School Attendance
The primary responsibility of the school is instruction and learning. Learning cannot take place if the student is absent. In an effort to improve attendance and, thereby, improve learning, the middle school and the high school will implement the following standards:
Students may not accumulate more than 16 unexcused absences a school year
(4 in a quarter) in order to obtain credit for a full year course. For classes, which
don't meet every day, students may not accumulate more than 16 absence.
Student involvement in school-sponsored activities will not be considered as
an absence.
Students who exceed the limits of the attendance policy will receive no credit
in these classes.
This attendance policy will be similarly applied to C.V.C. courses taken by
Hinsdale students.
Absences for the following reasons will not be counted towards the 16-day
limit:
- 1. Religious holidays
- 2. Court appearances
- 3. Death in the family
- 4. College visitations
- 5. Illness requiring a doctor's visit (more than one day per illness)
- 6. Illness requiring a parent's note (1-3 days)
- 7. Family/Individual Counseling Session
- 8. School Suspension
Notes from doctors for appointments or extended illness, for college visitations and for court appearances, must be on letterhead, signed by an appropriate
official and must be turned in as soon as possible after the student's return to school.
It is assumed that any long-term illness (more than a single day) will have required
a visit to the physician, where a note may be obtained, excusing the illness.
It is understood that if the school places the student on suspension, the student
has not voluntarily skipped school, causing an unexcused absence.
Appropriate notes for absences/tardies should be brought into the attendance
office.
The principal may excuse absences for family vacations if a request, by the
parent and in writing, is made before the trip and all schoolwork to be completed is
obtained in advance. Because a parent approved of an absence, however does
not mean that the school will always approve it.
Students who are suspended are not to participate in school activities that day
or evening. Exceptions for unusual circumstances must have approval of the school
administration.
At the close of the term, administration will review all absences over 4 days to
determine which ones are unexcused.
If, after administration review, a student is determined to have 4 or more un
excused absences, that grade will be recorded on the student's report card, along
with a letter explaining that an administrative review has been completed and the
student has 4 or more unexcused absences and the dates of those unexcused absences.
A student may appeal an "Attendance F" (which is a failure of the class) by
supplying the appropriate documentation to the Appeals Committee, via the principal. The Attendance Review Committee (ARC) comprised of administration and
staff will review individual student's attendance for action when an official appeal
is lodged from the student. In extraordinary circumstances, students or parents may
appeal to the ARC for relief of the attendance provisions.
Appeal Process
- 1. The principal must send a warning letter to parents when there are three unexcused absences each quarter.
- 2. Teachers will be required to issue a grade of "Attendance F" when a student exceeds the unexcused attendance limit.
- 3. A student may appeal the "F" (failure for attendance) to the ARC, with proper documentation. An appeal must be made within five school days to the administration in writing.
- 4. The student and parents must then meet with the administration for an appeal hearing.
It is the responsibility of the parents and students to provide legitimate written notes for excused absences. The notes will be filed in the office, and will be assessed at the end of the marking quarter to determine if a student will receive an
"Attendance F" for that marking quarter.