Good class attendance is essential if the maximum benefits of a thorough and efficient education are to be realized. The interactions of teachers with students and students with peers as well as participation in group discussions are activities that are a vital part of the classroom experience and cannot be ―made up‖ at a later date. Regular attendance is vital, and anything that interferes with regular attendance and participation detracts from the maximum educational benefits available to the students.
(Medical notes must be turned into the nurse’s office within ten (10) days of said absence or will not be accepted.)
The Board of Education neither condones nor permits absences from school for any reason not specified in the law, and course credit may not be issued if the student attendance requirement is not met. The Board of Education, in order to encourage good attendance, has set an absentee policy that permits only 15 days absent from school or class for a full year course and 8 days absent from school or class for a semester course. The parent or guardian of a student who is absent from school for any reason must report the absence between 7:30 a.m. 9:00 a.m. on the day of the absence. Those absences that are not reported by the parent or guardian by 9:00 a.m. on the day of the absence will be considered truancy and will be referred to the administration. Parents and guardians should report the student’s absence by calling –201-553-4110 and dialing the appropriate extension:
Seniors X 7140
Juniors X 7140
Sophomores X 7139
Freshmen X 7138
If no phone call is received, the parent or guardian will be notified by phone after 9:30 a.m. that their son/daughter is truant from school.
Parents/guardians will be notified on the 3rd, 8th, 13th, and 15th absence via letter from the administration requesting a parental conference. Excessive absences may lead to one or more of the following: parent conference with school administration, academic failure or loss of credit due to missed class time, and/or court appearance(s). Good attendance is critical in order to succeed in school. Teachers may request parental conferences on their own or in collaboration with the guidance counselor and/or assistant principal.
Credit may be withheld and/or summer school required making up for chronic absenteeism at the discretion of the administration. Truancy may lead to the administration pursuing legal action if warranted. Chronic absenteeism could also result in ineligibility for extracurricular activities, athletic events and school functions such as graduation, sporting games, field trips, proms, dances, clubs, pep rallies, etc.
When a student is absent for medical reasons, a doctor’s note must be submitted to the school nurse within 10 days of return to school so that proper documentation is kept and recorded in a timely fashion.
EXCUSED ABSENCES
The following are reasons for necessary absences and are excluded in the 15 maximum:
1. Professional note (i.e. doctor, dentist, lawyer, etc…)
2. Death in family (up to 3 days maximum upon the discretion of the administration)
3. Religious holiday, as prescribed by state law and verified by a parental note
4. Court summons (legal papers must be submitted in advance to the assistant principal)
5. NJ state drivers’ road test (written form showing time and date of test must be submitted in advance to the assistant principal)
6. Dated letter from a college verifying a visitation.
DAYS MISSED DUE TO FAMILY VACATIONS DO NOT QUALIFY AS EXCUSED ABSENCES.
Students are reminded that:
1. PM absences are considered cuts unless approved by an administrator.
2. Dental and medical appointments are to be scheduled AFTER school hours.