Classification of Absences
Excused Absence
Absences are excused only in cases of personal illness and documented medical or dental appointments, severe illness in the family, death in the family, quarantine, or court appearances. The student will be permitted to make up missed work and tests within the amount of time in which the student was absent up to 10 school days after return to school.
Students who are absent for illness for more than 3 consecutive school days, must have a doctor's release before returning to school.
Unexcused Absence
Absences for other than the above reasons, even with the permission of parents, are considered "unexcused." Teachers are not obligated to allow students to make up any or all of the work, or to give makeup tests, or extend time on assignments. Assignments and test missed due to unexcused absences may be made up at the discretion of teachers.
Authorized Family Absence/Vacations
Authorized family absences/vacations must be pre-arranged. To request approval of an authorized family absence/vacation, the parents and student must submit in writing to the Assistant Principal of Student Affairs a petition that indicates the dates of the proposed absence and the reasons for the absence no later than two weeks prior to the scheduled absence. Such absences will be counted toward the student's absences. Parents/guardians are asked to plan vacations during regular school vacation periods.
The student must also contact each of his or her teachers to request in advance the assignments that will be missed. Assignments missed during the extended absence must be submitted no later than the day the student returns to school. No early testing will be provided for families who plan authorized family absences/vacations during the week of final exams. Students who miss their final exams may receive a zero.
College Visitations
Every attempt should be made by parents/guardians to schedule college visitations so as not to interfere with the school day. Absence due to a college visit must be cleared by the Assistant Principal of Student Affairs no later than two weeks before the actual visit in order to obtain an excused status. A maximum of two college visit days per year will be allowed.
Communicable Disease
A student who has been absent from school because of reported communicable disease must have a permit (release) issued by the Public Health Department, a physician, or a nurse before he/she is admitted to school. The Principal may readmit a student absent because of non-reportable communicable disease, such as chicken pox, German measles and influenza.
Television/Movie Contact
Student absences due to television or movie contract are considered excused absences.
