PART III: Attendance:
ATTENDANCE: A direct relationship exists between academic achievement and regular attendance. Moreover, student attendance is a part of the student permanent record. Being present each day and on time for every class is important. Absences accumulate by period to a semester total. The responsibility for work missed during absence rests solely with the student. Permission to make up tests may be rescinded if a student establishes a pattern of absences on test days. In all cases, the administration of Notre Dame Prep reserves the right to determine whether an absence is CHARGED or UNCHARGED.
A. REPORTING PROCEDURE: When a student is unable to attend school, the parent or legal
guardian must:
1) phone the Attendance Office each day before 10:00 a.m., AND
2) write a note to be presented in the School Office before the first class on the day the student returns to school.
A phone call is NOT sufficient. A signed document is needed for legal verification. The note should include the student’s full name, grade, reason for the absence, date(s) absent and a valid signature by a parent or legal guardian. Forgery is immoral and illegal. Falsification of phone calls or notes will result in suspension in the first instance and possible expulsion thereafter.
Students must be in attendance for 5 full academic classes to participate in or attend any extracurricular activities that day. Any student/athlete who is either tardy for his/her first scheduled class or is absent on the day following a game, match, or contest will be declared “Temporarily Ineligible” and will not be permitted to compete in his/her next scheduled event.
B. UNCHARGED ABSENCE
There are five reasons for uncharged absences: 1) illness accompanied by a physician’s note, 2) death in the family, 3) a required court appearance accompanied by a court receipt, 4) school-sponsored event, 5) three pre-arranged college days for seniors (until March) and two for juniors (beginning March 1). Notes must be presented in the school office within 48 hours to avoid a charged absence.
C. CHARGED ABSENCE
Student absences for any reason other than those listed above as uncharged will be recorded as charged absences provided that a phone call and a note from the parent or legal guardian is received by the School Office.
APPOINTMENTS AND TRIPS: Doctor, dentist, and personal business appointments should not be made during school hours. The school calendar is published to aid parents and students in planning appointments and vacations to coincide with days on which school is not in session. Students who miss school because of non-school sponsored trips, sporting events, work, etc., (even with parental consent) incur charged absences which accumulate toward the total allowed before credit may be lost.
D. TRUANCY: Any student who is absent from class and/or leaves campus without administrative authorization (i.e., skipping class) will be charged with truancy. Parents will be contacted and the student will serve up to a four hour detention. The student will receive no credit for any class missed that day. If truancy occurs a second time (or if a phone call or note is falsified on the first offense, making the matter far more serious) the student will be suspended.
E. EARLY DISMISSAL: A student who becomes ill during the school day MUST report to the school office. If it is necessary to leave school because of illness, an attempt will be made to contact parents. If parents cannot be reached, parties named on the Emergency Information Card may be contacted for permission. A student who must leave during the school day for reasons other than illness must present a valid note signed by a parent or legal guardian stating the reason and the time for leaving school. An early dismissal slip will be issued by the School Office. A student must never leave campus during the school day without permission from the school office. Only seniors may leave school early or arrive late for only 1st or 8th period study hall. All other study halls must be attended. A student who enters the building may not leave until dismissal.
F. LATE ARRIVAL: A student who arrives late to school first hour must receive a pass from hall monitors to enter class. Students arriving late to school after 8:00 a.m. are considered absent and must check in at the main office. A note signed by a parent or legal guardian should be presented by the next school day stating the reason for the lateness and time of arrival.
G. EXCESSIVE ABSENCES: Any student who has in excess of ten charged absences in a particular class during the semester shall generally receive no academic credit in that subject. Parents will be notified when a student accumulates five absences and again at eight absences so that the absentee problem can be corrected without subsequent loss of academic credit.
H. TARDIES: Notre Dame Prep expects students to be on time. Moreover, student tardiness is a part of the student permanent record. Any student who is not in the classroom at the tone will be recorded as tardy by the teacher.
Tardies will be recorded by the semester. After the third tardy a student will begin serving detentions. Any student who accumulates in excess of ten tardies per semester will receive Saturday detentions. At 15 tardies students are subject to suspension. Parents will be notified at seven tardies. 5 tardies in the same class will become a charged absence in that class.