Student Handbook - Attendance Policy

The entire process of education requires a regular continuity of instruction, classroom participation, learning experience, and study in order to reach the goal of maximum educational benefits for each individual child.

The school realizes that at times it is necessary for students to be absent; however, the administration requests the students’ and parents’ full cooperation in keeping absences to a minimum. Families are encouraged to plan vacations to correspond with the times that school is not in session. Students are also encouraged to schedule dental and doctor appointments after school, on Saturdays, or during vacation periods. Local appointments that have to be during school hours should be scheduled around study halls if possible.

The student’s attendance record becomes a part of the permanent record maintained by the school. Prospective employers contact school officials about an applicant’s attendance record.

K-6 Students

The school day begins at 8:45 am and ends at 3:25pm. Students will be considered tardy when they arrive for school after 9:00am. A student who checks out after 3:10pm will be not be counted absent for that period. A period of absence will be any period that begins after 9:00am and begins before 3:10pm.

7-12 Students

The school day begins at 8:40 a.m. and ends at 3:30 p.m. Students are counted tardy when they are late for classes until the period is half over, then they are considered absent. Absences are recorded by period and each period lasts forty-eight minutes. A student who checks out after 3:10pm will be not counted absent for that period. A period of absence will be any period whether it is a study hall or class.

Students should not come into the building prior to 8:15 a.m. When a student has been absent from school, he/she should send a note explaining their absence. Written parental permission will be necessary if a parent must send his child downtown or home. Also, for class trips parental permission will first be granted before students leave our community. If your child is absent and needs make-up work, please notify the teacher in advance by phone before stopping at school so the materials will be ready.

Absence vs. Participation

Any student who is absent from school after the fourth period or 11:43am will not be allowed to participate or be a spectator in any school activity that evening or practice after school that day. Any student who will be participating in a school event during the school day has to be in school at the start of the school day and up until departure time. Special cases can be brought

to the principal and will be handled on an individual basis. These special cases must be brought to the principal before the absence occurs.

Checking in and out during the school day

Any student who wishes to leave school during the school day must check out through main office before leaving, and must have parental permission before he/she leaves. Even though a student may be sick and needs to go home, the student must check out through the main office. Any student who leaves school without checking through the principal’s and/or main office will be considered to have skipped school. This also includes students who go home for lunch but do not return to school or let the school know they are not returning. Checking in and out with your junior or high school instructor is not acceptable.