Attendance:  

The following has been copied from the Board Policy Manual regarding attendance.

The Board of Education requires the pupils enrolled in the schools of this district attend school regularly in accordance with the laws of the State. The educational program offered by this district is predicated on the presence of the pupil and requires continuity of instruction and classroom participation. The regular contact of pupils with one another in the classroom and their participation in a well-planned instructional activity under the tutelage of a competent teacher are vital to this purpose.

Attendance at school may be excused for certain absences as defined by the Board. All absences for reasons other than excused, shall be unexcused. Pupils absent from school for any reason are responsible for the completion of assignments missed because of their absence. No pupil excused for a religious holiday shall be deprived of an award or eligibility to compete for an award or the opportunity to make up a test given on the religious holiday. Prolonged or repeated absences, excused or unexcused, from school or from class, deprive the pupil of the classroom experience deemed essential to learning and may result in retention at grade level or loss of credit toward the high school diploma in accordance with policies of this Board.

Information Regarding Absences from School:

Parents and guardians should contact the appropriate school counselor to arrange to pick up assignments if their child has missed three days of school. Assignments will be ready for pick up at the close of school the following day. Parents should speak directly with the counselor or guidance office secretary (extension 3042)  when making these requests to ensure the work request is processed. Leaving a voicemail or email does not guarantee the request will be addressed in a timely fashion. Books and assignments cannot be sent home with a friend through this process. Parents or guardians must come in to pick up the necessary books and assignments. Please know your child’s locker number and combinations.

While this practice is discouraged, if a student is going to miss school for vacation or other non-excused reason, parents are required to notify teachers, in writing, no less than one week prior to the absence if they are requesting work. All work provided is due back in school completed on the student’s first day back unless other arrangements are made with an individual teacher. The attendance officer, Mrs. Fran Kulak, should also be notified, as should the appropriate school counselor.

Students who miss school for this reason and do not request class work and homework for the period of the absence will be required to complete all work upon their return. Students will have one day for each day absent to complete said work unless other arrangements are made with an individual teacher. Students will be expected to keep up with current work assigned upon their return. The demands of middle school, with the increasing complexity of curricula and the importance of instructional time, should be taken into account when families are considering taking students out of school for the purpose of vacation. Having to catch up after a week of absence puts undo pressure on even the most confident adolescent and should be avoided if at all possible.