Greeneville High School - Attendance Policy

ATTENDANCE: (download)

            Under the Rules, Regulations, and Minimum Standards set forth by the Tennessee State Board of Education, each pupil shall have attained an approved attendance record to meet the requirements for graduation. In order to comply with this regulation the Greeneville High School attendance policy, as adopted by the Greeneville Board of Education, states that every student is required to be in regular, punctual attendance. If an excessive number of days (or classes) are missed, disciplinary action will be taken. Parents are notified of their child's absences. Each student has a designated place to be at all times during the school day and is expected to be there. If you have reasons to arrive at school late or leave school early, you must check in and out through the Attendance Office. Freshmen are to have a parent/guardian come into the Attendance Office to check them out when they are leaving the school campus. Truancy from school is a sufficient reason for suspension and/or referral to the Truancy Board.

         If a student must be absent, the parent should notify the Attendance Office and check the teacher website for assignments (787-8040 or 787- 8041). Students are allowed to make up work from an excused absence within five days after the student returns. Students are to provide the attendance office with a written excuse from the parent or guardian on the first day back after absences.   The student will then be issued an excused or unexcused slip and must present it to all teachers so the teacher can document the absence as excused or unexcused. The student must request the make-up work for an excused absence or tardy and schedule a time for make-up work. No make-up work will be allowed for an unexcused absence.
Greeneville High School staff and administration are committed to the academic achievement and growth of each student. We know that academic achievement and growth are the result of strong cooperation, communication and excellent attendance. A strong and fair attendance policy will enhance student achievement of Greeneville High School.

ABSENCES:
An absence shall be defined as not being present at anytime during the class period. Absences, which are excused under State Attendance Rules, include

Personal illness (a physician’s statement may be required)
Death in immediate family
Family illness
Religious holiday (prior approval is required)
Visitation with a parent on leave from active military duty.
Court appearance
Doctor or dental appointments which cannot be scheduled at times other than school hours. (Please bring a doctors statement back.)
School-Sponsored Activities – Students shall be marked present when participating in a school–sponsored activity away from the school building
Prior approval by an Administrator.
Attendance records shall be transferred from one class to another when a schedule change is made.
All student absences will require documentation. Official documentation is required for an absence to be excused under Tennessee State Law. Official documentation includes doctor’s notes, court notices, religious holiday notification, and obituary notices. Parent notes will be required for absences not covered by official documentation.

TARDIES:
A tardy shall be defined as not being in the classroom when the tardy bell rings, however, students that are late to class due to administrators, guidance counselors and other similar school related activities will be admitted to class and will not be counted tardy with an admit.
After the attendance report has been entered, students who are tardy without an admit must go to the attendance office for a tardy slip. (An ADMIT is for a student who arrives after the bell rings without a NOTE or A PHONE CALL from an administrator, staff member, guidance counselor, or teacher.) The attendance office will determine whether a tardy is excused or unexcused. The attendance office will determine whether a student is allowed to make up the work when a tardy occurs.
FOR COURT PURPOSES ONLY: Students should be aware that tardies WILL be counted at truancy board or truancy court toward an unexcused absence (3 tardies equals 1 unexcused absence).

CONSEQUENCES FOR TARDIES:

1ST TARDY - TEACHER WARNING AND DOCUMENTATION
2ND TARDY - TEACHER WARNING AND DOCUMENTATION
3RD TARDY - LOSE EXAM EXEMPTION INCENTIVE, TEACHER CONTACT WITH PARENT OR GUARDIAN
4TH TARDY - TEACHER SENDS DOCUMENTATION TO THE ATTENDANCE OFFICE, ADMINISTATOR CONTACT WITH PARENT OR GUARDIAN, STUDENT WILL BE ENTERED INTO THE DISCIPLINE DATA FORM AT THE APROPRIATE LEVEL AND WILL SERVE CONSEQUENCES ACCORDING TO THE LEVEL OBTAINED

ANY OTHER TARDIES THAT OCCUR WILL BE DELT WITH BY THE ADMINISTRATION, DISCIPLINE POLICY, TRUANCY BOARD AND THE COURT SYSTEM

MAKE-UP WORK:
Work missed because of any absence, which is excused through the attendance office with proper notes or documentation, may be made up within five(5) school days upon the student’s return. The first day the student returns counts as day one. It is the student’s responsibility to get the make-up work assignment and arrange a time with the teacher if needed. Work that was due or a test that was scheduled on the day that the student missed is due the day that the student returns to school.

MAKING UP AN EXAM:
Students who have excused absences shall be allowed to make up the exam/test missed. If the exam/test is not made up on the day of return, an alternative make-up test may be given. The type of exam and time of make-up may be at the discretion of the teacher.

FINAL EXAM EXEMPTION :
There shall be an incentive for exemplary attendance and behavior. A student must meet the following criteria to be exempt from final exams:

Two or fewer excused absences for the entire block (excluding school activities)
No unexcused absences
“C” or better average going into the final exam
No detentions due to three or more tardies. (Tardies will clear for exam exemption purposes only at the end of each block.)
No referrals from their respective classroom teachers
No Level III infractions that result in suspension or ALP for the semester
Students who are homebound must take the final exams.
Students who have earned the final exam exemption have the option to take the final exam to improve their grade. The final exam will not count if it will lower their current final average.
The final exam will count as 1/9 of the final grade.