Great attendance is essential to academic success! Every minute counts:

• 5 minutes late each day = 2 days of school loss

• 15 minutes late = 6 1/2 days of school loss

• 30 minutes late = 13 days of school loss

Scholars are chronically absent if they miss 2 days per month

Parents are required to submit documentation for his/her child’s absence- doctor’s note, dental appointment or written letter from the parent upon return to school.

Scholars absent for more than 18 days and/or have more than 18 days of lateness and/or early dismissal will be recommended to the Student Support Team for a court referral and retention.

Scholars with..
18 or more latenesses,
18 or more excused or unexcused absences,
and/or
18 or more early dismissals (leaving before 3:40)
will not be able to participate in End of Year School Wide Trip or Arundel’s Annual Prom.

Attendance Requirements

If a scholar must be absent, by law he or she is required upon their return to bring a note signed by a parent. The note must state the date (s) that the scholar was absent and the reason for the absence.

Work missed during a scholar absence must be made up upon return to school. Teachers will assign a zero for all work not completed during the absence. The responsibility for make-up work belongs to each scholar.

Scholars with chronic absences will be referred for court action. Please make every attempt to make doctors and dental appointments when schools are closed, to generate the least impact on the educational experience. Scholars are considered at risk for chronic attendance if they miss more than 18 days, which means, scholars cannot miss more than 6 days per trimester.

**18 days or more will result in exclusion from the Prom and End of Year family trip.**

Excused Absences

In Maryland, an absence is considered excused once the parent or guardian provides a note explaining that it was due to one of these reasons:

• Death in the immediate family (a parent note is acceptable)

• Illness (a parent note is acceptable for an illness up to three days; a doctor's note is required for illnesses lasting longer than three days)

• Court summons (the student's name must appear on the summons)

• Hazardous weather conditions (a parent note is acceptable)

• Observance of a religious holiday (a parent note is acceptable)

In addition, absences for these reasons are considered excused and do not require documentation:

• School-approved activities or work

• Suspension

• Lack of authorized school transportation

• District- or school wide closings due to inclement weather or other emergency conditions

*According to state law, an absence for any other reason is considered unexcused.

Lateness

Punctuality is a part of attendance. Scholars must be in school and in every class on time. Lateness causes poor performance when scholars are frequently late. Scholars should be in school on time, each day. Scholars are late if they are not in school by 9:15 am.

Latenesses will be marked excused for the above reasons , along with a parent note.

Early Dismissal

Scholars lose instruction if they are not here. In the event a scholar must leave early, he or she should bring a written note from the parent on that day. The written request must give the reason for leaving, the time the scholar will be leaving school and a parent’s daytime telephone number and signature. A scholar will not be dismissed until a parent or another authorized adult signs the scholar out in the main office. Early dismissals will not be granted after 3:20 pm.

Chronic early dismissals will lead to students being ineligible to participate in perfect attendance celebrations.