The school recognizes a parent's right to decide whether or not his/her child should be in school. Because we need to have a consistent way of comparing students for grading and record keeping, absences from school will fall into one of the following three categories:

• Excused
• Unexcused
• Approved

EXCUSED

• Sickness (with a note from a doctor after three days)
• Death in the immediate family
• Doctor's appointment that cannot be scheduled after school
• The student's school district is closed due to inclement weather.

UNEXCUSED

• Any excuse not listed above or that has not been approved in advance by the Administrator.
• Failure to send written notice within two days of the return from an absence will result in the absence being counted unexcused even if the reason is legitimate.

APPROVED

Out-of-town trips that require the student's absence (whether short-term or extended) must be approved in writing three days in advance by the Administrator in order to be treated as an excused absence. This type of trip should be of an educational nature in order to qualify as approved. All schoolwork is to be completed and handed in the day the student returns to school. Failure to give proper notice will result in an unexcused absence.

Tardiness disrupts the entire class in addition to affecting the late arriver's school routine. Punctuality is a virtue that is part of the character-building program. Parents are encouraged to assist in making sure that students are prompt in arriving and departing school. Students who are tardy after 9:10 AM to school are to go to the school office to obtain a Late Pass.

A student will be allowed two tardies per grading period without penalty; the third and each succeeding third tardy will result in a loss of a privilege for an elementary grade student and in a detention for an upper grade student. Continued tardiness may necessitate a conference with the Administrator.

Students in grades 7-12 are considered tardy if not in their seat when the bell rings for class. Class tardies, to be distinguished from late arrivals to school, will be penalized with a detention when two are accumulated for the same class/period.

Students who are late to school in the morning must bring an excuse to the office before going to class. Students arriving at school after 9:10 AM and before 12:00 PM are considered absent for 1/2 day. Students arriving after 12:00 PM are considered absent for the entire day.