Attendance Policy and Procedures

ABSENCES
    A student who is absent must bring a note from his/her parent/guardian or from a doctor to be submitted to the attendance office in order to receive an excused absence. This note must be turned in within three (3) days after the student’s return to school (seven [7] if a doctor’s note). The note should give the following information: name of student, student’s social security number, date(s) of absence, and reason for absence. At the end of the grading period, no excuses will be accepted. Parents will be notified each day of their child’s absence. Make-up work should be turned in on the day designated by the teacher. Five unexcused absences will result in a subpoena being served on the parents/guardians for the child’s truancy. Pupils missing school because of an authorized reason will make up work at the discretion of the teacher. There is a two-week limit for work to be made up.

CHECK-OUTS
    If a student must check out, it must be done starting at the beginning of 2nd hour or before the end of 6th hour. No student will be allowed to check out without a current HHS ID. Students must leave campus immediately after checking out of school.

ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS
    Students from seven to seventeen years of age shall attend school or participate in an approved home study program.
    Schools shall administer attendance regulations in accordance with state and locally adopted policies.
    Students shall be expected to be in attendance every student activity day scheduled by the local educational governing authority.
    In order to be eligible to receive grades, high school students shall be in attendance a minimum of 80 days per semester. All absences will be counted except those excused by a doctor’s note or approved by the administration.
    Hammond High School requires students to be enrolled in a minimum of four (4) classes per semester to be considered full time and to be eligible for membership in all extra-curricular activities, programs and awards.
    On the day an activity is scheduled, students will only be able to check out if a parent checks them out and picks them up from school.

EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES
    The only exception to the attendance regulation shall be the delineated extenuating circumstances that are verified by the Supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance. Students should notify their counselor in these cases: (1) Extended personal, physical or emotional illness as verified by a physician. (2) Extended hospital stays as verified by a physician. (3) Extended recuperation from an accident as verified by a physician. Extended contagious disease within a family as verified by a physician. (4) Prior school system approval for educational travel. (5) Death in the family (not to exceed one week). (6) Natural catastrophe or disaster.
    For any other extenuating circumstances parents must make a formal appeal in accordance with the due process procedures established by the local education authority. Students who are verified as meeting extenuating circumstances are therefore eligible to receive those grades if they are unable to complete make-up work or pass the course.

TYPES OF ABSENCES
    The days absent for secondary school students shall include excused and unexcused absences. Mrs. Sharon Spring will stamp planners during lunch periods.
    Excused Absences—Students shall be considered excused from school for personal illness, serious illness in the family, or death in the family not to exceed one week) and shall be given the opportunity for make-up work. For recognized religious holidays of the student’s own faith, prior approval from the Administration must be obtained.
    Unexcused Absences—Students shall not be excused from school to work on any job, including agriculture and domestic service, even in their own homes or for their own parents. Students shall not be excused for any absence other than those listed and shall be given failing grades in those subjects for those days missed with no make-up work allowed. Any unexplained, unexcused, or illegal absence or habitual tardiness shall be reported to the Supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance when necessary. Students missing school as a result of suspension (except under the Zero Tolerance Policy) shall be counted as absent and shall be given a failing grade for those days suspended, with no make-up work allowed.

TARDIES
    Tardiness is defined as being late for school, as well as to class, once a student arrives at school. ANY TIME A STUDENT IS TARDY, HE/SHE MUST CHECK IN WITH THE OFFICE. The consequences for being tardy shall be: (1) First tardy – warning; (2) Second tardy – parent will be informed by letter of students’ tardies. (3) Third tardy – parent/guardian will be required to attend parent referral conference at 8:00 A.M. on the day designated or student may be given an alternative disciplinary option. (4) Fourth tardy and above – Student will be given a disciplinary option at the discretion of the administrator. (5) Five or more total tardies will result in suspension. (6) Periodic sweeps will be conducted at the discretion of the administration with the disciplinary option left up to the administrator. (7) Students must have a tardy note from Ms. Harris’ office to be admitted to class.