For information on the Athlete Attendance Policy please click here
(596-7003) 24 Hour Answering Machine Attendance Secretary: Georgia Rae Martin
A parent/guardian should call the Attendence Office to clear a tardy or absence within twenty-hours.
Our Belief
Daily attendance in each of our classes is vital for successful learning. Except for medical or legal reasons, we expect our students to be in class and actively participating in the instructional process. Parents are encouraged to make medical appointments outside the regular school hours.
ABSENCES AND TARDIES
First Period
Students who arrive late for first period but can make it to class within the first ten minutes should go directly to class, they do not need to sign in. This will still be considered a tardy and will need to be excused by a guardian.
Students who arrive after the first ten minutes of school should go to the Attendance Office upon arrival and sign in.
Our goal is to get students to their first period class sooner, spending less time in the hallway.
All other Periods
Students who arrive anytime after their first scheduled class begins must sign in at the Attendance Office. The exception being the first ten minutes of 1st period. Please see above for details
“Signing in” does not excuse a student. A parent must still call, within 24 hours, to excuse an absence or tardy.
It will be the student’s responsibility to check the attendance bulletin on the following day to make sure the tardy or absence is correctly recorded.
The attendance bulletin is posted in all halls of the school, outside the attendance office and at the reception counter. If the student’s name is not on the list, the student should contact the attendance office to correct the error. The student will be given an opportunity to correct the absence at that time.
Teacher Error on Attendance
If a teacher accidentally marks the student absent from a class, the student will ask the teacher for a slip to confirm their attendance. The student will take the slip to the Attendance Office to update the record.
If the student does not follow these procedures, the first consequence is considered a warning from the teacher.
LEAVING CAMPUS DURING SCHOOL HOURS
Olympia High School is a CLOSED CAMPUS. (This includes break and lunch periods). Therefore, when it becomes necessary for a student to leave campus for dental or medical appointments, etc., the parent/guardian must call the Attendence Office (596-7003) in advance.
Students leaving during a class period, should let the teacher know at the beginning of class what time they will be departing. They would then proceed to the Attendance Office at that time. Notes are not sent to class. Students leaving between classes can go directly to Attendance. After verifying that their parent/guardian has called the school, the student must sign-out before leaving campus and sign-in upon returning.
If the student leaves campus without signing-out or confirming with the attendance office the absence will be considered an unexcused absence and could result in Saturday work or other consequence.
STUDENTS MUST BE EXCUSED BY A PARENT OR ADMINISTRATOR BEFORE LEAVING CAMPUS
If the student does not follow the procedure correctly, the first consequence is a warning from the teacher
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
Attendance Statement
A teacher may include punctuality and/or attendance in determining students’ grades, provided written explanation of the grading system is given to each student at the beginning of each semester or when a student enrolls in class. The explanation must include the percentage of the final semester grade affected by punctuality and/or attendance.
Excused within 24 hours
With a large number of students each having up to six teachers, record keeping becomes untenable clearing absences days after the fact, therefore, absences will not be excused beyond the first day back deadline. It is the student’s responsibility to clear absences and to do so within the time allowed, 24 hours. The school administrators shall determine if an absence is to be excused, if after the 24 hour time frame.
Students are required to attend all classes.
Special arrangements
Married students, students not living at home, and students without a telephone should contact the Main Office for individual arrangements.
Absences During School Days
The Attendance Office will not accept an excuse from parents that allows a student to remain on campus.
Extended Absences
If an absence will be for three (3) or more days, in addition to advance telephoning, it will be necessary for the student to pick up an EXTENDED ABSENCE FORM at the Main Office and have it signed by all of his/her teachers for notification purposes and returned to the Dean of Students before leaving.
Illness at School
Students becoming ill during the school day must report to the nurse’s office. If it is necessary for the student to go home, the nurse will contact the parent or guardian.
Unexcused Absences
Any absence without the permission of an administrator or a parent will be considered unexcused. No make-up work will be allowed as the result of an unexcused absence.
Study Hall
Attendance in study hall is mandatory.
Independent Study
Students on independent study are required to abide by all attendance policies.
Eighteen-Year-Old Student
All 18-year-old students will follow the regular attendance policies unless they are on an attendance contract which enables them to have greater responsibility for their attendance. Attendance contracts are available in the Main Office. Students should be aware that attendance contracts relinquish parent approval.
Class Tardiness
Students are expected to be punctual to all classes. Two unexcused tardies will be the equivalent to one unexcused absence.
Unexcused Tardies
An unexcused tardy in excess of 10 minutes will constitute an unexcused absence.
Hall Passes
Students who leave the classroom to contact an administrator, counselor, nurse, etc., should have a hall pass and be required to stop by the attendance office and then return it signed to the teacher who issued it. The signed hall pass becomes a record that the student has followed through with his/her intentions beyond the actual supervision of his classroom teacher. Students in the corridors without a pass are subject to discipline.
Teacher Assistants
TAs are required to abide by all attendance regulations.
Assemblies
Attendance at assemblies is required unless the administration announces otherwise prior to the event.
Part-Time Attendance
Students not enrolled in a full schedule must make arrangements with the Assistant Principal in charge of attendance.
Homework Requests
The student may go to the Olympia High School web page to get homework from their individual teachers.