Attendance
Students should arrive at school at 7:55 am. If a student needs to arrive prior to 7:55 he or she must report to the cafeteria upon entering the building and remain there until the buses unload. Those not doing so will be subject to discipline according to the Code of Conduct.
Students are to report to their first period class by 8:03 a.m. The daily attendance occurs during the first few minutes of first period. Students arriving late are considered tardy to school and tardy to their first period class and must report to the main office to be signed in. Failure to sign in will result in progressive discipline. Students may also face disciplinary consequences from their first period teacher.
Students staying after school for any reason must be under a teacher’s supervision at all times until 3:20 pm. Students will report to the cafeteria at 3:20pm to be supervised until the departure. Bus passes are required in order to ride the late buses.
Dismissals and Absences
State law requires that all pupils attend school during all days and all hours that school is in session. All instances of student absence, tardiness, or early release require a parent/guardian excuse. These excuses must contain:
- Student Name (first and last)
- Grade Level
- Date of absence(s), tardiness, or early release
- Reason for absence, tardiness, or early release
- Parent/guardian signature
- Means of transportation (If not picked up by a guardian – early release excuses only).
Excused Absences
The student shall be present on each scheduled school day and attend all classes. Excused absences for which the teacher will assist with makeup work include:
- personal illness or death in the family
- approved college visitations
- obligatory religious observance
- music lessons
- school field trips
- other school activities
Excused absences should be kept to a minimum. Excessive absences may have an impact on a student’s ability to pass a course.
Unexcused Absences
All other absences are unexcused or truant. Unexcused (those with parent permission, but not for one of the reasons mentioned above) require the student to request work missed. A student who is truant or cuts a class will receive zeroes for work missed and will not have the opportunity to make up assignments.
Any absence without a parental excuse (written or verbal) within three days of the student’s return to school will be recorded and remain on their permanent record as an unexcused absence. Unexcused students may not have an opportunity to make up and/or receive a grade for the work that was missed during their period of absence. If the absence is due to truancy, disciplinary consequences will be applied according to the Code of Conduct. Please understand that an administrator may request written documentation/verification for absences, excused releases, and/or tardiness due to “personal reasons” and medical or dental appointments.
Early Dismissal
Students who must be released from school are required to bring a parent/guardian excuse and present it to the office prior to their first period class/study hall. The excuse should specify: name, date, time to be excused, destination, and reason for leaving, means of transportation from school and telephone number by which the above information may be confirmed. Students failing to present their excuse prior to first period will receive a warning and subsequent offenses may result in progressive discipline. All early dismissals are recorded in the student’s attendance file.
In the event of an emergency or illness during the school day, all students must report to the Nurse or Principal for permission to leave the building. Only the nurse or principal may contact the Parent for permission. Students may not do so. Failure to follow this procedure will result in disciplinary consequences. Leaving school without prior permission from the Nurse or Principal will be considered Truancy.
If a student does not have driving privileges, a parent/guardian/legal representative must sign the student out in the main office and sign them back in when they return. If a student has driving privileges, a parent/guardian must send in a written note in order for a student to leave early.
Returning from Absences
All students returning to school from an absence must report to the main office upon re-entering the school building and present their parent/guardian excuse. Extended absence of three or more days due to illness or excessive absenteeism requires a statement from a doctor.
Homework Requests
Students absent for legal reasons may request homework assignments through the guidance office. Homework requests should be made before 9:30 a.m. in order to provide sufficient time for teachers to complete these requests. The guidance office will provide the teachers’ class work and homework assignments within 24 hours of the request. Assignments may be picked up in the guidance office by a parent or parent designee.
Tardiness to Class
Students must be in class and prepared when the bell rings. Classroom teachers handle routine discipline for unexcused tardiness to class. Repeat offenses will result in referral to Administration.
Tardiness to School
It is expected that students will report to school on time, except in unavoidable emergency circumstances. Students arriving late to school must report to the main office and sign in. A parent/guardian excuse must be presented at the time of the student’s arrival or no later than the following day (see page 10). Failure to sign in will be processed as Truancy. Students are limited to six tardies per semester, combined excused and unexcused. Repeated tardiness will result in disciplinary action.
Truancy
Truancy is any absence from school without consent or prior knowledge of parent/guardian or school. This includes skipping school, tardiness to school, unofficial parties or picnics and leaving school without permission. Disciplinary consequences will be assigned in all cases of truancy.