Attendance Policy

Regular attendance at school is required of all students by the laws of the state of New Jersey.  The Board of Education believes that regular participation in class activities and continuous interaction between student and teacher are vital parts of the learning process.  Frequent absences and tardiness of pupils from the classroom disrupts the continuity of instruction and the overall school operations. Students will be expected to be in attendance on all of the days and hours that school is in session unless appropriate reasons exist to justify their absence.  In order to distinguish these absences, the school will monitor its students to determine if absences are excused (non-cumulative) or unexcused (cumulative).  A phone call to the attendance hotline 475-4025 (press 1) by a parent the morning a student is ill is expected. A written excuse for all absences is required. “Personal reasons” are not acceptable.

Attendance at School

Part of school procedure is to try to call the parents of absentees whenever possible. This procedure is designed to bring possible truancies to the attention of the parent and has the overall effect of reducing absenteeism.  Parents may request in writing not to receive this call. When the school does not receive an attendance note within five (5) days of the student’s return to school, the absence will be declared unexcused.

Excused absences (non-cumulative) are those accepted by the school as appropriate reasons to be absent.  Credit is given for work made up.

1.    Student illness verified by a Medical Doctor’s note

2.    Death in the immediate family

3.    Religious holidays as provided by law

4.    Other absences having prior approval of the principal, such as “Take Your Child to Work Day”.  A note must be brought in on company letterhead signed by the parent’s supervisor.

5.    Seniors are allowed two non-cumulative absences for college visitations.  The students must bring a parent permission slip twenty-four hours prior to the visit and return with a note from the college on college stationary.

6.    Recovery from an accident

7.    Required Court Appearance

8.    Administrative reasons including, but not limited to, field trips,        

     assemblies, suspension, and appointments at school.

Unexcused absences (cumulative) are those that do not come under the definitions of excused absences.  Credit is only given for work made up due to a student illness.  Students will be afforded one day to make up work for each day absent.

1. Student illness verified by a parental note

2. Family vacations while school is in session- Exceptions will be considered on a case-by-case basis using grades, attendance, and discipline as a criteria. Applications for approval must be made two (2) weeks prior to vacation and must be submitted to the Principal’s office.

3. Hunting days

Loss of Credit

A student who has accumulated thirteen (13) unexcused cumulative absences (seven in a one-semester course, ten in a three-quarter course and four in a one-quarter course) is put on a “no-credit” status and will remain in scheduled classes even after exceeding the limits noted earlier. The report card and permanent record card will indicate the grade earned in the course, however, the report card and records will also indicate “NO CREDIT BECAUSE OF EXCESSIVE ABSENCE.”  Students who receive a passing grade will not have to repeat the course to meet minimum course requirements for graduation.  In effect, the student must only make up the credits. Cooperation between the classroom teacher, the administration, and parents is necessary to prevent attendance difficulties. Parents will be notified when students reach the number of unexcused absences as indicated in the chart below. At this time the student will also be counseled by the guidance department and made aware of the consequences of continued absence.

	WARNING OF EXCESSIVE UNEXCUSED ABSENCE	WARNING OF EXCESSIVE UNEXCUSED ABSENCE	NOTIFICATION FOR POTENTIAL LOSS OF CREDIT	NOTIFICATION FOR LOSS OF CREDIT
FULL YEAR COURSE	4 unexcused absences. Warning sent home to parent/guardian	8 unexcused absences. Warning sent home to parent/guardian	12 unexcused absences. Potential loss of credit letter sent home to parent/guardian	13 unexcused absences. Loss of credit letter sent home to parent/guardian.
SEMESTER Course	N/A	3 unexcused absences. Warning sent home to parent/guardian.	6 unexcused absences. Potential loss of credit letter sent home to parent guardian.	7 unexcused absences. Loss of credit letter sent home to parent/guardian
Three QuarterCourse	3 unexcused absences. Warning sent home to parent/guardian	6 unexcused absences warning sent home to parent/guardian	9 unexcused absences. Potential loss of credit letter sent home to parent guardian	10 unexcused absences. Loss of credit letter sent home to parent/guardian
Quarter Course	N/A	2 unexcused absences warning sent home to parent/guardian	3 unexcused absences potential loss of credit letter sent home to parent/guardian.	4 unexcused absences loss of credit letter sent home to parent/guardian