Highlights

We strongly encourage parents and students to review the full attendance policy included in the MHS Student Handbook -

MHS Handbook - Attendance 

** Students are counted present when they are in class for at least one-half of the class period.  A link to the full bell schedule is available above.

** Attendance is counted for each individual class. If students have too many absences in a particular class, it may result in the student being required to attend Seat Time Recovery.

** Parents should provide a note for EVERY absence.  This can be a note from a doctor/dentist/therapist/etc. (which is considered an excused absence) or simply a note from the parent explaining why the student was absent.  Failure to provide notes for a student’s absence can result in the student being considered truant under SC state law.  (Full details regarding truancy are included in the MHS student handbook.)

** Notes should be received within 3 days of the student being absent.  We strongly encourage parents to send ALL notes to the attendance email address.

** Other absences which may be considered excused include certain religious holidays, a death in the immediate family, college visits for juniors and seniors only and other extreme hardships as approved at the discretion of the principal.  Proper documentation must be submitted in advance for these absences, as documented in the student handbook.

** Please note that Seat Time Recovery and Truancy are two different things.  Full details for both can be found in the MHS student handbook or on the Seat Time Recovery tab.

** Students should be IN CLASS when school starts at 8:45.  Students must check in at the attendance office if they arrive after 8:45.

** Students should bring in a note from a doctor/dentist/therapist/etc. to document why they are late to school.  This is considered an excused tardy.

** Students may receive after-school or Saturday detention after exceeding the allowed number of unexcused tardies.  Students may also lose parking privileges after an excessive number of tardies. 


College Visits

Juniors and seniors are allowed up to three college visits each year. Each visit must be to a different institution. In order for a college day to count as a field trip, you must bring written proof of your visit to the institution on the college’s letterhead the day you return to school. The attendance clerk will collect and file your proof in the attendance office. If you fail to follow this procedure exactly, your college visit will count as an absence and count against your allotted absences per semester.