Attendance
When
a student is going to be absent from school, we ask that a parent
call the absence line at (469) 752-7800 and press 1, for English OR press 2, for Spanish options. Next press 3 to leave a message to report a student absence or illness.. Please ask your student
for his/her ID# and leave it as well as the student’s name.
We have several students whose names are similar and this is sometimes
the only way we can identify which student you are reporting absent. A note must be sent when the student returns to school stating the reason and date of the absence, include the students first and last name and their ID number.
IF THIS NOTE IS NOT RECEIVED WITHIN THREE (3) DAYS, IT
IS AT THE THE DISCRETION OF THE ATTENDANCE OFFICE AND THE ATTENDANCE
PRINCIPAL WHETHER TO EXCUSE THE ABSENCE OR NOT.
Medical
appointments: Once your student returns to school, he/she
must bring a note explaining his/her absence. When a student has
been to a medical appointment, Texas state law requires a note
from the doctor/dentist office.
Late
entry: Students must have a doctor or parent note when
arriving at school after 9:00 a.m. for the absence/tardy to be
excused. Even with a note, there are some situations that are
not excused. The student MUST check in at the
attendance office before proceeding to class.
Leaving
school early: If your student must leave school early,
PLEASE send a note with him/her so he/she can be released from
class. Please allow plenty of time. After signing out at the attendance
office, your student will meet you out front. This note only releases
the student from class, he/she will still need to bring a doctor
note, or in case of illness, a parent note upon return to school.
If you have made a medical appointment or if your student must
leave school early and does not know, please call the main number
at Vines as soon as possible and the receptionist will send a
note to your student. This will save YOU time.
Leaving
school ill: When a student becomes ill while at school,
he /she should go to the nurses’s office. The nurse will
then contact a parent. The student MUST sign out through the attendance
office after being seen by the nurse. Failure to do so will result
in an unexcused absence. A parent note is still required when the
student returns to school. Failure to do so will result in an unexcused
absence.
VERY
IMPORTANT: If
a student arrives at school late or leaves school early WITHOUT
signing in/out, the absence will be unexcused whether
a note is later turned in or not. We will consider the student
truant.
Verifying
Notes: Parents, please be aware that we will call you
if a note looks "wrong" in any way or if an absent call
sounds like a student. Please don't be offended by this, it is
for your protection.
Loss
of course credit:
Students are required to attend each class 90% of the days in
a semester in order to receive course credit. Since we have 87
days in the fall semester and 92 days in the spring semester,
a student with more than 5 absences per class in a semester may
have credit withheld. Our local campus attendance committee will
decide on a case by case basis as to which credits are withheld.
Factors to be considered are: excused absences, unexcused absences,
extended illnesses, make-up hours, etc. Students wishing to receive
credit and serve make-up time will need to serve an hour make-up
for each hour of absence over the limit of 5 absences in each
class. Early morning, Friday school, or Saturday school detentions
from now until the end of the semester are available to students
in need of make-up hours. Students need to document make-up time
with a staff signature (monitor, teacher, administrator) and students
are responsible for producing this documented list of make-up
hours at the end of the semester. This list of make-up hours should
be presented to Mr. Lockett for consideration. Please remember
that an attendance committee will make the final decision on awarding
or withholding credit. Any appeal needs to be addressed to this
committee through Mr. Lockett. |
