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Attendance

The importance of good school attendance cannot be overemphasized. It is not surprising that students with good attendance achieve at much higher levels, enjoy school more, and develop good habits of punctuality, self discipline, and responsibility. All of these will serve an individual well as he/she continues through school and into the world of work. It is the primary responsibility of the parent or guardian and the student for regular school attendance. Poor attendance seriously disrupts the learning process and is one of the greatest factors in students dropping out of school. The Virginia Legislature as part of its ongoing support of public schools and in recognition of the fact that early intervention can prevent drop-outs, has passed a series of compulsory attendance laws and regulations.

Students of school age have a right to a free public school education, and they have a responsibility to attend school regularly. In accordance with the Code of Virginia, Section 22.1-254, it is the legal responsibility of parents and guardians to ensure that students are in regular daily attendance for the entire school day. It also is their responsibility to seek homebound instruction when their students are absent from school because of extended periods of illness.

The school board promotes regular attendance by providing the services of school attendance clerks, counselors, social worker, psychologist, and school nurse to assist parents in finding solutions to attendance and/or medical problems. Appropriate personnel are authorized and required to file petitions in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court to obtain compliance with the school attendance laws.

Truancy

Students are required by law to attend school until age 18, as stated in the Code of Virginia 22.1-254. The Code of Virginia 22.1-258- Appointment of attendance officers; notification when pupil fails to report to school is outlined below.

Whenever any pupil fails to report to school on a regularly scheduled school day and no indication has been received by school personnel that the pupil's parent is aware of and supports the pupil's absence, a reasonable effort to notify the parent by telephone to obtain an explanation for the pupil's absence shall be made by the attendance officer or other school personnel. School divisions are encouraged to use non-instructional personnel for this notice, such as an automatic caller programmed to call during the evening.

Whenever any pupil fails to report to school for a total of five scheduled school days for the school year and no indication has been received by school personnel that the pupil's parent is aware of and supports the pupil's absence, and a reasonable effort to notify the parent has failed, the school principal or his designee shall make a reasonable effort to ensure that direct contact is made with the parent by the attendance officer to obtain an explanation for the pupil's absence and to explain to the parent the consequences of continued nonattendance.

If the pupil is absent an additional day after direct contact with the pupil's parent and the attendance officer has received no indication that the pupil's parent is aware of and supports the pupil's absence, the attendance officer shall schedule a conference within ten school days with the pupil, his or her parent, and school personnel, and the conference may include other community service providers to resolve issues related to the pupil's nonattendance. The conference shall be held no later than fifteen school days after the sixth absence. Upon the next absence by such pupil without indication to the attendance officer that the pupil's parent is aware of and supports the pupil's absence, the school principal or his designee shall notify the school social worker who shall enforce the provisions of this article by either or both of the following: (1) filing a complaint with the juvenile and domestic relations court alleging the pupil is a child in need of supervision as defined in 16.1-228 or (2) instituting proceedings against the parent pursuant to 18.2-371 or 22.1-262. In filing a complaint against the student, the school social worker shall provide written documentation of the efforts to comply with the provisions of this section. In the event that both parents have been awarded joint physical custody pursuant to 20-124.2 and the school has received notice of such order, both parents shall be notified at the last known addresses of the parents.

School Absences

An absence is defined as missing more than 30 minutes or 1/3 of a single block, or having multiples of five tardies (5, 10, 15, etc.) to a single block class. Absences are assessed by individual classes and not by school day. The attendance committee has the discretion to deny credit to a student who has accumulated more than 10 unexcused absences to a single block class. Attendance is counted by semester.

Students with 10 or more unexcused absences may initiate an appeal in order to receive credit if their current numerical average dictates a possibility of passing the course. Otherwise, no matter what grade was earned, the student will receive an "F." The request for an appeal must be completed on the appropriate form, which can be obtained from the teachers or the school's web site. This form must be received by the administration at the end of each semester. The specific dates will be announced. Appeal Forms received after the deadline will not be considered. The attendance committee will review all appeals and final decisions will be made by the last day of each semester. Students and parents will be notified by mail. Teachers will not stop accepting assignments or assessing the student during the entire semester, regardless of the number of accumulated absences from class. If a student is to receive no course credit due to absenteeism, it will be changed by the administration.

