Attendance

Attendance

Your academic success directly links to regular attendance and punctuality.  Important work occurs in classes each day and the opportunity for teachers and students to interact is the basis for high academic achievement.  The quality of these experiences cannot be duplicated.  Instructional contact is essential to your academic progress and mastery of skills and knowledge.  Absences, whether excused or unexcused, affect your academic performance and grades.

School begins at 7:35 a.m. and concludes at 2:30 p.m.  Parkway South High School is NOT an open campus.  You are expected to arrive on time and attend classes throughout the school day.  Parents are encouraged to check their student’s attendance regularly.  You will be contacted regarding excessive tardies & absences.  You will be required to serve detentions (along with other consequences as assigned by an administrator) for unexplained absences & tardies. If you have unexcused absences, you may be denied make-up privileges. 

Since punctuality and attendance are important to life in a democratic society, repeated unexcused absences and tardies may affect your citizenship grade.  Certain privileges may also be contingent upon your successful response to your attendance.  Examples include, but are not limited to, driving to the campus and parking (juniors and seniors only), senior out-to-lunch passes, AcLab passes, and participation in school activities.  In addition, prospective employers and college admissions officers often check citizenship marks and your record of attendance.

Students will receive consequences for the following tardy infractions

Across ALL classes (per semester)

• 5 tardies= lunch detention 

• 10 tardies= 1 hour after school detention 

• 15 tardies= 3 hour after school detention (and additional consequences per administrator discretion) 

• 20 tardies= 3 hour after school detention (and additional consequences per administrator discretion) 

• 25 tardies= 3 hour after school detention (and additional consequences per administrator discretion) 

• 30 tardies= 3 hour after school detention (and additional consequences per administrator discretion) 

Additional Consequences May Include: Parking privileges being revoked, Out-To-Lunch Pass being revoked, hallway restrictions, E-Hall Pass restrictions, & Out-Of-School Suspension.

Students will receive follow up for the following attendance concerns

Single period absences

• 1st offense - 1 hour detention assigned by attendance TA

• 2nd Offense - 3 hour detention assigned by grade level admin after receiving a referral from attendance TA

• 3rd Offense - Grade level admin's discretion for escalated consequences (3 hour detention - OSS

Full day absences:

• Students and families will receive an attendance letter if their attendance percentage has dropped to 93% and again if it drops to a 90%. 

Unexplained Absences

• Work missed due to an unexplained absence may only be made up within the guidelines set forth by each teacher.  You may be denied make-up privileges.

•  Parents have 24 hours to call and explain an absence with the exception of single hour absences.  If a student misses a single hour during the day, the excuse must be cleared prior to the hour absence.

• A single unexcused absence and/or repeated unexcused absences will result in a disciplinary consequence. Unexcused absences can be reflected in your citizenship grade:

·         "O" Outstanding Citizenship ………..0 unexcused absences

·         "S" Satisfactory Citizenship…….…...0 unexcused absences

·         "I" Needs Improvement……………...1 unexcused absence

·         "U" Unsatisfactory…………………...2+ unexcused absences

Verifying a Student’s Absence

The school may excuse a student’s absence based upon a parental explanation within 24 hours of his or her student’s absence.  When a student is absent, a parent verifies his or her student’s absence in one of the following ways:

Within 24 Hours of the Absence

§   Parents may call the school at (314) 415-7700, select option 1 to reach the attendance line to report the student’s absence.

OR

§   Before 7:00 a.m. or after 2:30 p.m., parents may leave a voice message (within 24 hours of the absence) at (314) 415-7726 to report a student’s absence.  Parents are encouraged to call the day of the absence or prior to the absence.  Written notes are not accepted.

Arriving Late/Leaving Early

1.    A parent/guardian should call the attendance office at (314) 415-7700 to notify the school of the time the student will be arriving or has parental permission to leave school.  Notes/e-mails are not accepted. 

2.    Students' passes are delivered in an e-hall pass system through their Parkway email upon arriving at school, between classes, or during lunch.  Teachers also receive a copy of the students e-hall pass to acknowledge. 

3.    Students must sign in at the Main Office anytime you come into the building after classes begin OR you leave the building before the end of the day.

Single Block Absences

A single block absence remains unexcused unless verified by a parent or teacher prior to the class absence. 

Absences are typically excused for the following reasons:  Illness of the student, death in the student’s immediate family, certain days for religious observance, medical or dental appointments, court appearance, planned absence with prior approval and for an approved reason, field trips, emergency or set of circumstances that, in the judgment of the principal, constitutes a reasonable cause of absence from school.  Oversleeping, car trouble, traffic, running parental errands, babysitting, etc., are not considered emergencies and will be marked unexcused.

Skipping one class/lunch will result in discipline.

Planned Absences

When a future date single absence or appointment is known, we encourage you to call the attendance line. This will ensure the students attendance is properly recorded and a pass will be issued the morning of the appointment. 

      If a student knows in advance that they will be absent from school for three or more consecutive days, a Request for Planned Absence form should be obtained from the Main Office.  This form will need to be signed by a parent/guardian, teachers, and assistant principal; then returned to the student’s administrator’s office at least five (5) days prior to the absence. 

Do you need to leave school early?

For your convenience, follow the steps below:

                 1. Parent/Guardian must call the school:

Someone listed as your guardian on your Infinite Campus profile should call to notify the school of the reason and time you need to leave school. (Notes/e-mails/faxes are not accepted)

       (314) 415-7700 (during the school day)

(314) 415-7726 (nights and weekends) 

Your guardian can even call days/weeks/months in advance.  As much advance notice as possible is greatly appreciated.

2. Pick up your pass from the Main Office:

On the day you need to leave early, an e-hall pass will be issued by the Main Office.

3. Sign out and meet your ride outside:

                    At the designated time, you will sign out in the Main Office and meet your ride outside at your prearranged spot. 

NOTE:  If you become ill during the school day, you must go to the nurse’s office to be evaluated (temp taken, etc.) before you will be released from school. 

Nurse’s Office: (314) 415-7720

 Parents/Guardians should be prepared to show photo identification when coming into South High to release their student(s).

*District Attendance Information can be found here.