A successful high school experience begins with good attendance, and we believe that there is an educational value in regular school attendance. Being present in a classroom aids in instilling self-discipline; exposes a student to group interaction with teachers and classmates; and enables a student to hear and participate in class instruction, discussion, and other related learning experiences. These and similar considerations are proper educational values that will not necessarily be fully reflected in test results.
The student and parent share the responsibility of making every effort for the student to attend class every school day. Parents have the added responsibility of accounting for their student's absences by contacting the school office expediently.
The administration, faculty, and staff of Hampton Christian High School expect every student to be in attendance in every class every school day. If, due to extenuating circumstances, a student is unable to be in school on any given day, a 90% attendance rule will be invoked. Assuming a 90-day semester, this percentage equates to a MINIMAL requirement of 81 days per semester, thus giving a maximum allowable absenteeism of nine (9) days per semester and 18 days per year.
If a student exceeds the maximum number of absences for a non-school related reason, he/she may not receive credit and may fail each class in which the maximum is exceeded. Absences due to long-term illness or extenuating circumstances will be handled on an individual basis by the administration and school board.
Those students who have reached the maximum allowable days of absence (nine) during a semester will not be allowed to participate in a school event which requires an additional absence from class. This policy would not eliminate overall participation in the activity; it would just impact those events which require them to miss scheduled classes.
Absences will be considered excused for personal illness, serious illness or death in the immediate family, medical and dental appointments, or other compelling reasons specifically approved by the principal. Students will be allowed to make up any work missed. (See Make-Up Work for Absences below.)
Excessive unexcused tardies may eliminate a student from being eligible for a Perfect Attendance Award at the end of the school year. The decision will be made by the administration.
Parents are asked to call the school office before 9:00 a.m. on the day their child(ren) are absent from school.
| 1. | When returning after an absence the student must: |
|
a. Report to the school office for an admit slip b. Submit a note from a parent to the office explaining the absence. |
|
| 2. | The administration will determine whether the absence is excused. (An absence is considered unexcused until a note is submitted and approved.) |
| 3. | Students will not be admitted to any class after an absence without an admit slip. |
| 4. | If a student does not submit a note from parents within 3 school days, the absence will automatically be considered unexcused. |
| 5. | Students arriving to school after first period must also follow the same procedures listed above and are considered absent in any class they missed unless prior approval was granted for absence. |
| 6. | Students who are not in school by 12:00 p.m. or who leave after 12:00 p.m. will not be allowed to participate in athletics or other after school activities scheduled on that day unless their absence was due to a medical appointment or was pre-approved by the principal. |
| 7. | Regarding perfect attendance awards, in order for a student to be considered present for the school day, he must attend at least four full class periods. |
Prior Approval for Special Events
Students may receive permission to be absent from school for special occasions such as a church retreat or a family activity. A note from a parent must be brought to the office and approval by the principal must be made at least 24 hours prior to the beginning of that requested absence. Students will then take the approved note to each of their teachers and arrange to make up work that will be missed during the absence. In the event a teacher feels that the absence may be unwise, that teacher will notify the parents and advise them of the reason for concern. Parents will then determine if the student will be taken out of school.
Students should assume that they will take missed tests/quizzes, and turn in work assigned on the day they return from an absence unless new material has been given. If new material has been covered or if there are extenuating circumstances, it is the student’s responsibility to contact the teacher(s), who has the authority to make exceptions when warranted. Sports practice or games (including late games) do not take priority over academic deadlines and arriving to school on time.
Students absent due to vacation or a pre-arranged trip must turn in work due and be prepared to take the tests/quizzes on the day they return to school. Before leaving on vacation or a pre-arranged trip, a student must make arrangements for make-up work with individual teachers
Assignments turned in by the time limit set by the teacher will be graded at full credit. Grades will be lowered on any work turned in late
Students are responsible for turning in assignments due and/or contacting the teacher and arranging to make up work missed from a class(es) if they are in school the same day the class is missed. For example, a student who is not feeling well and misses a class(es) in the morning but attends school in the afternoon need to contact the morning teacher(s) to arrange for tests/quizzes missed and turn in any previously assigned work for that day. A student leaving early needs to hand in any work due that day before leaving.Teachers will work with students to establish a make-up plan for work missed due to extended illness, death in the family, or emergency (as recognized by the principal).
Labs are not normally made up, but at the teacher's discretion, they may be. If a lab is not made up, it will not be averaged into the student's grade.
Unexcused Absences (Other than suspensions)
For the first unexcused absence, students will have one percentage point (1%) deducted, for each class in which the infraction occurred, from that final 9-week grade. (E.g., a 9-week average of 90% would be reduced to 89%). For repeated infractions, the percent grade reduction may increase depending on circumstances. Additionally, disciplinary action may be taken for infractions such as skipping.
Students will be responsible for completing all work assigned and quizzes/tests scheduled before or during the absence, and they will receive credit for the work completed. Appropriate penalties well be assessed if work is turned in late or quizzes/tests are not completed on the time schedule assigned by the teacher.