Attendance

Absences:
Absences from class may result in serious disruption of a student’s mastery of the required learning; therefore, the student and parent should make every effort to avoid unnecessary absences.  Section II of the student handbook addresses specific details and applicability of state laws governing student attendance.
 
Excused Absences:

In order for an absence to be excused, a note must be turned in.  The date and time limit must be on the absence excuse.  

A student who is absent from school for illness related reasons will be considered excused.  Students returning to school with a doctor’s note will be excused. The school will count absences as excused when a parent note indicating illness is presented by the student or parent within five days of the absence.  Other absences that may be excused are described in Section II of the student handbook.

Students who have medical restrictions must bring the restrictions on a note to the front office. The attendance clerk or the nurse will notify all of the child's teachers and will also notify any coach if necessary.   

Unexcused Absences:

Upon returning to school, a note should be sent with the student stating the reason for the absence. All absence notes should be turned in to the main office. A note is documentation of the reason for absence but it may not necessarily excuse it.
When a student’s absence for personal illness exceeds five consecutive days, the principal or attendance committee may require that the student present a statement from a physician or health clinic. This statement verifying the illness or condition that caused the student’s extended absence from school as a condition of classifying the absence as one for which there are extenuating circumstances.
If a student has established a questionable pattern of absences, the principal or attendance committee may require that a student present a physician’s or clinic’s statement of illness after a single day’s absence as a condition of classifying the absence as one for which there are extenuating circumstances.

Truancy:  

Students with excessive absences will receive an attendance letter from the school notifying the student and parent / guardian of a mandatory attendance meeting with the school truancy officer. Excessive absences are 3 days/parts of days in a 4 week period or 10 days / parts of days in a six month period.