ATTENDANCE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

Students are expected to attend every class or activity for which they are scheduled each school day.  Specifically, this means that students must attend all classes; report to the cafeteria during lunch; go to the designated area of the school for assemblies and other special events, and be punctual.  FCPS requires that a call or note be received within 48 hours of an absence.  No notification will result in an unexcused absence.  School begins promptly at 7:30 AM (warning bell at 7:25 AM) and ends at 2:15 PM.

WHAT TO DO WHEN STUDENT IS OR WILL BE ABSENT FROM SCHOOL:

• Call the Attendance Line at 703-690-5555, send an email to @email  or use ParentVUE by 8:30 AM on the morning of the absence.
• Provide name, caller’s name/relationship to student, and reason for absence.
• If the student will be absent for more than one day, a call must be made each day.
• Students are responsible for ensuring that contact is made with the attendance office.
• Students are responsible for checking Blackboard or Google Classroom for assignments missed.

IF YOUR STUDENT IS MISSING SCHOOL DUE TO AN ILLNESS:

• Be specific about the reason why your child will not be attending school today
• Please indicate whether your child has any of the following symptoms:
  • Feeling feverish or chills
  • Fever greater than or equal to 100.4 F
  • Headache (not due to another health condition, hunger, menstrual cramps stress, or injury)
  • A new cough (not due to another health condition)
  • Shortness of breath or breathing difficulties (not due to diagnosed respiratory condition or if different than normal pattern of chronic condition)
  • A new sore throat (not due to another health condition)
  • Congestion or runny nose (not related to allergies or health condition)
  • Fatigue (more tired than normal or sudden onset)
  • New muscle pain (not due to another health condition or that may have been caused by a specific activity such as physical exercise))
  • New loss of taste, smell, or appetite
  • Abdominal pain (not due to hunger, constipation, injury, or stress)
  • Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea

WHAT TO DO WHEN STUDENT ARRIVES LATE TO SCHOOL:

• Students arriving late to school must report directly to the Main Office. 
• A note or phone call from a parent is required for an excused/unexcused (determined by reason) pass to class.
• Student must make contact with all teachers for any class missed.

WHAT TO DO WHEN STUDENT NEEDS TO LEAVE SCHOOL EARLY:

• Prior to 7:30 AM, the student must present a note from the parent to the Main Office to obtain a check-out pass.  The note must include the reason for leaving and a contact number.  This procedure allows your child to be ready and waiting for you in the Main Office and minimizes interruptions during instructional time.
• Only a parent/guardian is authorized to sign a student out during the school day.  An adult listed on the Emergency Care Card may check a student out as long as we have a note or phone call from the parent/guardian authorizing that person to sign out the student in that particular instance.  In all cases the authorized adult must appear in person to sign out the student and present a photo ID. 
• Students must check out at the Main Office when leaving school and must check back in at the Main Office upon their return.
• Students who leave school without checking out properly will be marked unexcused and may face disciplinary action.
• The student must contact all teachers of any class to be missed.

CLASSIFYING EXCUSED & UNEXCUSED ABSENCES

REASONS FOR EXCUSED ABSENCES

• illness of the student
• death in the family
• doctor or dentist appointment
• observance of a religious holiday
• suspension (except for certain violations as provided in Regulation 2601)
• another reason acceptable to the principal or his/her designee

REASONS FOR UNEXCUSED ABSENCES

• family and/or student vacations (even on exam days)
• childcare situations, non-school related activities
• missed school bus, traffic or car problems
• any absence for which the parent or guardian does not have prior knowledge, consent and/or legitimate reason
• other reasons unacceptable to the principal or his/her designee 

TARDY TO CLASS

• Students are to be in their seats when the bell rings to begin the class period. 
• Tardiness may result disciplinary consequences. 
• Habitual tardiness will be considered insubordination and/or defiance and will result in other disciplinary action. 

MAKE-UP WORK DUE TO ABSENCE

It is extremely important that students make up any and all class work or homework missed due to absence.  Students are fully responsible for completing any missed assignments.  Teachers may assist the student and parent or guardian in identifying missed work but are not obligated to provide make-up assignments if the absence is unexcused. 

• All students should check their teachers’ Schoology sites for assignments.
• Students who are absent one day will take previously announced quizzes and tests and hand in previously assigned work the day they return to class.  Assignments made and/or quizzes/tests given in their absence should be made up upon returning to school. 
• Students who are absent for multiple days are afforded one day of makeup for each day missed.  The student is responsible for conferring with the teacher to arrange a make-up schedule.  Again, work previously assigned is due the day of the student's return.  (If long-term assignments carry a deadline, as opposed to a due date, students are expected to send the assignment to school if they are absent.)
• In the case of pre-arranged absences, students will deliver to teachers all previously assigned work due during their absence the day they return.
• A student who is absent from class (e.g. for a field trip, medical appointment, excused tardy, or clinic visit) but who is in attendance for any part of the day, is required to hand in assigned work and make up quizzes/tests on that day.
• Under extenuating circumstances, at the discretion of the teacher, an extension may be granted for any of these different conditions.  Students have the responsibility for discussing these extenuating circumstances with the teacher.

PRE-ARRANGED ABSENCES

Pre-arranged absences fall under the same FCPS/VDOE guidelines in terms of excused and unexcused absences.  Pre-arranged absences that are not considered excused will be noted as Unexcused, Locally Defined (UNL) which means the student’s whereabouts are known or supported by the parent but policy deems the absence unexcused. 

Arrangements for a pre-arranged absence must be made at least 72 hours (3 days) before the absence occurs.  A note stating the dates and reason for the absence must be presented to the Main Office.  If approved, the student will receive a pre-arranged absence form outlining the conditions related to a pre-arranged absence.  The form must be presented to all teachers for notification and then returned to the attendance office.  If the absence is not approved and the student does not attend school, then the absences will be unexcused.  Be aware that a student with a prearranged absence is expected to be fully prepared on the day of his/her return (i.e. homework and tests) and will assume the responsibility for requesting assignments before leaving.  Please note the above section “Classifying Excused and Unexcused Absences”.  Even with pre-arranged notification, an absence may be classified as unexcused.