Absences/Dismissals/Lock Out

A. High School Guidelines for Attendance and Recovery
A student in grade 9-12 missing eleven (11) days, excused or unexcused, per class in a year course, or more than five (5), excused or unexcused, per class in a semester course for any reason other than a code S (School initiated and Principal approved) will receive a grade of "F" for the course. Myers Park High School has an extended day recovery instructional program for students with excessive absences to reduce the number of absences to ten (10) days of less per class in a year course of five days or less per class in a semester course. Again, a student will receive a grade of "F" no matter what grade they have earned unless they make up each absence over 10 / 5.

B.Obtaining an Excused Absence from School
When a student is absent from school, he/she should bring a note from his/her parent, guardian, or health care professional within five (5) school days to the Attendance Office. The note should include the student's legal name (not nickname), CMS student ID number, the reason for the absence, and the date(s) absent from school. The Attendance Office will determine whether or not the absence can be excused per CMS board policy. Absences are excused (with verification) for student illness, medical appointments, death in the immediate family, court proceedings, or quarantine. Absences may also be excused (at the principal's discretion) for an educational opportunity, which must be submitted in advance for approval on Form 5123.2 (available in the Attendance Office).

All other non-school initiated absences are unexcused (i.e. bad weather, missing the bus, car trouble, lack of heat, water, or electricity, shopping, babysitting, oversleeping, or lack of clothing). All absences are coded as unexcused until a note as described above has been received in the Attendance Office. Parents and students are reminded that work cannot be made up, including tests and quizzes, when a student has an unexcused absence.

It is not necessary to call the school when your child is absent. Absences can only be excused with a written note.

C. Tardiness
The CMS expectation is that students will be at school on time. Oversleeping, missing the bus, or being transported late by a private vehicle is not considered excused. In addition, students are expected to remain at school and be on time for the remainder of the day. Many high schools use the lock out program that allow teachers to deal effectively with students who are tardy. Students who are tardy to class are refused admission to their regularly scheduled class and must go to a designated area (Lockout) to complete class work or to do work assigned by the administration.

Lockout is a classroom setting in which students that are late to the class utilize as a study hall. Students may not enter into a classroom late without an excused pass signed by a teacher. Multiple visits to lockout are dealt with by an administrator and may result in a suspension from school. Lockout visits are recorded on a semester basis.

D. Early Dismissals
Students and parents are urged to make every effort to arrange doctor and dental appointments after school. If it is necessary for a student to leave early during the school day,

• a note must be sent from the parent / guardian and given to the attendance secretary prior to 7:15 AM on the day of the early dismissal. The note should explain where the student is going and what time the student should be dismissed AND provide a verifiable parent/guardian telephone number that can be reached between 7:00 AM - 9:00 AM.
• All students with an Early Dismissal must sign out in the attendance office before leaving school.
• Students seeing a doctor or dentist during the school day are asked to bring a note from the medical / dental office to the attendence secretary upon returning to school.
• Anyone returning to school needs to sign in with the attendence secretary.
  

E. Leaving School Grounds
Students will not be permitted to leave campus without permission from an administrator. All students who leave school grounds without permission will be considered truant and will face subsequent disciplinary actions.

When an emergency situation or student illness occurs, students will be required to have the attendance secretary call their parent or guardian for permission to leave campus. Once this permission is granted, the student must carry the Early Dismissal slip with them until they exit the campus.

F. College Visitation Excused Absences
Click here for form and instructions.