Gladstone High School

Attendance Policy

We encourage regular attendance at school by all students. Daily attendance records will be maintained for each student. Regular attendance and punctuality contribute not only to the probability of scholastic success, but also to the development of attitudes of consistent performance that will carry over into adult life. Accordingly, class attendance and punctuality are relevant objective criterion by which a pupil’s course grade may be determined. The purpose of the attendance policy is to help students develop responsibility and to maintain academic standards for earning credit.

Attendance is taken daily in each class. A day’s absence is computed per class. Therefore, throughout this document, a day’s absence refers to an absence by class period.

Absences – Responsibilities and Procedures

• Absences will be excused if a parent/guardian (or age of majority student) calls the school on the day of the absence. Notes will only be accepted under special circumstances, with approval by the building principal. Examples of normally excused absences are illness, funeral attendance, religious obligation, doctor’s appointment, etc.
• School-related absences (field trips, extra-curricular activities, etc.) and school-imposed suspensions are considered exempt absences and do not count toward the semester total.
• Unexcused absences will be recorded whenever a student is absent without the knowledge or permission of a parent/guardian or school authority. Leaving school without proper authorization will result in an unexcused absence. A later call by parent/guardian will not excuse the absence.
• A family vacation exemption can be used one time each academic year for up to a five-day absence. Family vacations must be pre-arranged, the student must be accompanied by a parent/guardian, and arrangements for completing missed coursework must be made in advance.

Consequences

• Absences that are exempt will not result in a penalty.
• Absences that are unexcused will result in an immediate loss of credit for the coursework missed during the student’s absence, and an immediate one-third reduction in the student’s marking period grade.
• Absences that are excused will not result in a penalty if the coursework is successfully made up as prescribed by the teacher, and the number of excused absences is not excessive.
• Excessive excused absences are defined as those beyond the fourth absence in each marking period. After the fourth, each additional excused absence will result in a one-third grade reduction:

0 – 4 no grade reduction

5 One-third grade reduction (i.e., A to A-)

6 Two-thirds grade reduction (i.e., A to B+)

7 Full grade reduction (i.e., A to B)

And so on, in one-third increments.

• Saturday school detention will be available for those students who wish to make-up time and avoid a grade reduction. One hour of Saturday detention will make up for one class absence. Absences must be made up within ten school days after the student’s return to class.
• Parents and students will be alerted by the teacher when a student’s accumulated absence total is in danger of exceeding the four-day limit.
• Extended illness or other extenuating circumstances will be dealt with on an individual basis by the Principal or Assistant Principal.