Attendance Policies
Last Update10/29/2009
Edited By: Cynthia St. Pierre
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ATTENDANCE POLICIES
Mainland High School
2009-2010
ABSENCES:
Excused Absences are granted for the following reasons:
1) Illness or injury
2) Medical or dental procedures
3) Death in the immediate family
4) Family emergencies as approved by the Principal
5) School approved activities
6) Court appearances/legal meetings
Absences other than those listed above may not be approved.
If the student is to be absent during the school day, the PARENT or GUARDIAN should call the school before 2:00 P.M. The parent should call each day unless it is known that the student will be out for a number of days. Calls from the student or his/her siblings, other relatives or friends cannot be accepted in lieu of a parent of guardian call. Please leave the message on the voice mail if the attendance office is unavailable. If we need additional information or verification, the attendance office will contact you. The phone number is 258-4665, extension 54308.
When the parent/guardian calls the attendance office they should:
1) First identify that they are calling to report an absence.
2) Secondly report the student’s last name, then first name. Please spell
the last name. Please speak slowly and clearly.
3) Then report the student’s alpha ID code, (series of four letters).
4) Report concisely the reason for the student’s absence. Parent’s knowledge of the absence does not excuse it unless it is for one of the reasons listed above.
5) Lastly report the name and telephone of the caller.
Please be aware that according to school attendance policy 206, in compliance with Florida Statute 1003.24, a parent/guardian must provide a doctor’s verification for all absences beyond 15 days due to illness in order for absences to be excused.
TARDIES:
An excused tardy is granted when a student is late to school due to a medical or dental appointment with a note from the doctor, a death in the family, an approved family emergency, school sponsored activities, documented court date, or other reason as approved by the Principal.
A tardy is NOT excused for over-sleeping, losing keys, traffic, missing the bus or a ride, shopping trips or pleasure trips.
If the student arrives late to school, the student should go straight to class unless accompanied by a parent or guardian. If accompanied by a parent the student must check in at the front desk of the front office. The parent and student will then be sent to the Attendance Office for a pass, but the tardy will not be excused unless for one of the approved reasons listed above. Telephone calls from the student or parent are not accepted in lieu of the student or parent coming to the Attendance Office for a pass. Please make every effort to ensure that your child arrives to school on time each day. School starts at 7:35. Names of those who are habitually late to school will be turned over to the appropriate administrators for further action.
EARLY DISMISSALS
Early dismissals are granted and excused for medical or dental appointments, with a doctor’s note provided on the day of return, court appearances/legal meetings with documentation, or family emergencies as approved. Other early dismissals may not be considered excused. Please refer to the policies below:
If the student must be dismissed before the end of the school day, please:
1) Call ahead
2) Parent/guardian must report to the front office and then to the Attendance Office to pick up their student. Please be prepared to show I.D. if requested.
3) Please allow at least 15 minutes for the dismissal process. It takes a few minutes to pull up the student’s schedule, call him/her from the classroom, and for the student to arrive at the Attendance Office.
4) Please be aware of your student’s schedule and try not to make appointments during your child’s lunch time, gym class or during Community Learning Lab on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:15-10:05. It is very difficult to find your child during these times.
5) The student needs to leave the Attendance Office with an early dismissal pass which will be checked by a Dean or a Campus Advisor upon departure.
6) Students may not leave the campus without the knowledge of the staff.
If this occurs, the student’s absence from class(es) will not be excused.
7) Students may not walk off campus to go anywhere without the
approval of an administrator.
8) Early dismissals are not processed after 2:00 P.M. – strictly enforced.
Important Note: Even if your child’s absence or tardy is excused, it does NOT excuse them from their designated classroom tests and/or assignments. It is the responsibility of the student to obtain and complete all make up work. Keep in mind that an early dismissal takes a student from important academic instruction.
(386) 258-4665