Attendance

Students are expected to attend school on a regular basis. A written note from the parents explaining the reason for any absence must be brought to the homebase teacher within two days of returning to school.

Questions and emails concerning attendance should be directed to the registrar, Michelle Principe. 

Student absences may be excused for the following reasons:

1. Personal illness and when attendance in school would endanger their health or the health of others.
2. A serious illness or death in the immediate family necessitates absences from school.
3. Absences mandated by other governmental agencies, including pre-induction physical examinations for service in the armed forces, or court ordered.
4. Observing a religious holiday that necessitates an absence from school.
5. Conditions that render attendance impossible or hazardous to their health or safety.
6. Registering to vote or voting, for a period not to exceed one day.
7. A maximum of five (5) school days per school year may be excused for students whose parent or legal guardian is in military service in the armed forces of the United States or the National Guard in order for the student to visit with his or her parent or legal guardian prior to such parent’s or legal guardian’s deployment overseas to a combat zone or combat support posting or during the parent’s or guardian’s leave from such a deployment. (Note: Students serving as pages of the Georgia General Assembly and students participating in an activity or program sponsored by 4-H shall be counted present on the days missed for these purposes. A foster care student who attends court proceedings relating to the student's foster care shall be credited as present by the school and shall not be counted absent, either excused or unexcused, for any day, portion of a day, or days missed from school. In addition, students who are present for at least one-half of the instructional day or three full periods, whichever is greater, shall be counted present for perfect attendance purposes.)

Full-day school attendance is very important to student success. Students who arrive late or leave early miss important segments of classroom instruction. To facilitate student success, early checkouts are discouraged. Students who are present for at least one-half of the instructional day or three full periods, whichever is greater, shall be counted present for perfect attendance purposes. The accumulation of 5 or more partial attendance days, in any combination of tardies and early dismissals, within a 9-week grading period shall disqualify a student from perfect attendance recognition.

Partial attendance is defined as any day or class period that a student does not attend the full period/day. Tardies and early dismissals are both considered partial attendance and shall be treated in similar manner. Any student who has more than five unexcused absences in a school year is truant. School days missed as a result of an out of school suspension shall not count for the purpose of determining school truancy.

A student who has not missed a day of school for any reason earns perfect attendance recognition. Students who do not attend school for the majority of the school day (at least half) may not attend school functions in the afternoon or evening.

Checkouts

Parents or guardians must check students out in the front office personally. The office must have a written list, given to us by the parent or guardian, stating all persons who are allowed to check the student out of school. If there is any change in custodial status, the school must be notified in writing, and proof is required. For safety reasons, students may not leave the school campus during the school day with any person other than those listed. Proof of identification may be requested at the time of checkout in order for the school to insure the well-being of each student. Students cannot be checked out 30 minutes prior to dismissal time, currently which is 3:15 p.m.