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Student
Attendance Policy
Attendance Policies Students enrolled at Bernards High School, as well as in other New Jersey public schools, are required to maintain regular attendance throughout the school year. Attendance records are frequently required by colleges, employers, and transferring schools. An irregular attendance pattern does not promote good academic achievement and progress. The full Board of Education Attendance Policy may be reviewed by viewing Board Policy #5113. 46IBILITIES The following is a complete explanation of our attendance regulations: In order to obtain the best possible education, it is important for students to attend school on a daily basis. Teacher and student interaction, as well as insights gained from group discussions, are lost when a student is not present in class. Student experiences cannot be "made up" at a later date. In addition, students who fail to develop responsible attendance habits will approach their adult life at a distinct disadvantage. The entire process of education requires regular classroom participation in order to achieve continuity of instruction and learning experiences. The Somerset Hills Board of Education and the Bernards High School staff feel strongly that students should be in class and on time for class every day in order to provide the best possible learning situation for each student. It is also recognized that there are some occasions when a student cannot be in school. The following regulations have been developed to discourage the practice of cutting class, tardiness, and truancy, and to prevent excessive absenteeism in the high school in order to give each student the maximum opportunity to learn. A student risks loss of credit in a course after his/her absences exceed eight(8) days for a half-year course, sixteen (16) days for a full-year course. A student also risks loss of credit in a course after his/her tardies exceed six (6) for a half-year course, twelve (12) for a full-year course. Maximum limits for absences that do not fit into either a full-year or half-year category will be calculated on a proportional basis. Any time a student is not in class, for any reason, that student will be considered absent. This includes, but is not limited to: illness, appointments, personal/ family business/trips, school-sponsored short term/extended field trips, college visits, meetings and conferences with counselors, the nurse, and tardiness that results in missing at least ten (10) minutes of the class. Tardy is defined as entering a class after the indicated starting time up to ten (10) minutes, (with or without a pass). Entering ten (10) or more minutes (with a pass) will count as an absence, ten (10) minutes or more (without a pass) will count as a cut. Class cuts in excess of one (1) in a half-year course or two (2) cuts in a full-year course will result in a loss of credit for that course. This policy is not intended to remove credit from those students who have a chronic and/or serious medical problem. For these students, we request parents contact the School Nurse and Guidance Counselor early in the year in order that proper arrangements can be made to provide maximum assistance in the education of these students. We look forward to working with the students and parents to provide the best possible attendance pattern and educational program for all our students. Thank you for your anticipated cooperation.
Types of Absences: 1. Full Day (where all missed work may be made up) Most absences from school including, but not limited to, the following: Illness and injury Personal and family vacation and trip Family emergency Field trip College visit 2. Part-time (where all missed work may be made up) Medical and dental exams and treatment Personal and family needs, including driver's tests Tardiness to a class of more than ten (10) minutes with a valid pass. Tardiness to class will count as a class absence towards loss of credit in that course. Visits to the nurse School Sponsored Field Trip 3. Truancy/ Class Cuts (where missed work MAY NOT be made up) Students absent from class are cutting class or truant when they do not have permission from a teacher, administrator, or parent (with prior notice to the school) to be absent A student who cuts a class will be assigned one after-school Central Detention for each class cut. Students truant from school will receive one after-school Central Detention for each class cut due to the truancy. When a student is truant or has cut a class, the school will notify the home either by phone or mail. Parents and students will be reminded of the risk of loss of credit and may request a conference. Continued truancy or class cutting will be reviewed by the Administration and may require further assistance for the student by the Child Study Team, Pupil Assistance Committee (PAC), Project ACCESS, counselors, staff members and parents in order to attempt to reverse the trend. 