Excuses

Excused Absence

(1) Personal Illness (2) Quarantine (3) Not to exceed five (5) days for a death in immediate family  (4) Emergency permit because of physical or mental handicap (5) Exceptionally urgent reasons approved by the principal or assistant principal (6) Approved religious holidays (7) Suspension

(1) Lack of written excuse from parent/guardian (2) Absence because of parental neglect, such as skiing, hunting, fishing, visiting out of town, oversleeping, missing school bus, working at home, leaving school during lunch period, etc. (3) Absence because of truancy (4) Absence because of illegal employment, such as pupils over sixteen years of age working in industries without a General Employment Certificate, (5) Absence due to inclement weather when school is in session

Any unexcused absences for pupils of compulsory school age are unlawful.

Students who arrive to school after the late bell are considered tardy. When students are tardy, they shall follow the same procedure used for an absence (written parental excuse).

The discipline code will be implemented for habitual tardiness due to unlawful reasons.

An accumulation of time missed from school due to tardiness that equals an instructional day will be considered one (1) day of truancy.

Students may be dismissed early from school for special reasons if they bring a written request by their parents or guardian to the principal’s office prior to the beginning of the school day on which the early dismissal is to occur.

PARENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO MAKE MEDICAL AND DENTAL APPOINTMENTS FOR THEIR CHILD AT TIMES OTHER THAN DURING SCHOOL HOURS.

At times when this is not possible, a note from the doctor or dentist is required upon the student’s return.

The student shall present a written absence excuse from the parent or guardian. The note must include information about:

1.  the date(s) of absence
2.  the reason for the absence
3.  the parent’s/guardian’s signature (written excuse only)

The Parent/Guardian is required to submit a physician’s statement for absences exceeding five continuous days.

Educational Tours/Trips (Non-School Sponsored)

Educational tours or trips will be considered for approval if the District Superintendent or designee determines that such a tour or trip will be of educational significance to the student.

In order for such a determination to be made, at least two (2) weeks prior to the trip, the parent shall complete the EDUCATIONAL TRIP/TOUR form provided by the principal which indicates the number of days to be missed, the destination of the tour or trip, and the reasons why the tour or trip could not have been taken on days when school was not in session. A form must be completed for each child in the family who will be going on the trip.

 All school work shall be made up at the initiative of the student and at the reasonable convenience of the teacher. The teacher and the student shall agree upon make-up work procedures.

Unless there are extenuating circumstances, such tours or trips shall be limited to a maximum of five (5) school days per school year. Any other day(s) missed shall be classified as unlawful or unexcused. 

Educational tours or trips shall not be granted during the final two weeks of school or prior to school vacations unless specifically granted by the district Superintendent or designee due to unusual family circumstances.

IT IS NOT THE INTENT OF THIS POLICY TO GRANT EXCUSED ABSENCES FOR TOURS OR TRIPS TO LOCAL POINTS OF INTEREST, ATTENDANCE AT SPORT EVENTS, HUNTING OR FISHING TRIPS, SHOPPING TRIPS, LIMITED FAMILY FUNCTIONS, OR SOLELY TO ACCOMPANY THE FAMILY ON VACATION. TRIPS/TOURS WHICH ARE TAKEN AND HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED BY THE PRINCIPAL MAY BE CONSIDERED UNEXCUSED AND/OR UNLAWFUL AND, IF IN EXCESS OF THREE DAYS, MAY RESULT IN A FIRST NOTICE BEING SERVED.