All parents are invited to join us for a Q and A session on Friday, September 11 from 6-7 pm in Acad Corner. We will answer any questions and concerns you have as your families settle into this year of Middle School.

Please use the 6-12 Grade Absence Notification Form, which is quickly accessible under My BJA on our website, to let the offices know when your child will be absent from school.

• Managing absences 

• • Medical/dental appointments

    • Parent notifies office in advance

    • Verified by doctor’s note submitted within 2 days of the absence

  • Illness/injury

    • Parent notifies office by 8:30 a.m. each day of absence

    • Verified within 2 days of the student’s return

      • For brief, non-chronic illnesses (e.g., 24-hour flu): parent may contact a school nurse or submit a doctor’s note

      • For longer or chronic illnesses: parent submits a doctor’s note

    • A student who misses classes due to illness should not participate in extracurricular activities that day.

  • Death in immediate family

    • Parent notifies office as early as possible

    • Parent confirms date of return when possible

  • Absence for personal purposes (special circumstances such as family trip or educational opportunity)

    • Parent should communicate with the principal as soon as possible to coordinate the details of the absence.

    • For grades 9–12, the last week of school each semester should be avoided (final exams).

  • Tardy accumulation: 5 tardies are calculated as an absence (see below).

  • Absence of a student without the knowledge of his or her parents: also incurs significant discipline penalties

  • School-related absences (e.g., field trip; school athletic team trip; school suspension): not calculated in absence totals below

Tardies

• Grades 6–12

  • Up to 10 minutes late to class: labeled as tardy

    • A student who is tardy for first hour is to check in at the office before going to class.

    • 5 tardies from a class are calculated as an absence for that class.

  • More than 10 minutes: counted as an absence

The following consequences apply for accumulated absences over the course of the semester:

• At 3 absences from a class: parents notified by the office

• At 6 absences from a class: parents contacted by principal

• At 8 absences from a class:

  • Grades 6–8: student receives an incomplete for promotion purposes