4. Absences that do not count toward loss of credit are: School related activities (athletics/field trips, etc). Additional non-cumulative school related absences that the Principal has determined to be beyond the control of the student may be granted. 4RESPONSIBILITIES State recognized religious holidays Suspension-absence mandated by the school for disciplinary reasons Administrative removal from class Mandatory court appearances Death in the family (a maximum of five days) College visits: Up to a maximum of three days during the student’s junior/senior year. This senior privilege will be given with the approval of the Principal. A note from a parent must be submitted to the Principal prior to the college visit. Upon return to school, documentation of the visit, on college letterhead must be submitted to the Principal. A student will not be granted credit in a course whenever any of the following attendance limits are exceeded in the course (*Note: that tardies to class are equal to .5 absences from that course): Length of Course/Credits Absences Cuts Full year/8 Credits 26 2 Full year/7 Credits 22 2 Full year/6 Credits 19 2 Full year/5 Credits 16 2 Full year/4 Credits 13 2 Semester/ 2.5 Credits 8 1 Semester/ 2.0 Credits 6 1 Quarter/ 1.25 Credits 5 1 Quarter/1.0 Credits 5 1 Note: For students who enroll in a course after the initial class meeting, the number of absences and tardies will be pro-rated according to the date of entry. Notice to Parents: Parents will be notified by the teacher of the course when the student has accumulated 75% of the number of permissible absences and/or tardies. The Irregular Attendance Notice will be sent by mail according to the following schedule: Length of Course/Credits Absences Full Year/ 8 Credits 19 Full Year/ 7 Credits 16 Full Year/ 6 Credits 14 Full Year/ 5 Credits 12 Full Year/ 4 Credits 10 Semester/ 2.5 Credits 6 Semester/2.0 Credits 5 Quarter /1.25 Credits 3 Quarter /1.00 Credits 3 50 Additional warning notices of absences and tardies will be available to parents via electronic mid-marking period progress reports and end-of-marking period report cards. When a student has exceeded the permissible number of absences, tardies and/or cuts a Loss of Credit Notice will be sent by mail to the parent. Parents may request a conference to determine if further assistance can be given to the student to improve his/her attendance record. Assistance may be sought from the Child Study Team, Pupil Assistance Committee (PAC), Project ACCESS, counselors, teachers, administration and/or parents. After having been notified a student who exceeds the allowable total will lose credit for that course. The student may appeal to the Attendance Committee. A student shall remain in the class even though credit will not be given in order to: a. Review the course in summer school to obtain credit. b. Continue on to a sequential course if credit is not required. Attendance Committee: The Attendance Committee will hear “appeals against denial of credit.” The student’s Guidance Counselor and Special Services Case Manager will also attend the hearing. The appeal should be made directly in writing by the student and/or parent(s) to the Assistant Principal within five (5) school days of his/her notification of the loss of course credit. The student and/or parent(s) may elect to meet with the Attendance Committee and the student’s teacher and Guidance Counselor for the purpose of reviewing his/her attendance record and to present any further information relative to the absences (i.e. doctor's notes, extenuating circumstances, etc.) This meeting will take place as soon as possible upon receipt of the request for appeal. The Attendance Committee will review all pertinent information and, on that basis, decide within five (5) school days whether or not credit should be reinstated to class(es). The student and his/her parent(s) will be notified in writing within five (5) school days of the appeal decision. The decision of the Committee may be further appealed (each within five (5) days of notification of decision) to the following: a. Principal b. Superintendent Within two (2) school days of receipt of a written appeal, a mutually agreed upon hearing day will be established. 51 Tardiness: • All students are required to be in the assigned class no later than 7:45 a.m. • Any student arriving tardy to school prior to homeroom should report directly to class. Any student arriving to school after homeroom should report to the main office to sign in. • Tardiness to class will be subject to the provisions of the Attendance Policy • Tardiness to any class will count as 1/2 absence towards loss of credit in that course • Religious observances will be the only reason for which there will be no penalty for tardiness • Any student arriving after 7:45 a.m. must report to the Main Office for sign-in and admit slip • Students who are tardy to study hall or homeroom for the second time, and each subsequent time during the school year, will be referred to an Administrator for disciplinary action
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