcused absences. The ONLY
time you do not need an admit slip is if the absence was due to a school
activity. The admit slip is your pass
into every class missed. If students
fail to pick up the admit slip, teachers will not allow them into class. The student will be sent to the office for an
admit slip and given a tardy for that period.
All parents/ students will be responsible for the
following attendance procedures.
1. Parents should call the school
(864-5215) before 9:00 am on the day a student is absent. A parental note may be presented the day the
student returns to school explaining why the absence occurred, days absent and
reason for the absence. A phone call or note is required.
2.
A student will be allowed total days absent plus one day to make up
work. Important: Schoolwork missed because of an absence
should be made up and credit will be given if completed on time. Example: if a student is absent one day, they
have two days to make-up work. If absent
two days they have three days to make up work.
Work not completed on time will be considered no-credit.
3.
Students may leave school during the day only if they check out in the
office and receive a pass to leave the school.
The request to leave must be accompanied with a written note or a
telephone call from the parent/guardian requesting that the student be
dismissed or with administrative approval.
This procedure should be done in time to report to first period class. Failure to report to class on time will result
in a tardy. Students not returning from
appointments arranged in advance are to have a parent/guardian call the school.
4.
Students who are absent at the start of the school day but arrive at a
later time are to check in at the office immediately.
5.
During an out-of-school suspension, students will be allowed an
opportunity to complete assignments on their OWN time, such as during the
suspension time at home, or in study hall.
Students WILL NOT be allowed to do assignments
from the suspension during class/ class time.
Time to complete assignments are set according to school policy (see
#2), and it is the student’s responsibility to get assignments before school,
after school, or from other classmates for the out-of-school suspension.
Guidelines for Student Attendance
Students are allowed a maximum of 6 absences for any reason during a semester.
(1) Doctor Excused Absences verified and documented by doctors qualified to
treat the illness or if sent home by the school nurse/designee. Designated as APT (appointment) on attendance record.
(2) Parent excused illness - not to exceed 6 absences per semester. Designated as
(3) Funeral. Designated as FNL on attendance record.
(4) Pre-arranged family vacations. Absence due to family vacations should be
arranged with the school in advance and make up work completed prior to the
planned vacation
when possible. Designated as VAC on attendance record.
Vacation days count towards the 6 day maximum.
(5) Other parent approved absences may be approved at administrator's
discretion. Designated as EXC (excused) on attendance record.
(6) A one time only ½ day excused for driver's license exam.
(7) Note:
Parents may excuse a maximum of 6 absences per semester. This includes
illness, vacation, etc.
Further absences verified only through a parental note will be
unexcused. However, it is still important that a note or phone call from a
parent or guardian be received, otherwise, the missed
date will be classified as a truancy.
NOTE: School sponsored activities do not count towards a
student reaching the 6 absence limit.
(1) Field Trips.
(2) Musical Sectionals/lessons.
(3) Programs in which the student is participating, being
honored or presented with an award, i.e. Rotary, 4-H, etc.
(4) School sponsored groups - not to exceed one meeting
per week.
NOTE: Students are not allowed to be absent for
extra-curricular events if they are behind in class work.
1. Religious Release - Includes absences for religious release classes as well
as other activities of a religious nature. Pre-approval required.
2. College Visitation - Juniors and Senior's wishing to visit colleges or
universities during the school day will be allowed 2 days per school year. The
following procedures must be followed: You must arrange the visit through the
guidance counselor for the school you wish to visit and to allow for
arrangements to be made with admissions people at the school. Second, you must
plan this visit at least three school days in advance and have school work made
up in advance. Parents are encouraged to be in attendance during the visit. A
visit to the school without following these guidelines will count as an
unexcused absence. If more visitation days are necessary, administration has
the authority to grant them as needed. Provided the above conditions are met,
these visits would
be designated as ECV (excused college visit) on the attendance record. Failure to follow these procedures will
result in an unexcused absence.
Unexcused Absences
Students who do not meet the
above criteria will have their absences considered unexcused. A meeting with
parents may be required at the school's discretion prior
to the 7th cumulative absence in any semester if there are concerns due to
unexcused absences. Families of students with attendance concerns may be
referred by the school to
participate in a meeting involving school and county personnel. The purpose of
this meeting is to collaboratively develop a plan to increase the student's
attendance. Below are some examples of unexcused absences:
1. Truancy (skipping school) Students
receive a zero for all assignments missed.
2. Missed bus/car won't start
3. Senior Pictures
4. Any absence which is not verified by a child's
parent or custodial adult.
5. Parents may excuse a maximum of 6 absences per semester, those without a
medical
excuse by a doctor
beyond six will be classified as unexcused.
6. Work outside the home.
7. Other reasons deemed unexcused by administration.
Important:
Time missed because of an unexcused absence must be made-up within two weeks of
the absence. Students must make up ½ hour for each period absent per
day. Arrangements to make up the time
must be made with the building principal.
Failure to make up the time will result in a 2% grade reduction in each
class for each period of unexcused absence.
Absences where time has been made up will be designated TEA (teacher) on
the attendance report. Coursework due
dates following an absence utilize the following rule: number of days absent added on to the first
date of return in school. Example: If a student were absent Monday and Tuesday,
but returned Wednesday, all assignments would be due by the end of the day
Friday unless other arrangement have been made with the teacher. Grade reductions due to unexcused absences
will be calculated at midterm and at the end of each official grading
period. Example: At the end of first semester, if a student
has 4 unexcused absences (time with the teacher was not made up) and they were
getting 84% in the class (B-) the percentage would be reduced an additional 8%
dropping the grade to 76% (C-).
Tardiness
Upon
arrival at school, a tardy student must report to the main office to pick up a
tardy pass for admittance to classes. If a student is late for school (1st
period) for less than 1/2 the period (25 minutes), the absence will be counted
as a tardy.
a. Examples - Excused Tardiness
1. Illness
2. Family Emergency
3. Other reasons the
administration judges as excused.
Enforcement:
a. A student tardy for the third time to
class in a semester will be assigned one (1) hour of detention. The principal will keep track of all tardies for period 1 and teachers and the principal keep
track of tardies periods 2-7.
b.
Additional tardies will result in
additional consequences, as called for in the School's Discipline Policy based
on the student's discipline level.