Daily attendance is essential for a student’s success in school. A student who is not in regular attendance tends to lose interest, feel left out, and may fall behind in classes.

The school assumes that a student who is unable to attend school because of illness or injury is also unable to attend extracurricular activities later in the same day. Students under suspension are not to participate in or attend extra-curricular activities.

In keeping with district policy, the first twelve (12) absences each year may be excused for the purpose of make-up work, if a parent's telephone call or note has been received by the second full day the student has returned to school. Otherwise the absence becomes an unexcused absence. Dental and doctor’s appointments are NOT ALL DAY excused absences, and parents should make every attempt to help their child attend as much school as possible. After twelve days of absence, the students must bring in a doctor's statement for each day of absence.

When a student is tardy to school, he/she should report to the office to sign in and obtain a pass to class. Students are considered tardy if they arrive at school after 7:30 A.M. A student may receive an excused tardy for doctor or dentist appointments, family funerals, and other emergencies only if a note from the parent or guardian is turned in at the office and approved.

A student will receive an unexcused tardy for oversleeping, missing the bus, etc. Excessive tardies will result in the student having to serve lunch detentions or in-school suspensions.

Various groups and classes will conduct field trips throughout the school year. No student may accompany such a group off the school grounds without a permit from his or her parents. Students not in good standing for the reasons of misconduct, misbehavior, or academic performance may be denied the opportunity to attend field trips and convocations.

After arriving at school, the student is expected to remain in school the full day unless previous arrangements have been made with the Guidance Department. Students who need to leave school to keep a dental or medical appointment, etc., must bring a note from home or an appointment card from the office to be visited. The note is to be taken to the office before school begins on the day of the appointment. An out-of-school pass will be given to the student so that the student may be released from class. The student must sign out in the office before being picked up by the parent. If the student returns from the appointment before the school day is over, he/she is to report to the office and sign in on the form provided before returning to class. Students leaving without permission will be considered truant and will not be readmitted until his or her parents have contacted the school. Please make an effort to schedule appointments at times other than school hours.

Every attempt will be made to keep school open in accordance with the adopted school corporation calendar. But due to weather, road conditions, power failures, etc., it may become necessary to close school. In that event, students may be sent home early after school has begun. It is very important that each child knows where he/she is to go and what he/she is to do. On mornings that are questionable, listen for announcements on the following radio and TV stations: WCBK (Martinsville); Channel 8, and Channel 4. The announcement of school closing will be made by 7:00 A.M.. If you have not heard any announcement by 7:00 A.M., you can expect school to be open. You are requested not to call school, teachers, principals, bus drivers, etc. when weather becomes threatening but rely on the radio and TV station for the necessary information.

On the morning that a student is withdrawing from school, he/she should report to the main office for a Withdrawal Form which will be taken to all teachers during the student's last full day of school. When at all possible, a parent or guardian should notify the school in an official capacity of the withdrawal.

A student must make up work missed during an absence. It is the student’s responsibility to ask each teacher what has been missed. Students will have one full day for each day’s absence in which to do required make-up work.

Parents may request homework after the student has been absent for at least two days. It is necessary that the school be contacted before 9:00 A.M. on the day the homework is needed to allow the secretary and faculty adequate time to complete the request. Every attempt will be made to honor the request for homework. During flu and cold season, homework requests may be suspended due to the large number of absences. The students will be allowed to make up homework in a reasonable amount of time when they return to school. Reasonable time is defined as one day to make up work for each day of excused absence.

Students are allowed to remain at school, in the building or on the grounds, after 2:30 P.M. ONLY if they are supervised by a teacher, coach, or club sponsor. Students are not permitted to stay after school on their own because an unsupervised environment is not appropriate for the well-being of our students. If students have a problem related to going home before an evening athletic contest, music performance, etc., arrangements should be made by the parents to have the student go home with a friend or to a relative’s house while waiting to go to the event. Those students who remain under the supervision of a coach or teacher are expected to conduct themselves properly. Failure to do so may result in suspension from the after-school activity.