Attendance is extremely important to your student’s success at East Ridge High School.

Please take time to review the following attendance policy with your student.

1.     DEFINITION OF EXCUSED AND UNEXCUSED ABSENCE

·         Excused absences include: medical, court, academic field trips, death in family, or exceptional circumstances.  Absences shall be documented with doctor’s notes, court notices, or other authorized documentation to verify the absence.

Two (2) parent notes per 9 week SEMESTER will be excused.  All other absences will be counted as unexcused. A parent note may cover more than one absence if the same reason is the cause for the multiple absences.

·         More than three (3) excused absences in a SEMESTER is considered excessive and a written statement of a licensed practicing physician verifying an illness or an injury must be provided, at that point the absence will be excused.

·         Please remember: Once a student has 4 or more unexcused absences, it will result in a failing grade of at least 59 in that course (see #5-Disincentive for Excessive Absences).

·         Missing 30 minutes or more of a class constitutes an absence.

Definition of Attendance Periods:

GRADING PERIOD          4 ½ weeks

SEMESTER                        9 weeks

TERM                                18 weeks

2.     MAKE-UP WORK

·         All missed work is due within 5 days after their return to school (Exceptions are listed in the Code of Conduct)

·         Make-up work for a grade is only allowed with excused absences.

3.     PROCEDURE FOR STUDENT RETURNING FROM ABSENCE

·         Upon returning to school, students are to report to the attendance office with a note or other appropriate documentation explaining an absence within 48 hours of the student’s return to school.  Otherwise the absence may be considered as unexcused.

4.     INCENTIVE FOR GOOD ATTENDANCE

Participation points shall be awarded and applied to semester exam.  Points are based on classroom attendance (see scale below). *Any absence Excused or Unexcused will count against incentive. (Exception #6 below)

0 days absent                                 9 points added to exam

1 day absent                                  6 points added to exam

2-3 days absent                              3 points added to exam

4 or more days absent                    0 points added to exam

Example: A student with a 79 on his/her semester exam and 0 absences would have 9 participation points added to his/her semester exam grade making it a 88/B.  Semester exams may not exceed 100 points for grading purposes.

5.     DISINCENTIVE FOR EXCESSIVE ABSENCE

Four (4) unexcused absences will result in a failing grade affecting the semester grade only.  The student would earn a 59 but would still be able to take exams at full credit.  The student would still be able to pass a class depending upon the exam grade.

6.     ACADEMIC FIELD TRIPS (AFTs)

·         4 AFTs per term are allowed.

·         AFT forms must be turned in to the Attendance Office at least 2 days prior to the trip.

·         An AFT is defined as an event in which a student is participating in a school sponsored event under the auspices of a teacher.

·         AFTs do not count against a student earning participation points.  The student is not considered absent from class.

7.     SUSPENSION DAYS

·         The 1^st suspension does not apply toward the 4 unexcused absences affecting the semester grade.  Any subsequent suspensions will count toward the 4 days.

·         Make-up work is allowed for credit for 1^st suspension only.  No make-up work will be accepted for credit for subsequent suspensions, but we strongly urge all students to make up work missed.

8.     TARDY POLICY Per Semester

·         A student is considered tardy to class after the bell unless excused by a note from school personnel.

1^st tardy                                               Warning

2^nd tardy                                               Teacher Detention

3^rd & further excessive tardies Referral to Administration

                      *Students who drive to school are subject to loss of driving privileges

·         3 tardies=1 unexcused absence

·         Missing 30 minutes or more of a class constitutes an absence.

9.     EXTRACURICULAR ACTIVITIES AND ATTENDANCE

To participate in or to attend an extracurricular activity, a student must be present in school for at least 2 full periods of the school day.

10.     ADMINISTRATION OF ATTENDANCE POLICY

The Attendance Office, under the supervision of the Assistant Principal, is allowed the flexibility to design the paperwork, procedures, and the coordination with the Guidance Office in the implementation of the Attendance Policy.

Knight Creed

1 Knight:  Working Together

1 Knight:  Striving for Excellence

1 Knight:  Bold in Character, Empowered with Strength

1 Knight:  Determined to be the Best that we can be

1 Knight:  Accepting the challenge to move ERHS from Good to Great!