Attendance

ATTENDANCE PROCEDURES

KIHS adheres to the Queen Anne’s County Public Schools Student Attendance Regulation. All students are expected to attend school regularly and to be on time for classes in order to benefit from the instructional program and to develop habits of punctuality, self-discipline, and responsibility. Consistent school attendance is a parent's responsibility. Maintaining close communication and cooperation between the home, school, and community promotes regular attendance. Students are expected to attend school and all classes regularly and punctually. 

Students will be allowed a combination of five (5) personal (parent) notes and/or parent call-ins per semester. Five (5) or more unlawful absence days per semester may result in course failure and loss of credit. This decision may be appealed to the Attendance Review Committee.              

ABSENCES FOR SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES

A written request for such absences to be lawful/excused should be submitted two weeks in advance to the principal/designee.  Such absences may not occur during exam or state-mandated testing periods unless authorized by the principal/designee. The principal may determine whether the absences will be lawful/excused or unlawful/unexcused. Such absences may include, but are not limited to, the following events directly involving the student: 

TARDINESS

A student is considered tardy to class or a scheduled activity if they are not in the required room when the bell rings.  Tardiness is recorded and is cumulative. See discipline tab for consequences. 

Students are expected to be in their first period by 8:00 AM at the main campus.  Students arriving to school late must report to the attendance or main office to sign in.  The student will be given a pass to class indicating excused or unexcused.

ATHLETIC/EXTRACURRICULAR PARTICIPATATION

Students must be in attendance all day to participate in performances, practices, and sports events/competitions.

EARLY DISMISSAL PROCEDURE

When a student needs to leave school early for doctor’s visits, appointments, etc., the student is to go to the attendance or main office before first period with a note from the parent guardian.  After verification of the note, the student will receive an early dismissal pass.  At the time of dismissal, the student reports to the attendance office/main office to sign out.

PROCEDURES TO VERIFY ATTENDANCE/TARDINESS

Upon returning to school from an absence, a student has one (1) week to bring a written note from his/her parent/guardian stating the reason for absence and turn the note into the attendance office/secretary.  The note should contain the student’s name, date(s) of absence, reason for absence(s), and the parent/guardian’s signature.  Under certain circumstances, administrators may require a doctor’s note.  After one week, an unlawful absence cannot be changed to a lawful absence.

If a student is absent, the parent/guardian should call the school between 8:00AM and 1:00PM on the day of the absence to justify a lawful absence and present a written note on the day of the student’s return to school.  Students will be allowed a combination of five (5) personal (parent) notes or  parent phone call, note, or email per semester.  Additional call-ins without submitting lawful documentation will be considered unlawful.  A doctor’s note is considered lawful documentation.

After 3:00PM, the school’s automated calling system will begin calling parents of students whose absence has not been verified.

MAKE-UP WORK REQUIREMENTS

Whenever a child is absent, it is important for the child to have access to the information presented in class. The teacher will collect the work during the day while the child is absent.  It will be given to the child upon their return to school. If the student is absent for multiple days, parents/guardians and teachers should be encouraged to communicate regarding make-up work that may be completed while the child is out of school. It is the child’s responsibility to turn in the work to the teacher. Teachers can also make arrangements to have make-up work picked up in the front office. A student shall be allowed a reasonable number of days, at least equivalent to the number of days absent to make up work.