STUDENT HANDBOOK 2008 - 2009

Academic Policy on Absence
     An important aspect of the total education of students is training in responsibility and accountability. In order to help students acquire these characteristics, we enforce the following policies:
1) When a student has been absent because of illness, that student must, within two days of returning to school, see each of his teachers. The teacher will give deadlines, appropriate to the length of absence, for work to be made up. It is the student's responsibility to meet these deadlines. If a student fails to meet deadlines or to make up a test at the time appointed, a zero will be given for the assignment or test. No further delays will be permitted.
 
2) If a test has been announced several days in advance and a student is absent only one day before the test, the student must take the test on the day of return to school.  There would be no point in giving advance notice of tests if students were to wait until the last day to study.
      
3) If students have an early dismissal for any reason, and know that they will miss a test, they must see the teacher by the end of break period to set a time to take the test before leaving. If students know before the day of the test that they will not be in class, they should immediately inform the teacher and arrange to take the test as the teacher directs.

4) Students must hand in all assignments on time. The only allowances for lateness will be as follows:

      a) For major assignments such as projects, term papers, etc., the student will receive a late penalty of 10% per day for up to two days. No credit will be given after the second day late.
       b) For homework or overnight assignments, students will receive a 50% penalty for work that is one day late. No credit will be given after that.
     Note: We do not recommend students miss school for any reason but, especially due to family vacations or personal trips. However, if requests are made they are handled by the Dean of Students who will check to see if there are any problems related to academics, discipline or attendance. If not, individual teachers are asked to approve the request. If a number disapprove, permission is denied. Requests for permission to be absent from school due to family vacations and or personal trips must be made at least 1 week in advance if it is for 1 to 3 days and at least 2 weeks in advance if it is for 4 or more days.
      If the school does not grant permission for absence for personal trips and family vacations, school work (assignments and tests/quizzes) cannot be made up and the student will receive a zero for all work missed.
     If the school does grant permission for such absence it is the responsibility of the student to contact each of his teachers on the day he returns to school and make arrange­ments to complete assignments and make up tests. If a student fails to make this contact upon his return to school, the teacher may deny the right to make up work missed.
      It is recommended that students who will be absent get some assignments in advance from teachers and take books with them and try to keep up with their schoolwork. A sufficient amount of work missed by not being in class can have serious academic results for a student. School should not be missed if parents can re-arrange plans for personal trips and vacations affecting a student.
     Under no circumstances can a student be absent from final examinations for personal or family vacations. Our calendar is published in August for the entire year. Parents should check the calendar for exam dates in May and June.

5) In the case of truancy, work missed cannot be made up.

6) Students who are consistently absent on test days, i.e., students who miss two or more major tests in a marking period, may not be permitted to make up the test. This is also true for numerous absences deemed excessive by the Attendance Committee.

7) Students who are scheduled for road work in Drivers' Education or a Guidance appointment are not to miss a normally scheduled class if a major test is scheduled at that time. When a student is unable to be present for his scheduled road work or conference, he should notify the appropriate teacher/counselor in sufficient time so a substitute can be found. All work must be made up.

8) Students who are on school trips or dismissed early for  extra-curricular events must see the teachers of classes missed in order to make up work. This should be done on the morning of the scheduled event.

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