ATTENDANCE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

School attendance is taken very seriously at Willow Spring High School. The staff and administration believe there is a high correlation between attendance and achievement and that regular attendance is crucial to student success. WSHS will maintain accurate attendance information and will share this information with parents and students. It is extremely important for parents and students to closely monitor and document absences.  

Being absent over 15 times in a class is considered excessive.  Excessive absences will most likely result in a team meeting with parents, student, counselor, teachers and other support staff to develop a plan to improve school/class attendance.  Students who miss this much instructional time are often not successful in acquiring key concepts, mastering material, and practicing the other soft skills being developed within the classroom setting.  If instructional hour requirements are not met, because the student is excessively absent, it is possible that the student may not receive credit for the class (and instead receive an “FF”).   An FF is when the student's passing grade is replaced with an “FF” based on failure to meet attendance requirements. Students with excessive absences will be referred to the WSHS attendance team and are subject to the loss of student privileges.

Students must be in regular attendance to do their best work in school. Regular attendance develops patterns of behavior that are essential to professional and personal success in life. For details see Board Policies 4400. 

When the need for an absence exists, it is imperative that the student returns to school with a note from his/her parent or guardian providing an explanation for the absence and the signature and daytime contact information of the parent or guardian. If a student is absent for five total days for any reason, parents will be notified via mail, and invited to partner with the school to develop a plan to improve attendance. 

The student is responsible for every class periods’ activities, whether present or absent.  All tests, assignments, exercises, and other gradable activities plus the other non-gradable activities such as class discussions should be made up.  

According to Board policy, In the case of excused absences, short-term out-of-school suspensions, and absences under G.S. 130A-440 , the student will be permitted to make up his or her missed work.  Assignments missed due to participation in school-related activities also are eligible for makeup by the student.  The teacher shall determine when work is to be made up.  The student is responsible for finding out what assignments are due and completing them within the specified time period.The teacher may assign other types of activities that will allow the student to obtain, or as nearly as practical, that which was missed when absent. At parent request, counselors will collect assignments of students absent five consecutive days or longer.  Individual teachers or classmates will handle getting assignments for students who miss for shorter periods of time.

EXCUSED ABSENCES 

Valid conditions for excused absences include: 

1. Illness or injury that makes the student physically unable to attend school 

2. Isolation ordered by the State Board of Health 

3. Death in the family 

4. Medical or dental appointment 

5. Participation as a party under subpoena as a witness in a court proceeding

6. Observance of an event required or suggested by the religion of the student or the student's parent(s)

7. Participation in an educational opportunity, with prior approval of the principal. Parents should submit an Excused Absence Prior Approval Form (Form #1710) at least three days preceding the absence to our Attendance Office for review. Any absence not meeting the requirements of an excused absence shall be an unexcused absence.

VERIFICATION OF ABSENCES 

1. The attendance office (wshs-attendance@wcpss.net) will verify a student’s absence as excused or unexcused based upon receipt of the absence note from a parent. Parents/guardians will be contacted by telephone on a daily basis notifying them of a student’s absence. Parents should notify the school if contact information changes. If a student’s note is fraudulent, the attendance office will notify the teacher and administrator. 

2. Students being admitted to class should have an attendance slip, either excused or unexcused. 

3. Students have two days to provide a note from a parent verifying their absence from school/class. After more than two days the absence will remain coded as unexcused. Students with unexcused absences are subject to disciplinary consequences from administration. 

CHECKING OUT OF SCHOOL EARLY 

1. The student brings a note from his/her parent or custodial guardian to the attendance office between 7:00 – 7:20 a.m. 

2. A parent/custodial guardian will be contacted before a student leaves campus. 

3. A student should pick up the check-out note during a class change or during lunch. 

4. If a student becomes ill during the school day, the classroom teacher may send the student to the Student Services Office  with a pass. The parent will be contacted. 

5. Students are to be properly signed out in the attendance office before they are allowed to leave campus. Failure to sign in and out appropriately may result in disciplinary action against the student. 

6. Due to congestion with carpool, the latest check out time in the afternoon is 1:45.

When students are off campus for lunch in their Junior or Senior Year, PEPI, or other school sponsored activities, they should remember that they are still under the care and jurisdiction of WSHS. Failing to return to school for any reason and not following the prescribed check out procedure is unacceptable and may result in disciplinary actions for the student. Student check outs will be restricted during State Testing windows as we may not be able to interrupt the test setting to remove your student. 

CREDIT FOR ATTENDANCE 

To be counted present a student must be in attendance for more than 50% of the class period and 50% of the school day. Checking in after 11:00 a.m. is considered absent for that school day. Students shall be considered present while attending an official school activity at a place other than the school and are considered present at school. 

TARDINESS

When the bell rings to begin each class, teachers will close and lock their doors.  Any student who is not in class at that point will report to the nearest tardy station where they will check in.  They will receive an admit pass which should be given to the teacher. Repeated tardiness will result in administrative action such as assignment to Lunch Detention and possible ISS.

RETURNING TO SCHOOL AFTER AN ABSENCE

Students will have two school days to bring in the note in order to receive an excused absence. Students should bring an excuse note from a parent or guardian to the Attendance Office on the day the student returns to school. The parent note will be retained on file.  

Absence notes should include the following: 

• Student’s name – first and last – no nicknames
• Date(s) absent
• Time leaving school
• Reason for leaving
• Parent/Guardian signature
• Home and work phone numbers of parents