High School Attendance Policy & Campus Regulations

1. High School Attendance Policy

It is our expectation that students shall be present in all classes scheduled for every designated school day on the official JIS calendar. We firmly believe that students optimize their learning potential in any course by being present in their enrolled classes.

We do acknowledge that from time to time, absence from classes occurs. We classify absence from class as being verified (i.e. there is an acceptable excuse) or unverified (no excuse provided or the excuse provided is not accepted). Co-curricular participation, field trips, illness, important family matters or emergency are examples of reasons for which absences may be verified. Excuses such as sleeping in through all or part of a class, forgetting the schedule or traffic delays will not be accepted. We believe High School students must take personal responsibility to being accountable for their attendance. Any student who deliberately fails to attend all or part of a class, or does not show responsibility to explain their absence, will receive punitive consequences.

Expectation to Verify Absences

All absences should be verified. Absence from, or tardiness to, scheduled school classes and/or activities is verified only when confirmed by parents or legal guardians and approved by the Administration. The school should be notified as soon as possible of the late attendance or absence. All correspondence should be validated by parental contact or signature. This can be done through email, telephone or link on the JISNet (preferred) to the Attendance Officer. For absences that are longer than three (3) days, medical certificates will be needed to verify the extended absence. If the school is not notified as to the reason for an absence within five (5) school days, then the school will assume the student has “cut” the class (Class Cut) and the absence will remain permanently unverified. In the case where an absence occurred in a class that was conducting an in-class summative assessment or a summative project/assignment was due, parents must verify this within 24 hours. 

Unverified Absences

Any absence from class that has not been approved by the Administration, or not verified within five (5) school days of occurrence, is considered to be unverified. Any student who has an unverified absence will receive an automatic detention. 

Minimum: Parents informed, Code of Ethics reinforced, detention

Maximum: Saturday detention, loss of privileges, loss of course credit (due to absences)

*Repeated unverified absences, across all subject areas, will result in increased severity of consequences.

Loss of Course Credit due to Excessive Absences

1. A student automatically loses course credit if a 4th unverified absence occurs in the same course. If a student loses credit for a course due to a 4th unverified absence, the student must appeal to the High School Principal at the end of semester for consideration to receive credit. This appeal should be made directly in writing to the Principal. The decision as to whether or not to grant the waiver will be made by the High School Principal who, in consultation with other Administration and faculty, will determine the result of each appeal on a case-by-case basis. Improved attendance and strong application to the course are qualities that would enhance the success of this appeal.

b) A student may also lose course credit if their number of absences from classes is deemed excessive ( i.e. more than 20% of the course). This applies even if absences have been verified. If a student loses credit for a course due to excessive absence, the student must appeal to the High School Principal at the end of semester for consideration to receive credit. This appeal should be made by the student directly in writing to the Principal. The decision as to whether or not to grant the waiver will be made by the High School Principal who, in consultation with other Administration and faculty, will determine the result of each appeal on a case-by-case basis.

Implications for Absences

For the purposes of making up missed work, only those absences that have been verified will enable the student to make up work or assessments. With the exception of co-curricular activities (which have their own guidelines) for each day of verified absence, students are allowed one additional day to make up missed work.

In cases of an unverified absence, the privilege of making up work may be denied. Deliberately skipping an assessment is regarded as academic misconduct (see further in this handbook). Any student who has deliberately skipped a class that included an assessment, will receive an automatic detention the same day, or the day after, the skipped class and will undertake the assessment during that detention.  

A student who is suspended from school as a result of disciplinary action will be permitted to make up class work missed during the period of the suspension, as well as complete class assessments missed because of the suspension. If parents find it necessary to remove children temporarily for an emergency within the semester, they must speak or write to the Vice Principal for Student Affairs to explain the need for the absence(s) and to complete the necessary arrangements. Teachers are not required to tutor students who are absent from school because of suspension, late registration, temporary leave, early withdrawal, or extended illness. The teachers’ responsibilities are limited to identifying the work to be completed and evaluating that work.

School refusal

Truancy/school refusal is defined as student absence from school which is unauthorized by a parent or legal guardian. (This includes forged notes). A student who leaves campus without permission is considered to be truant.

Homework for the Absent Student

Students absent for one or two days are advised to first check Google Classroom, and also to contact their teacher or classmates for homework assignments.  If the absence is anticipated to be three days or longer, parents should contact the child’s counselor and VP Student Affairs. They will support the student with getting work that will be missed.

Assessment and makeup work for students on two or more days of school-sponsored activity/events e.g. IASAS/Field Trip/School Play/Musical/GIN Conference

At JIS, we want to see students involved in a wide range of extracurricular activities, given how enriching such things are. To recognize the student's contribution to the school's life and to allow them to maintain their academic workload, some accommodations are appropriate regarding assessments and deadlines around the time of these events. This helps busy and committed students maintain balance and wellness. 

• For students travelling out of country on such activities, and returning Sunday, makeup work/assessments will be required no earlier than the second day back (e.g. Tuesday).

• For students “at home” (e.g. when we host events at JIS), students would not be eligible for extensions/changes to assessment dates after the activity. 

• For students involved in major school productions (e.g. on Thursday and Friday evenings), assessments/deadlines should be changed (through discussion between student-teacher) to before or after the production, but not during it.  

Every effort should be made by the student to be aware of, and to keep up with, missed classwork; advanced communication with their subject teacher is important.

Students who do not see their teacher prior to departure/the event to discuss the missed work will forfeit their rights to accommodations in timing of assessments/extension deadlines.

Attendance Policy: Students in Semester Exams

There are no instructional classes from the start of the semester exam period until the beginning of the following semester (with the exception of the “last student day”). Students only need to attend school for the exams. 

