Attendance Office
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Rancocas Valley Regional High School believes that attendance affects the quality of a student's education. This policy enforces New Jersey state statute (NJSA 18A-38:26), which requires students to regularly attend school. Lack of student attendance may be the cause of poor or failing grades. RVRHS' current block scheduling enhances the need for regular, on-time attendance. I. Attendance Policy A. 6 unauthorized class absences will be allowed for a semester course. B. 3 unauthorized class absences will be allowed for a quarter course. C. 0 Credit will be given for unauthorized absences beyond the number listed above. [Students will not be able to make up work for that day(s) or class(es)] D. Authorized School or Class Absences (Notes to Attendance Office) Physical or mental illness - Doctor's note required before or upon return to school covering all days absent Recovery from accident - Doctor's note required Court appearance - Summons required Death in family - Note from parent or guardian Religious holiday as defined by the State - Parent note needed before or after absence School sponsored trips - Teacher or Supervisor approval Out of school or in school suspension Students excused administratively or by the school nurse College visits - Letter required from college (juniors and seniors only) Such good cause as may be acceptable to the Review Board E. If a student is absent or late, the parent/guardian must call the Attendance Office (267-0837, ext. 3243/3234) as soon as possible on the day of the absence or lateness. Phone calls are to notify the school but notes are required for late arrivals and absences. II. Late Policy Students are expected to report to homeroom no later than 7:57 AM. Homeroom teachers will close their doors at the late bell (7:57) and will not let late students into homeroom without an admit slip from the Attendance Office. Homeroom teachers, not students, will take attendance. One teacher will volunteer to collect the attendance envelopes in each hallway and return them to Data Processing. The following are the penalties for being late to school: 1. 4 lates = 1 detention (1 hour) before or after school 2. 8 lates = 1 Saturday detention (8:00–11:00 AM) 3. 12 lates = In School Suspension 4. 16 lates = Out-of-School Suspension until parent/guardian conference. 5. 20 lates = Out-of-School Suspension until parent/guardian conference. 6. 24 lates = Out-of-School Suspension until parent/guardian conference with Assistant Principal for Attendance (ext. 3259). 7. 28 lates = Out-of-School Suspension until parent/guardian conference with the Superintendent (ext. 3233). For every late over 28, the student will serve a one hour detention the day of the late or he/she will be suspended for one day. Students who are late to school but do not get a late pass from the Attendance Office will face the following penalties: 1st Offense = 1 detention (1 hour) before or after school 2nd Offense and any thereafter = Out-of-School Suspension Please note: Lates are cumulative for the year not by semester. Penalties for lateness will be enforced by the Deans of Discipline. Late arrival and/or early dismissal are authorized for the following reasons:
Such good cause as may be acceptable to the Review Board (See below for Attendance Review Board Appeal Form.) All documentation for late arrival or early dismissal must be submitted to the Attendance Office. DOCUMENTATION TO AUTHORIZE AN ABSENCE It is the student and parent’s responsibility to provide the Attendance Office with the required documentation within 2 school days of the student’s return to school. Documentation may be hand-delivered or faxed (609-702-0631) to the Attendance Office. Please do not mail documentation. Any documentation received after this time period will not be accepted and the absence will be unauthorized. This policy is in place to insure that students are cleared in a timely fashion so they can make up any missed assignments. The student will receive a pass to show his/her teachers upon receipt of the required documentation. The following absences are considered authorized upon receipt of the required documentation:
Such good cause as may be acceptable to the Review Board (see Appeal Process). APPEAL PROCESS The Appeal Form is now available online (see below) and in the Attendance Office. The form can be picked up in the Attendance Office between the hours of 8:00 AM and 3:00 PM. All appeals should be sent to the Assistant Principal for Attendance. Whenever possible, an appeal to authorize an absence that is not covered by the approved list of authorized absences, should be filed prior to the absence from school. If this is not possible, the appeal must be received within 5 days of the student’s return to school. Please note: Family vacations are not approved as authorized absences from school. The Attendance Appeals Committee will meet the third Tuesday of every month, with the exception of January and June, at which time they will meet once a week. You will receive a response to your request for an appeal within one week of the date the committee meets. If you do not receive an appeal within this time frame, please contact the Assistant Principal for Attendance at 609-267-0837, extension 3259. Please note: All documentation for late arrival or early dismissal must be submitted to the Attendance Office. III. Attendance Office Procedures The Automatic Caller will continue to be used to notify parents/guardians of n unauthorized absences from school and of lates. Staff must notify the Registrar immediately of any changes in student addresses and/or telephone numbers. Attendance and Field Trip lists will be combined on the Daily Student Bulletin. The Daily Student Bulletin will be on-line and available to teachers in their classrooms, Department offices, or workrooms. * All documentation to authorize an absence must be submitted to the Attendance Office within two (2) days of the student’s return to school. Failure to do so will result in the absence being unauthorized. * Documentation must be hand-delivered or faxed (609-702-0631) to the Attendance Office. Do not mail documentation as we cannot guarantee that it will be delivered to the appropriate office in a timely fashion. * The Attendance Appeal Committee will meet the third Tuesday of every month, except during January and June, at which time they will meet once a week. * Appeals must be received within five (5) days of the student’s return to school. * The Renaissance Program will now allow one (1) unauthorized absence per quarter in its eligibility criteria for the Red and Blue cards. |
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