Attendance Policies

ABSENCE CALLS/EXPECTATIONS

Parents are expected to call the school by 8 am when a student is absent or tardy (742-3206 x2236). Students are expected to attend school. Research on school effectiveness and student achievement clearly indicates that maximum school attendance is an extremely important ingredient to success in academic pursuits. The school will only excuse any absence from class that is a documented medical illness or is due to a death in the family.

A student must be in attendance at least four full periods on any day to qualify as present for the entire day.

Students are limited to six absences per marking period (quarter). Students who exceed the limit of absences will receive an Administrative Failure (mark of AF) in each subject for that marking period.

ABSENCES

  • All absences must be approved by the parent.
  • A student who misses school MUST bring a parent-signed note of explanation upon his/her return stating the dates of the absence and reason for the absence. Failure to bring a note will result in a detention.

EXCUSED ABSENCE

  • Students must document these absences with an official medical notification.
  • Only medical problems or a death in the family will be considered.
  • Documentation must be presented the day the student returns to school.
  • These absences will be counted as days missed for purpose of the Attendance Register; however, they do not count toward a student quarter limit.

UNEXCUSED ABSENCE

Any absence that is not a documented medical illness or due to a death in the family is considered an “unexcused absence” and count toward the student quarter limit.

ABSENCE DURING EXAM/ASSESSMENT WEEK (MID-YEAR/FINAL)

  • Students are required to be in attendance whenever exams or assessments are scheduled all days of assessment weeks.
  • Students are required to take exams/assessments when they are scheduled.
  • Medical documentation is required for absences during assessment week.

APPOINTMENTS/VACATIONS

  • All student appointments should be scheduled after school hours or on no school days whenever possible.

  • Advance notice should be given to the Attendance Office (742-3206 x2236) regarding college visits and other planned absences. These are not excused.
  • Family vacations should be planned to coincide with the regularly scheduled school vacations. The school cannot approve of vacation absences during regular school days. Students who miss school because of vacations do so at their risk. It is unfair to expect teachers to prepare make-up work, special lessons, or spend time giving extra help to students who are absent from school to go on vacation. It is unfair to other students who remain in school and are attempting to do their work to have the teacher’s attention, time, and energy distracted in order to help vacationers catch up. The school calendar is prepared to help parents plan for vacations. This is one area in which you can contribute to your child’s success in school while teaching him/her valuable lessons in job dedication and devotion to duty. Teachers will not be expected to prepare assignments; however, homework may be made up. (See MAKE-UP ASSIGNMENTS.)

DAILY ELIGIBILITY

Students must attend school on a regular basis in order to succeed. No student should use extra-curricular activities as an excuse to miss a class, extra help session, detention, or any other required school event. Obligations to classroom and/or school discipline take priority over extra-curricular activities.

  • Any student who is absent from school is ineligible for extra-curricular activities on that day.

  • A student who is late to school may be ineligible for extra-curricular activities on that day. (See Late To School.)
  • Any student who is dismissed from school is ineligible for extra-curricular activities on that day.

Prior arrangements for exceptions, including appointments, must be made with the Dean of Students.

DELAYED OPENING FOR WEATHER EVENT

  • When a delayed opening due to weather is announced, school will begin at 10 am. All transportation should be exactly two hours later than normal. The daily schedule will begin with the 10 am attendance period followed by the regular schedule of classes for the day.
  • If the weather requires a subsequent change to NO SCHOOL, an announcement will be made no later than 8:30 am.
  • Dress code is suspended on these days.

EARLY DISMISSAL

  • Students will not be allowed to leave school without a note from a parent describing the reason for dismissal and who will be picking the student up.
  • Students leaving early must report to the Attendance Office by 8 am and present the note of explanation.
  • Students should come to the Attendance Office at the assigned time of dismissal and be signed out by a parent.
  • Students who drive themselves may be signed out by the office personnel.
  • Students are reminded to consult the absence policy regarding any classes that will be missed.
  • Students may not be dismissed to avoid a last period lunch or study.

ILLNESS DURING SCHOOL

If a student becomes ill during the day, he/she should report to the Nurse’s Office. A log will be maintained for all students coming to the Nurse’s Office. No student will be able to leave school because of illness without the consent of the Nurse and Dean of Students. If the Nurse is not in her office, ill students should report immediately to the Attendance Office.

LATE TO CLASS

Students who are late to class without permission will receive a detention.

LATE TO SCHOOL

  • Students not in school by 8 am will be marked tardy and must sign in at the Attendance Office.
  • Students must present a note to the Attendance Office from a parent or guardian upon arrival to school.
  • Students arriving between 8 and 8:30 am without medical documentation or an explanation of the emergency nature of the lateness will retain eligibility for participation in extra-curricular activities but may be subject to detention on the third and subsequent tardy in any quarter.
  • Students arriving after 8:30 am without medical documentation or an explanation of the emergency nature of the lateness will lose eligibility for that day and are also subject to detention on the third or subsequent tardiness.
  • On Late Start Days any tardiness (other than for documented medical appointments) results in automatic detention.
  • As a rule, students assigned detention for tardiness are required to serve on the day of the lateness.
  • Students who miss classes due to lateness may be required to complete tests/quizzes and other assignments on that day.
  • Students will not be excused for lateness because of first period study or lunch.

MAKE-UP ASSIGNMENTS

  • In all cases, it is the responsibility of the student to arrange for make-up work.

  • In the case of a short-term absence (less than a week), students should contact other members of the class for their assignments, and/or check the class web page.

  • A student who is absent for one day must make all make-up arrangements on the day of return to school whether or not the class meets on that day.

  • Students absent for two or more days have two days upon return to see their teachers to arrange a mutually acceptable schedule for make-up work.

  • A student who is absent for an extended period of time (i.e. more than one week) should schedule a meeting with the Guidance Counselor immediately upon return to school. The Guidance Counselor will facilitate scheduling of make-up work with the teachers, assisting the student to develop a logical plan for making up missed work while becoming current with the ongoing class work.

  • In all cases students should understand that, in the interests of academic growth and logical progress, the school will set reasonable deadlines for the completion of all make-up work.

  • Students with incomplete grades at the end of a quarter should be aware that these grades affect eligibility for extra-curricular activities.
  • Since one week notice is given for all tests or quizzes, absent students may be required to make up tests on the day of return whether or not the class meets on that day.

SCHOOL CANCELLATION

The school will inform radio stations when school must be closed early due to a snow emergency. We encourage parents not to dismiss students as soon as it begins snowing. Road conditions often improve with time when road crews have begun to treat the roads.

SNOW EMERGENCY

St. Thomas will determine no school or delayed opening on days of inclement weather. Announcements regarding snow emergency action will be broadcast no later than 6:30 am on the following radio and TV stations:
Dover: WBYY – 98.7 FM
Manchester: WMUR-TV – Channel 9
WOKQ – 97.5 FM
WTSN – 1270 AM

TRUANCY

These are absences from school or any class period without school or parent approval. Students will be suspended.