Absences

Regular, punctual attendance is essential for students to be fully engaged in the Middle School community. Being at school on time each day will allow them to maximize their academic development and fully benefit from collaborative learning opportunities. Irregular attendance can lead to academic difficulty and creates an extra burden on faculty.

Middle School students who have incurred a significant number of absences risk not being promoted to the next grade. The Head of Middle School, in consultation with the faculty and staff, shall determine if the number of absences is becoming excessive and will contact the parents to discuss the situation.

Parents should report their students’ absences to the homeroom teacher or Middle School Administrative Assistant by phone, note, or email no later than 8:15 a.m. If the school has not been notified of a student’s absence or late arrival, the Middle School Administrative Assistant will contact the parents. All absences, both unplanned and planned, will be recorded as absences on the report card.

Unplanned Absences

Students who miss school due to illness or an unplanned event are expected to keep up with their class assignments as much as reasonably possible, using class assignment agendas or email or phone conversations with faculty to stay informed regarding homework. Upon their return from an unplanned absence, students needing flexibility or extensions regarding make-up work should communicate directly with their teachers. Depending on the circumstances, excessive absences may jeopardize a student’s academic standing and the privilege of making up work.

Planned Absences

Students intending to miss school days for non-health-related reasons must complete and submit a Planned Absence Form in advance of the absence. These forms are available on the Trinity website and from the Middle School office. It is the responsibility of the students to meet with their teachers before their absence to inquire about work that they will miss that might be completed while they are gone. All students should meet with their teachers upon their return to school to submit completed work and to determine what work remains to be completed.