Garces is a “closed campus”. Every moment spent on campus is valuable educational time. Non-emergency appointments should be scheduled outside of class time, not during the school day.
The purpose of these policies is three-fold: so that the school can properly account for students during the school day, to ensure that students are not missing class time for frivolous reasons, and to ensure that students who have medical need are under the care of a physician.
Absences
When a student misses more than thirty (30) minutes of any class it will be recorded as an Absence for that class.
The parent/guardian will be mailed a form letter when the student has accumulated four (4) absences in a particular course.
When absent, students are expected to keep up with their assignments. Upon returning, students must be prepared for class. Students should contact a classmate or teacher to receive the necessary assignments. It is the student’s responsibility to get assignments from their teachers.
EXCESSIVE ABSENCE AND course credit
Students who, in any one semester, accrue an excessive number of absences (as determined by the Principal) in any course (Excused or not) are at risk of receiving a grade of “I”, Incomplete in that course. In all cases of long term absence, once a student accrues an excessive number of absences in any class the student’s parents will be contacted and the student’s grade in that class (or classes) will be recorded as an “I” (See LONG TERM ABSENCE).
· Parents must meet with the Assistant Principal for Academic Affairs within ten (10) school days of contact or the “I” will be recorded on the official transcript as an “F”.
Excused Absences
For an absence to be considered Excused it must be cleared with a phone call or written note from the parent/guardian to the Attendance Office (661-327-2579) or Dean of Students.
Absence Procedures
· Parents must phone the attendance line (661-327-2579) before 9:15 a.m. each day of an absence. If the attendance clerk is not available, messages should be directed to voice mail. If the parent does not call or send a note, when the student returns, the student will be Unexcused and possibly Truant.
· Students who wish to leave campus for any reason MUST either be signed out by the parent or must have written permission from the parent before they will be released. The only exception to this policy will be in the case of events where the school is providing transportation where a permission slip will be required in advance.
· In the case of an extended absence (three days or longer) parent/guardians should contact the Attendance Clerk, who will make arrangements to get assignments and materials from the student’s teachers. Materials will then be available for pick-up at the Attendance Office. Parents should do their best to let the school know when to expect the student back on campus.
· Students returning from an extended illness must present a doctor’s note.
· All students returning from suspension must check in with the attendance clerk before returning to class.
Providing a falsified or forged note or message is a serious offense. Please see Grounds for Suspension.
Activity Absences (Excused)
Occasionally students may be invited or expected to attend school related functions as participants or representatives of Garces Memorial High School (Garces counseling appointments, games, retreats, performances, etc.). When a student misses class time for these events the absence will be recorded BUT will not be counted towards the Excessive Absence limit.
If these events are occurring off-campus, a written note will be required to release the student from campus. The exception for this policy will be in the case of events where the school is providing transportation where a permission slip will be required in advance.
Unexcused Absences or Tardiness
A student is considered Unexcused when they are either absent from school or tardy without a note or phone call from the parent/guardian and/or the proper school authority, either for a whole day or any part of a day.
Students who fail to provide the appropriate parental clearance within 24 hours of their return to campus will receive after school detention (up to one week) until the parent clears the absence.
Truancy
When it is determined that a student was absent from all or part of the school day without the knowledge and consent of the parent/guardian and/or the proper school authority, the student will be considered Truant. Students found to be Truant will serve detention or Garces Work at the discretion of the Dean of Students.
Repeated Truancy is a disciplinary offense punishable up to and including Dismissal.
Tardiness
A student who enters a classroom after the bell has started to ring will be considered tardy.
Students who are tardy and Unexcused will serve an after school detention.
traffic, weather, Oversleeping, road construction, Trains, and otherwise avoidable delays will not be excused; even with a parent note or phone call. Transportation arrangements should be made so that students arrive at school 15 minutes before class begins. Students who are late will be excused only in limited circumstances.
Tardy Procedures
· Parents should phone the Attendance Office (327-2579) to notify the school that their student will be late reporting to school and provide the school with an estimated arrival time.
· A student who arrives on campus late for school, for any reason, must report to the Attendance Office for an Admit Slip before being admitted to class.
Six period schedules
Seniors and their parents who have requested a six (6) period schedule will be expected to sign a Free Period Contract before classes begin. During their free period, depending on the schedule, students are expected to be either in the Library or off campus. Please refer to the contract for arrival procedures. Violators may face disciplinary action and/or have this privilege revoked (be enrolled in a seventh class.)
Leaving Campus
Students are NOT permitted to leave the campus after they arrive in the morning unless they secure an Off-Campus Pass from the Attendance Office. This pass is to be picked up prior to the beginning of school, during break, or during lunch. Upon return to campus, students are to go to the Attendance Office. Failure to follow any of these steps will result in disciplinary sanction.
Students who are ill
Students must report to the office to report any illness to the attendance clerk. Parents may come to pick up their student and sign them out at the Attendance Office.
Off-Campus Passes Issued For:
· Students whose parents pick them up at the attendance office - Parents must come in to the attendance office and SIGN the student out.
· Verifiable doctor, dentist, or other difficult-to-schedule appointments when the student is driving his/her vehicle and if the student has a note signed by the parent.
Off-Campus Passes will not be issued for off-campus lunch, to run errands or shop.
Students must notify the instructor at the beginning of the period affected that they have an Off-Campus Pass.
Attendance and Participation in ExtraCurricularSchool Activities
Students who wish to participate in ANY school activity (including sporting events) must be at school/in class for, at least, the three hours of class before their dismissal time (not necessarily school dismissal time). This applies to all practices and contests. Appointments (doctor, physical therapy, dentist, etc.) need to be cleared by the Dean of Students by 10:00 a.m. for after school eligibility. Participation in week-end or “all day” activities and sporting events requires that the student meet the same instructional requirements on the school day immediately prior to the event.
If the school finds that a student who has not met this minimum time requirement participates in a practice and or competition/performance the student may be excluded from the next like event.
Absences sanctioned by the administration (certain school-related activities, unavoidable conflicts such as a funeral, emergency medical appointments, etc.) are exempt from this regulation. Parents are expected to contact the school in advance when the student will be absent given the above conditions.
Parents are requested to discourage the practice of students staying home either to sleep-in or because of illness, then arriving at school three hours before dismissal so as to be eligible to attend a game, practice or participate in other extra-curricular activities. If the student is too tired or too ill to be in school, then perhaps the student is too tired or too ill to participate in a game, practice or activity.