Attendance is expected of students on the last day of Semester.

Attendance Policy: School-sponsored Trips

Students are excused from all classes on school-sponsored trips. This includes LEAD Week and IASAS.

On school-sponsored trips, when flights arrive in Jakarta at 10:00 pm or later, students have the option to return to school by lunch.

Attendance Policy: Students in the IB/AP Mock Exams 

Students are excused from all classes on the day preceding an IB or AP mock exam and the day of the exam itself. A student with a Monday exam is not excused from classes on the preceding Friday.

All students who have three or more mock exams will experience the same limitations of co-curricular involvement as with December (Semester 1) exams. Any student who believes they have an exceptional case can appeal for waiver of this policy through the AP for Curriculum and Learning, who will engage in conversations with teachers, counselors and coaches before making a decision.

Attendance Policy: Students Taking IB/AP Exams In May - Seniors

Students who have taken an IB/AP class are required to take the external exam for this subject. If a student does not take the exam, they will lose the IB/AP designate from their transcript.

Attendance Policy: Seniors' Last Day

After the last day for Seniors, Seniors only need to attend school for exams and mandatory requirements (e.g. Grade 12 Assembly, Graduation rehearsal, etc.) In addition, Seniors who have not submitted externally examined coursework (ie. AP portfolios or IB Diploma requirements, IB/JIS CAS) before Senior's Last Day will be required to continue attending school in a supervised location until the work is submitted and approved. This is a support to protect students' diplomas and credits.  

Seniors enrolled in non-IB/AP classes are required to take semester exams for these classes (where relevant) in the two weeks following the last day for seniors. The scheduling of said exams is done by the teacher, in consultation with the student.

Attendance Policy: Students Taking AP Exams In May - G10 and G11

The following arrangements apply for Grade 10 and 11 taking external AP exams. 

• The day before the Exam: Grade 10 and Grade 11 students are excused from classes the day before an external AP exam. 

• The day of the exam: Grade 10 and Grade 11 students are excused from classes the day of an external AP exam

• Following AP exams: Grade 10 and 11 students in AP classes are required to continue attending AP classes until the end of the school year. 

Tardy (Late) to Class 

Any student who is not present in class at the start of the lesson is considered tardy.  Lessons begin at the listed time (ex. 7:30 am) and students will be marked tardy starting at one minute afterward (ex. 7:31 am). If a student is not present for over 10 minutes of the class, they will be marked as T10 (absent due to being out of class for over 10 minutes). 

At the start of each academic year, teachers will discuss the importance of punctuality with their classes, focusing on the respect demonstrated through arriving to class on time. 

Classroom teachers will monitor tardy attendance and speak directly with students who are offenders. Teachers will notify the AP for Student Life and Well-being of repeat offenders. The AP for Student Life and Well-being will regularly collect tardy statistics and arrange interviews with chronic offenders and their parents. Repeated patterns of tardy attendance will result in detentions and possible suspension. Students who are absent for any part of the lesson without an excuse will receive a consequence according to the attendance policy consequences described above.

2. High School Campus Regulations

Closed Campus

JIS is a closed campus during regular school hours, from 7:30 am to 3:00 PM. That means students may not leave campus without permission, unless they are exercising Senior Privilege. (See below)

Start of School Day

High School classes commence at 7:30 AM on Monday to Thursday, and 8:20 AM (Late Start) on Friday and we expect students to be in class, on time.  Please note that students who have an Honor Pass for the first block(s) of the day do not need to arrive at school until their first scheduled class for the day or to attend mandatory meetings. Any students who are late for a scheduled class must first report to the Attendance Officer explaining their arrival, but their parent still needs to verify this absence.

During the School Day

Once a student has arrived on campus, no student may exit the campus unless they are exercising Senior Privilege or have permission from their parent(s) or guardian(s) to do so. Please refer to our Leaving Campus Early Policy. This permission will need to be validated by a signed note, email or phone call. Seniors may not leave campus if their Honor Pass falls between two instructional classes.

End of School Day

All classes will end at 3:00 PM.  The only students who may leave campus before this time are students exercising Senior Privilege or those with parent permission because the student has a medical appointment or other such appointment which cannot be made outside of school hours. Students may remain on campus to attend clubs or co-curricular activities.  Late buses are available for students involved in these activities. These buses leave campus at 4:45 PM and 5:45 PM. 

Senior Privilege

Senior Privilege is a privilege negotiated between the senior class officers and the High School administration. It is granted to Senior students in good disciplinary standing who have Honor Pass(es) for the last period(s) of the day. Only senior students exercising Senior Privilege may leave campus early and only if the Honor Pass is their last period of the day. Written parental approval in support of early departure must be provided before the privilege is granted. Usually this occurs early in the school year. Senior students with this privilege must sign out and sign in with the Attendance Officer before 12:00 noon and show their exit pass to security when exiting campus.  Senior students who leave campus early, may return to campus for co-curricular activities.

The success or failure of Senior Privilege, its integrity, relies wholly on Seniors’ adherence to the stated conditions and agreements with administration. Senior privilege does not apply on Community Day schedules or mornings when senior assemblies are held. Senior privilege will be revoked by the administration if the privilege is abused, or if other breaches of the High School Code of Ethics and Conduct occur.

Aquatics Attendance Policy

Supervision - Cilandak Campus Instructional Spaces

Because of our commitment to safety and care (referred to as Duty of Care) we strive for high standards of supervision of students on campus and in instructional spaces.  JIS Security and the Campus Supervisor provide a broad coverage of campus supervision during after school hours.  The Supervision - Cilandak Campus Instructional Spaces policy describes our expectations for students when they are on campus on terms of instructional space access during and after school hours.