• Absences must be cleared by a parent phone call or written note within 2 school days, beginning the first school day after the absence. A one-time request (per school year) to clear an absence after 2 school days requires a parent signature at the school site. THERE WILL BE NO OTHER EXCEPTIONS TO THIS RULE.
• Absences not cleared within 2 school days, beginning the first school day after the absence, will be considered truancies.
• Truancies will result in Saturday School.
• The Attendance Office will assign Saturday School automatically once the absence is declared truant. Paperwork for tardies/truancies will be received in the class where the tardy/truancy occurred.
• Failure to serve Saturday School will result in On-Campus Suspension (OCS).
TRUANCY POLICY: (Per semester)
|
CONSEQUENCES |
|
|
|
One
truancy........................ |
= |
Saturday School |
|
6 period truancies or
1 full day truancy |
= |
Warning letter sent to parent. |
|
12 period truancies or
2 full day truancies |
= |
Activities/privileges removed. This includes off-campus pass, formal, prom, dances, any contests, nominations, and graduation activities. |
TARDY POLICY: (Per semester)
|
CONSEQUENCES |
|
(single period) |
|
1 - 3 Tardies |
= |
25 min. detention for each tardy (Teacher assigns) |
|
4 or more Tardies |
= |
Saturday School for each tardy |
|
8th Tardy |
= |
Warning letter sent to parent |
|
16th Tardy |
= |
Activities/privileges removed. This includes off-campus pass, all dances, formal prom, any contests, nominations, and graduation activities. |
Detentions must be served within two (2) school days after the date of issuance during lunch or after school. Failure to serve detention within the allotted time will result in Saturday School. Detention is held Monday through Friday during lunch (12:05 p.m.) and after school (2:40 p.m.). Please check the room locations with the Attendance Office.
Recurring absenteeism and/or tardiness will result in parent notification and further disciplinary action.
TO VERIFY AN ABSENCE:
The Attendance Office direct lines corresponding to the student’s last name are:
A-K (562) 799-4796 L-Z (562) 799-4797
Parent calls/notes for excused absences should include:
• The date of the absence
• The first and last name of the student
• The reason for the absence
• The parent’s/guardian’s name/signature
A student who is absent from school for illness for more than three days will be required to furnish a note from a physician prior to re-admission to school. Students who have an unusually large number of illness absences of less than three days will also be required to provide medical verification of the illness or medical condition.
LEAVING CAMPUS - Students may not leave school without checking out at the attendance office.
To avoid classroom interruptions, students should fill out their release form before school, at nutrition, or at lunch.
AUTO-DIALER
Single Period Absences: If the phone dialer has indicated a student was absent for a particular period during the school day, it is the student’s responsibility to speak to that teacher and bring a note to the Attendance Office with the teacher’s signature to clear the absence. If the period of absence is unknown, the student can come to the Attendance Office to find out which period is in question.
Legal excuses for Absences and Tardies
The following absences are considered the only legally excused reasons to be absent from school. Students are allowed to make up work for these reasons:
• Illness, medical appointments (with verification from the doctor’s office), quarantine, funeral, school-related activities, court appearance (with verification from the court), jury duty, religious observance and personal reasons with prior administrative approval. (A request for an extended personal absence must be given to the attendance office in writing at least one week prior to the absence.)
All other absences are considered truant or unexcused. An absence becomes TRUANT when it is not cleared by a parent in writing or by phone within two school days. All students MUST sign out at the Attendance Office when leaving campus for any reason. Failure to do so will result in the student receiving a Saturday School. Unexcused/verified absences include oversleeping, car trouble, baby-sitting, vacation, etc. By law, teachers are under no obligation to accept make-up work due to truancies and unexcused absences.
Safety Note: Students may not leave school without signing out at the Attendance Office. A note or parent phone call is required from the parent or guardian prior to leaving campus. No exceptions will be made for students obtaining permission by the use of a cell phone.
PERFECT ATTENDANCE
Perfect Attendance is given in a student’s senior year for attending school everyday, every period, for all four years. There is also an award given to any senior who has attended everyday, every period, for their senior year only.
