Report Absence

A school logged parent/guardian phone call received by the attendance office, on each day of the student’s absence, for any excused absences below, is sufficient to excuse the student’s absence.

After the student’s eighth (8th) parent phone call, upon the student’s return to school the parent/guardian shall provide written documentation from a treating physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant stating the day(s) absent and reason for such absence. If within two (2) school days after returning to school following an absence, written documentation has not been received, the absence will be “unexcused.”

• The parent/guardian (and not the school) maintains responsibility to make certain the telephone call and/or absence note was submitted to the proper school attendance authority in a timely fashion.
• If the parent/guardian fails to contact the school and school personnel have to initiate contact with the parent/guardian via phone call and they DO NOT make direct contact with a parent/guardian the absence will be considered unexcused until a parent/guardian makes direct contact with the attendance office on the day of the student’s absence. After that date, the student must submit a written parent note within two (2) days to excuse the absence.

Excused Absences:

• Personal illness
• Illness in the family
• Death of a relative
• Medical or dental appointment
• Observance of religious holiday
• Trips on which the student is accompanied by his/her parent(s) and about which advanced written notice has been given to the school
• An emergency or situation, which in the judgment of the administration constitutes a good and sufficient case.

If your child/student has a dental, medical, or other professional appointment, he should report to the attendance office with a parental note before the morning or afternoon session of the absence. He will be given an excuse slip, which will excuse him from classes at the appropriate time. Please make prior arrangements for pick up location. Alternatively, feel free to call the attendance line, or leave a message, throughout the day if your student needs an early dismissal for an appointment.

Whenever a proposed absence-for-vacation is requested, parents must discuss it with the building administrator in advance. The length of absence should be made clear, and those involved should have an opportunity to express their views on the potential effects of the absence. The District will only excuse a student’s absence for a vacation when the principal has been informed in advance and the student will be in the company of his/her own parent or other family relatives, or if there are extenuating circumstances deemed appropriate by the principal. If the principal does not excuse the absence, the student’s absence will be considered unexcused and subject to truancy regulations. If the absence is excused, the student may be given approximate assignments and materials and pages to be completed, based upon applicable due dates (per student handbook). Revised 9/24/2012, © Neola 2011

If your child/student has a dental, medical, or other professional appointment, he should report to the attendance office with a parental note before the morning or afternoon session of the absence. He will be given an excuse slip, which will excuse him from classes at the appropriate time. Please make prior arrangements for pick up location. Alternatively, feel free to call the attendance line, or leave a message, throughout the day if your student needs an early dismissal for an appointment.

Seniors may elect to be excused from school if they have a study hall during period 1, 4, 5 or 7. This privilege requires permission from the parent and principal. Permission forms are available in the guidance office and must be completed for the first and second semester. This privilege can be revoked if a student is not in good academic standing.

Seniors are obligated to perform three six-hour days of community service prior to graduation. These are considered school days for our seniors. These follow the last official class day for our seniors.

Excused absences and tardies allow students to make-up all missed class work, tests, and assignments. The general rule is the length of make-up opportunity is equivalent to the length of the absence. Students may not make-up class work, tests, and assignments due to unexcused absences or tardies. However, if a student is absent when an assignment is due for which the student had prior knowledge, and for which the reason for the absence would not preclude completing it, the assignment is due on the day the student returns to school.

Family Trip Form