Attendance Policy

Participation

1.  The Music Education Department will publish a list of scheduled performing dates for each school year.

2. Students are expected to be in attendance for the full school day prior to a performance/event as well as the day of and the day following such event.  Exceptions to this expectation are explained below under Excused/Unexcused Absences.   Students who participate in all scheduled performing events earn the privilege of performing in all future events.

3. Students who participate in all scheduled events, or are excused from performing in accordance with this policy, and who are qualified through audition and/or appointment earn the privilege of participation in honorary performing events, that is: Quabbin Valley, Central District, All-State, MICCA Festivals, All-Eastern, Honors Band, Honors Choir, etc.

Excused Absence

1.  Student absence from scheduled performing events is excused in cases of illness or  unexpected emergency. Contact Ms. Der Kazarian, Mr. Bloch, Mr. Lookwhy, or Ms. Henningson immediately through email. A note from the doctor or parent/guardian describing the emergency should be presented to the student’s director the first day the student returns to school following the required performance. In this event, students will still be required to make up the performance exam as stated in #3 below.

2. Students may seek to be excused from a scheduled event other than for illness or for unexpected emergency by notifying the Music Education Department in writing no less than ten (10) school days prior to the event in question.  The Music Education Department will notify the petitioning student of the decision whether or not the excuse has been accepted within two school days of its receipt.  If a student has been excused, they will be required to make up the performance exam as stated in #3 below.

3. Musical performances are the equivalent to exams in other academic areas.  A student may be able to make  up an exam in an academic subject but due to the unique nature of performance it is impossible to recreate a concert. Therefore, if a student has been excused from a performance, he/she must arrange for an alternative performance as designated by the teacher in order to fulfill the grade requirement. Failure to complete the alternate performance will result in a zero for the performance exam grade and a lowering of the student’s quarterly grade in which the event(s) occur(s).

Unexcused Absence

1.  An unexcused absence from a scheduled event will result in the student’s forfeiting the privilege of performing in any scheduled event or of participating in any honorary performing event, that is: Quabbin Valley, Central District, All-State, MICCA Festivals, etc. for a period equivalent to one school term (nine weeks from the date of the unexcused absence).

2. Musical performances are equivalent to exams in other academic areas. Therefore, an unexcused absence from a scheduled event will also result in a zero for the performance exam grade and the lowering of the student’s quarterly grade in which the event(s) occur(s).

Scheduling Consideration

1. The Music Education Department will not schedule a required performance on the night prior to a legal holiday, the day prior to a vacation period or the day prior to or immediately following a three-day weekend.