State law requires that students be regular and punctual in attendance. Regular attendance is important in the academic development of the student. Excessive and unexcused absences from school are detrimental to such development. Attendance is a shared responsibility between the home and school.

In an effort to verify attendance each day, we request that parents notify the school if their child will be absent. Please call 484-9247 before 9:30 a.m. each day to report student absences. Students are also required to bring a note from the parent on the first day of return indicating the reason for the student’s absence and the telephone number where the parent may be reached. The homeroom teacher will issue an admittance slip for excused absences which the student will take to all of his or her remaining classroom teachers to sign. The student should retain the admittance slip for his or her records.

Sickness of a student, medical appointments, severe illness or death in the family, exposure to contagious disease, religious holidays, court appearance if subpoenaed, and inclement weather will be considered the only legitimate excuses for absence or tardiness. Absence for any reason other than those stated above must be approved in advance by the Assistant Principal for Attendance. Requests for an absence should be submitted in writing three days prior to the absence. Please state the reason for and the date or dates of absences. When possible, work should be completed before the pre-approved absence. Otherwise, all work missed should be made up upon return to school.

Students entering school tardy at any time during the day should report directly to the attendance office. If a student comes in tardy because of illness or a doctor’s appointment, he or she must have a note from a parent or the doctor’s office stating the reason for the student’s tardiness. Habitual tardiness due to medical reasons may require a doctor’s note. 

Tardies are recorded by semester. Students who miss 30 minutes or more of a class will be counted as absent. Students who ride the bus and attend the morning session of the Chesapeake Career Center may intermittently be late returning to WBHS. If any issue arises, the student or parent should notify WBHS administration immediately. 

Any student who needs to leave school prior to the end of the day must bring a note from his or her parent indicating the reason and means of transportation. These notes must be submitted to the homeroom teacher during homeroom period. Students who leave without permission will be considered as skipping school and subject to disciplinary action. Students who do not submit a note will not be allowed to leave school. Unless a doctor’s note/legal note is provided, the student will be marked unexcused-absent if missing more than 30 minutes of class.

Unless extenuating circumstances are established in advance, a student who misses more than nine (9) days (excused + unexcused) of a semester course or more than eighteen (18) days (excused + unexcused) of a two-credit, year-long course will receive a failing grade and will not be granted credit for the course.

Extenuating circumstances may be granted when a student exceeds the allotted number of absences. Out-of-school suspensions are not considered valid reasons when applying for extenuating circumstances. Students applying for extenuating circumstances must complete the application and provide documentation for absences to the Mr. Alexander. The application is located on the WBHS website as well as on Bruin Net. If granted extenuating circumstances, all additional absences should be approved by the principal. Unapproved absences, after extenuating circumstances have been granted, may result in forfeiture of the previously granted extenuating circumstances. 

The attendance waiver form is a fillable electronic form that will be posted Tuesday, January 2, 2024 for the first semester and posted Wednesday, May 1, 2024 for the second semester.

ATTENDANCE WAIVER FORMS ARE DUE NO LATER THAN 4:00 PM ON WED., JANUARY 17, 2024  FOR THE FIRST SEMESTER

ATTENDANCE WAIVER FORMS ARE DUE NO LATER THAN 4:00 PM ON WED., MAY 22, 2024 FOR THE SECOND SEMESTER