Excused vs. Unexcused Absences

Excused absence: Missing school for one of the following reasons:

1. Doctor/Medical appointment
2. Court appointment
3. Death in the immediate family
4. School related activity approved by the administration
5. Religious holiday or instruction

An absence will only be deemed "excused" if a note is given to the attendance officer within three days of returning to school. The note turned into the attendance officer MUST contain the following information:

1. Full name of the student
2. Exact reason for the absence (including the date)
3. Student grade level
4. Phone number (home and work) of the person writing the note
5. Signature of the person excusing the student

Notes and excuses will be dated when they are received. These notes will serve as evidence for the student if an appeals hearing is necessary. The school reserves the right to request further information or documentation concerning excused absences.

Unexcused absence: Anything not listed as a reason for an excused absence, including the accumulation of multiples of five tardies (5, 10, 15, etc.) to a single block class. Students that do not turn in an excused note within three days after returning to school will receive an unexcused absence.

Requests for extended absences should be submitted in writing from a parent/guardian at least three days in advance of the absence. Dates to be missed and the nature of the absence should be included in the request and submitted to the Principal.

Early dismissals from school will only be granted when requested by telephone (589-3666), written note, or by personal contact with parents. This policy applies to all students regardless of age. For convenience, all parents are strongly encouraged to plan ahead and send notes with complete information on them. Notes from home will be accepted prior to first period. The office will make out an early dismissal slip upon receipt of the telephone call or note, and deliver it to the student. Requests for early dismissal may be called in to the office by parents between 8:15 a.m. and 2:45 p.m. in advance of the time the student is to be released early. The student may only be released to a parent or guardian, unless prior permission is obtained from the parent. Students must be signed out in the attendance office before leaving school grounds. Students are expected to leave promptly after signing out. Loitering by students with early dismissal permission is prohibited. Students who leave early are not permitted to return to school without administrative approval. Students who sign out and who leave without an early dismissal will be considered skipping.

Make up work - Students who are absent from school or classes are responsible for making up work missed during their absences. Students will be granted one day to make-up work for every day absent, unless the individual teacher gives permission to extend the time. If this procedure is not followed, the teacher is not required to accept the work. It is the student's responsibility to get the work from the teacher. Students are encouraged to use before and after school time get with his/her teachers. Also, students who are absent from class because of skipping may not be allowed to make up work missed. Special circumstances requiring an extension of time for make up work may be arranged by the teachers and/or principals.

TARDIES

It is important for all students to be in the classroom "ready to work" when the tardy bell rings. Students who are not in the classroom when the bell rings will be considered tardy. This includes tardies to the first class of the day. Consequences for tardiness will be as follows:

1st Offense: Verbal Warning
2nd Offense: Documented parent phone call by teacher
3rd Offense: Discipline referral and administrative letter
4th Offense: Teacher Assigned Detention (TAD)
5th Offense: Referral, 1 days of ISS for that particular class, and 1 class absence

After the fifth offense, subsequent tardiness will result in a repeat of the consequences above, until another absence is accrued (10th tardy), which results in 1 day of OSS, 1 unexcused absence and a meeting with the Student Behavior Review Team.
Late to school and/or first block
a. Students that arrive late to school, but before 8:30 A.M., must sign in with the attendance clerk in the attendance office. Students will sign in on the computer and receive a printed slip to class. This slip is the pass to class, but it does not alleviate the student from being tardy. When the student arrives to class, the first block teacher will record the tardy as he or she would for any other period.
b. Students that arrive late to school, after 8:30 A.M., must sign in at the attendance office. If they student does not have a note or a parent with them, then the attendance clerk will request a number where she may reach the parents to inform them that the student was late to school. If the parent in unaware of the child's tardy, a referral will be written. The student will sign in on the computer and receive a printed slip to class. This slip is the pass to class, but it does not alleviate the student from being late to school. When the student arrives to class, the teacher should record the absence.

LATE TO SCHOOL

Every student is expected to be at school on time everyday. See "TARDIES" section above.

HALL PASSES

It is expected that students will remain in their classes. Any student who is in the hallway during class time is expected to have an agenda book signed by a faculty member. Students must go to where the pass designates and return to class immediately. No passes are to be written during the daily announcement time.