Attendance Policy

SCHOOL ATTENDANCE          

All students are expected to attend school on each regularly scheduled day of the current school year as approved by the School Committee. Students will be marked absent when entering school after 10:30 a.m.  Students will be marked absent when dismissed for the remainder of the day before 10:30 a.m.  Students will be considered present when dismissed for the day after 10:30a.m.

ABSENTEEISM

Parents are strongly urged to call their child in absent.  All students who are absent from school must bring a note signed by parent/guardian or medical doctor, indicating the date and reason for such absence to the homeroom teacher on the day they return to school. No note is required if the parent called to report on the day of absence. Remember it is your responsibility as a student to seek out and make up all missed assignments.

Absences will be considered either as excused or unexcused according to the following: 

Excused absences will generally be recorded when the student has been ill, when there has been a serious illness or death or other extreme hardship over which you have no control. In any of these situations the student must return to school with a signed note as described above, or parent must call and confirm the absence is excused.

1. Make-up of assignments with excused absences.
   1. If your absence is excused, you will be required to make up the assignments you missed and you will received credit for such work under the following schedule:
      • One (1) day absence – three (3) school days to make up the missed assignments.    
      • Two (2) days absence – six (6) school days to make up the missed assignments.
      • Three (3) to five (5) days absence – two (2) school weeks to make-up the missed assignments.           
   2. Excused absences of more than one week will be treated in the following manner.
      • Upon returning to school, the student will meet with his/her teachers and arrange to make up all missed work within one month of the date of return to school.
   3. Failure to complete any missed assignments within the indicated schedule of time allowed (1A and 1B above) will result in a grade of zero to be recorded for each missing assignment.
   4. The names of all students receiving an incomplete grade will be sent to the office at the end of each quarter on the report of marks form.
   5. A student who has received an incomplete grade during a marking period as a result of excused absences will be informed in writing  by the teachers assigning the incomplete grade, exactly what assignments must be completed in order to have the incomplete grade removed from his/her quarterly mark. Students must make-up assignment within the time frame indicated above (1A and 1B).
      • At the end of the time frame, the teacher(s) will notify the guidance department, in writing, the results of the assignments completed.
      • The guidance department will remove the incomplete grade and assign the grade(s) reported by the teacher.
2. Unexcused absences will be recorded if a student does not return a signed and dated note from his/her parents or physician explaining such absences or has been found to be truant from school.
   1. If a student’s absence is determined to be unexcused, he or she will not be allowed to make up any missing assignments caused by such unexcused absences and the grading for each such day will be considered a zero.
3. Excessive absenteeism as well as habitual tardiness will result in a parental conference.                                          
4. Any exceptional absentee situation will be provided individual consideration through a parental conference.
5. Students suspended will be provided with the missed schoolwork but will not receive credit.

ATTENDANCE AT SCHOOL FUNCTIONS

Any students dismissed early, absent, or arriving at school after 10:30 a.m. will be ineligible to participate in any extra-curricular activity for that day, except in extraordinary circumstances with special permission of the principal.

Students who are suspended may not participate in any extra-curricular activities during the period of the suspension, (nor are they to participate in the next subsequent activity).       

Teachers may recommend to the principal that students who are poorly behaved not participate in cluster field trips.  The decision of the principal is final. The parent of said student would be notified in advance of the decision.

WHAT ARE THE SCHOOL HOURS?

School begins at 8:00 a.m. and ends at 2:35 p.m. Teachers will be available Mondays through Thursdays for those students desiring extra help.  Please consult your teacher for specific times.

WHAT DO I DO IF I AM TARDY?

Students should be in their rooms at 7:55 a.m.  At 8:00 a.m. the tardy bell sounds.  If you are late, report to the Assistant Principal’s office, where you will receive a tardy slip.  You will go to your locker then report to your teacher and show him/her your slip.

Students who are frequently tardy will be asked to make up the time after school.

WHAT DO I DO IF I NEED TO BE DISMISSED?

Students will be dismissed for emergencies only by the office.  For non-emergency situations students must bring a note to the office before school starts requesting dismissal and giving a reason.  Dismissal notes may be checked by telephone before you can be dismissed.  (See Attendance Policy)

WHAT DO I DO IF I AM ABSENT?

All parents and/or guardians are required to do one of the following when your child is going to be absent from school:

1. (Most Preferred) Call the morning of the day the student is out to report absenteeism to school officials. You may use the following numbers:  365-4220, ext. 1.
2. On the day your child returns to school, a note explaining the reason for the absence should be delivered to the  assistant principal.
3. Any parent requesting homework must do so by 9:00 a.m. and may pick up the work after the school day in the office.
4. Click to view Report Absent/Tardy