Attendance

Regular school attendance and promptness are important to a student’s academic success and also promote good work habits and self-discipline. Parents can support their students and the BAS staff by cooperating with the following requests: 

1. Have students arrive at school early enough so that they can be in their seats ready for morning worship at 8:30 a.m. 

2. Whenever possible, arrange appointments for students outside of school hours. 

3. Establish a regular bedtime to provide sufficient rest each night. 

4. If at any time it is necessary to have a student be absent, arrive late, or leave early due to a medical appointment, please notify the teacher in writing. Such a note of explanation does not necessarily excuse the student.  Extended unexcused absences require filling out the "Pre-Arranged Absence Form" through the main office.

5. Parents are to report all unplanned absences to the school office by telephone on the day of the absence. 

6. Observe the dates provided in the school calendar for the beginning and ending of vacation periods. 

7. Parents desiring assignments for absent students must call to request them. 

8. Students that miss school may not come later for intramurals, sports practice or any other afterschool club.

Excused Absences: 

The following are considered excused absences: illness, funeral and school-approved activities.  Students are responsible for completing and turning in all assignments the week they return from being out due to illness. Tests and/or quizzes missed will be scheduled for a makeup day.

Prearranged Absences:  (Pre-Arranged Absence Form must be submitted to the principal.)

Although regular school attendance is important to the success of a student, there are times when it becomes necessary for a student to be absent from school. Parents need to notify, in writing and in advance, their student’s teacher(s) of all pre-planned absences. Students are responsible for completing and turning in all assignments the week they return from a prearranged absence in which they missed one or more school days. Tests and/or quizzes missed will be scheduled for makeup upon the student’s return. Students should prepare to take all tests and quizzes that were announced prior to their absence, even if the test/quiz is to be given the first day back. 

Families need to complete a form requesting their prearranged absence and receive administrative approval five days prior to any planned absence or the absences may be considered unexcused. Only with administrative approval can a student expect to make up any missed assignments and assessments, with the knowledge some special assignments are impossible to make up or plan for in advance. Teachers are not required to provide make-up or alternate work for absences that have not gone through the prearranged absence process.

Tardiness: 

Promptness is essential for the success of students. Students entering the class after 8:30 a.m. disrupt the opening procedures and/or miss out on initial directions. Tardiness for any reason other than medical appointments are considered an unexcused tardy. 

Truancy:

Maryland State Law defines truancy as 8 unexcused days in a quarter, 15 days in any semester OR 20 unlawful absences within a school year. BAS will follow Maryland state guidelines in handling cases of truancy. If a satisfactory plan cannot be agreed upon or followed, the student may be recommended to the BAS School Board for expulsion or immediate withdrawal.

Potomac Conference Office of Education Procedure for Handling Truancy 

 Procedure: (Teacher is responsible for taking daily attendance.  This includes recording absences and tardiness)

1. Teacher notifies parents in writing when three (3) unexcused absences or five (5) unexcused tardies occur.  Teacher makes 4 copies of form letter: (1) original is sent to the parent (2) place a copy in student folder (3) copy for principal or school board chairperson and (4) teacher keeps copy.

2. Upon the sixth (6) unexcused absence or seventh (7) unexcused tardy, the homeroom teacher/principal appraises the local school board of the truancy problem and the school board chairperson then sends a written letter to the parents. Copy of the letter needs to be placed in the student file. 

3. Upon the seventh (7) unexcused absence or tenth (10) unexcused tardy, the homeroom teacher/principal notifies the school board and the school board chairperson or principal notifies the conference. At this point, the school would send copies of previous letters that were sent to the parents and the unexcused absences and tardies form to the conference office.

4. The Conference office Associate Superintendent will then send a letter to the parent with copies to school board chairperson and principal/homeroom teacher, apprising the parents of the attendance requirements and if the problem continues further action will need to be taken. The action would be if two more unexcused absences or tardies occur, the board would request that the parents appear before the board to discuss the truancy concerns and come up with an outlined plan. 

5. If truancy problems persist the local school board needs to take further action. (notify social services in case of excessive absences and/or tardiness or take steps to dismiss the student). 

States expect us to uphold their regulations that say students must be regular in their appointments with their schools. Children must be present and on time every day unless there are extenuating circumstances. The states require students to be registered in a bonafide school program. It also requires schools and school systems to hold parents accountable for having their children in school unless the following occurs: 

Excused absence & tardiness;

1. Verified illness with a doctor’s note, quarantine or has a contagious disease, dental, optometrical or other medical appointments. 2. There has been a death in the immediate family. (parent, grandparent, sibling, uncle and aunt)  3. Schools closed for weather related emergencies in the county where the student resides, when a Potomac school is open.. 

Other absences; 

In the case of emergencies over which the parents or guardians have no control, the principal may excuse the following absences and tardies. Most absences or tardies can be excused with a parent note to the classroom teacher or office manager. 1. Poor weather conditions, 2. Transportation break-down, 3. Required court attendance.