It is the parent's/guardian's responsibility to call the Attendance Office at 255-8985 first thing in the morning on the day of your students absence. A message can be left at any time.

Students who are absent from school must present to the Attendance Office a written note from their parents. This excuse should contain the reason and date of the absence, and be presented to the Attendance Office as soon as the student returns to classes. Illegal lateness to school which results in absences from one (or more) classes will be considered "cuts" in those classes. Any student who is late to school three times in a row will be required to serve lateness detention. If the lateness is for a legal reason and accompanied by a parental note, the lateness will be excused.

Students should not arrange medical, dental or business appointments during the school day. Students who have to be excused for part of the day must report to the Attendance Office at the beginning of the day. No student should ever leave school for any reason without permission of the nurse or the attendance office. Students will be released into the custody of a parent or guardian aged 18 or older.

Students who are absent for more than ½ a day may not return for extracurricular activities without the specific approval of an administrator. Students must be present in a class for 90% of the possible meeting days, exclusive of days missed because of school closings, suspension, court ordered appearance or school approved educational programs. Adequate notice will be given to the parents when a student's attendance pattern places him/her in jeopardy of passing his/her classes.

Student Absences and Excuses

The following reasons for student absences from school are recognized as valid by the Board of Education:

1. Personal illness
2. Illness or death in the family
3. Impassable roads or weather making travel unsafe
4. Religious observance
5. Attendance at a medical clinic
6. Approved school-sponsored trips
7. Quarantine
8. Required court appearances

Although days missed for the above reasons are considered legal absences, students must realize that their schoolwork can suffer if they are out of class, whether their absence is legal or illegal. Each absence must be accounted for. It is the parent's guardian's responsibility to notify the office on the morning of the absence.