 Walther Lutheran High School Family Handbook
Attendance Policies
Students need to attend class regularly. Reading the assigned material and performing satisfactorily on tests does not compensate for the loss of insight gained during class discussion or the loss of competency acquired through explanation or drill.
ABSENCES: When a student is absent, a PARENT OR GUARDIAN of the student is required to call the school office before 8:30 a.m. to report the absence. Before 7:30 a.m., our voice mail will record your message. You should provide the student's name, your name and relationship to the student, i.e. mother or father, the reason the student is absent and a phone number where you can be reached if more information is required.
ABSENCES FOR REASONS OTHER THAN ILLNESS OR FAMILY EMERGENCY ARE TO BE AVOIDED. FAMILY TRIPS SHOULD BE ARRANGED OUTSIDE OF THE SCHOOL CALENDAR.
Being more than 10 minutes late to a class constitutes a class absence. If a student misses any class without an excuse, he/she will be considered truant. Parents of students whose absences exceed 1/4 of a semester may be asked to demonstrate proof of additional educational assistance (e.g. tutoring) for credit to be granted. The Principal may ask for such proof in cases of poor attendance due to chronic illness or long term family related absence.
Students absent from school for more than one period on days when school sponsored activities are scheduled are not considered eligible to participate in those activities (athletic contests, plays, rehearsals, dances, concerts, etc.) without special permission of the Principal or the Principal Designee.
WHEN A STUDENT HAS BEEN ABSENT FROM A CLASS TWELVE TIMES (6 TIMES FOR PHYSICAL EDUCATION OR RELIGION) DURING ONE SEMESTER WITHOUT WRITTEN MEDICAL EXCUSE OR HAVING HAD AN ABSENCE APPROVED IN ADVANCE, CREDIT FOR THE COURSE WILL BE FORFEITED. (SUSPENSION, IN-SCHOOL OR OUT, WILL COUNT TOWARDS THE MAXIMUM ALLOWED ABSENCES.)
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ATTENDANCE CODES: Our attendance is recorded via our computer system. The following codes are used to record attendance: TU Tardy Unexcused - a parent call or note is required but the tardy counts toward consequences
TE Tardy Excused
AU Absence Unexcused - i.e. truant - no parent contact had been received
PU Parent called absence - this absence counts toward maximum number of allowed absences
WE Walther Excused - i.e. band and choir performances, recruitment visits, field trips, OR Parent called and absence excused - i.e. PRE-planned absences, family funeral, court appearances with note, college visits
ME Medically Excused - must have note from doctor or dentist to be excused
To top TARDIES: Punctuality is a measure of responsibility. Walther students are expected to be on time for school, class and all school activities (e.g. practices, rehearsals, performances). A student is considered tardy when he/she arrives at school or to any class period after the bell for that class has rung and he/she is less than ten (10) minutes late into the class period. (A student who is ten (10) or more minutes late for a class will be assigned an ABSENCE either by the office, as in the case of first period, or by the teacher, in periods 2-10.) Tardies will accumulate during the semester. Students begin each semester with zero accumulated tardies.
A student arriving late for the school day must report to the Student Service Office and receive an admit slip. A student has four (4) minutes from the time marked on the admit slip to report to class. (Entry after 1st period has begun is through the Chicago Avenue or parking lot doors only. A student is not to go to his/her locker before receiving an admit slip.) First period tardies are recorded in the office, even if a note or telephone call is received from a parent. A student/parent conference will be required upon a student’s 5th tardy. Any student who is excessively tardy may be placed on attendance contract; violations of which will result in loss of credit and possible expulsion from school.
The sequence of consequences for first period tardies per semester are:
1st Tardy - Tardy recorded and pass to class issued
2nd Tardy - Tardy recorded and pass to class issued
3rd Tardy - Phone call to parent
4th Tardy - Detention scheduled
5th Tardy - Parent Conference and Attendance Contract signed
6th Tardy - Saturday Suspension
7th Tardy - Saturday Suspension
8th Tardy - Withdrawal from class
Tardies for a student during periods 2-10 will be recorded by the classroom teacher. The sequence of consequences for these tardies are as follows:
1st Tardy - Student given verbal warning and classroom consequence.
2nd Tardy - Student given verbal warning and classroom consequence.
3rd Tardy - Conference with the Principal Designee and a detention scheduled.
4th Tardy - Parent conference and a detention scheduled.
5th Tardy - Detention Scheduled.
6th & 7th Tardies - Saturday suspension.
8th Tardy - Withdrawal from class.
(Tardies for doctor and dentist appointments or similar obligations will be excused when a written doctor's or dentist's note is presented upon entering school. These notes must be on file in the Student Service Office within two (2) days of the tardy occurrence to be valid. Other tardies may be excused at the discretion of the Principal or Principal’s Designee.)
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PLANNED ABSENCES: When field trips and school sponsored activities take place a Student Sign-Out sheet will be given to the student by the appropriate school supervisor. When there is a student initiated absences, such as college visits, family vacations, funerals, doctors appointments and similar situations, a note from the parent must be received by the Student Service Office prior to a student receiving a Student Sign-Out sheet. A Student Sign-Out form must then be filled out by the student and signed by the appropriate teachers in advance to the date of the absence. Forms are available in the Student Service Office. The Principal has the ultimate say as to which planned absences, if any, will be excused. In all cases, any planned absence must be approved prior to the student missing class. Failure to comply with the letter or spirit of this policy may result in the recording of unexcused absences and subsequent loss of credit.
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COLLEGE VISITS: Walther will excuse two (2) college visits for junior level students and two (2) college visits for students during their senior year. This privilege is reserved for junior and senior students. College visits should be handled like any other planned absence; i.e. advanced notice of the college visit and a Student Sign-Out form must be signed by the appropriate teachers. Sign-Out forms are available in the Guidance Office. It is further required that for a college visit to be excused, the student must bring a letter from the college (on their letterhead) stating that the student did, indeed, visit the college.
To top MEDICAL EXCUSES: Medical excuses must be turned in to the Student Service Office upon the student's return from the illness and should state the dates being excused and the reason. Medical excuses will not be accepted later than two days following a student’s return to school.
If a student is to be excused from physical education due to medical reasons, a doctor's note is to be given to the Student Service Office and a copy will be given to the student's Physical Education teacher. This written excuse must be provided no later than one (1) week after the initial doctor visit and must clearly state the dates to be excused and the reason for the excuse. A release note from the doctor is required before the student re-enters gym class.
To top MAKE-UP WORK: All work missed because of absence must be accounted for by the student. Initiative for contacting teachers, receiving missed assignments and completing make-up work in a timely fashion lies with the student. Assignments missed because of absence must be turned in under deadline as outlined in the course syllabus provided by each teacher. Any work turned in later will be subject to rules which apply to any late homework.
To top TRUANCY: A student is considered truant when he/she is absent without the written knowledge and consent of a parent and the school, he/she is absent without official excuse from any class or he/she leaves the school grounds after arriving for the school day but before classes begin without express permission from the administration. Students considered truant will be assigned a Saturday Suspension. Credit for work missed during the period of truancy may be forfeited.
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