A Grammar School student is considered absent if the student does not attend, if he or she arrives after 10:00am, or if he or she leaves campus for the day before 1:00pm On early dismissal days, students who attend less than two hours are counted as absent for the day.
The following guidelines are observed:
- Obtaining the missed assignments is necessary for a student’s progress and is the student and parents’ responsibility. If the teacher(s) schedule(s) allow and a parent makes a request before 9:00am, daily work assignments and books are prepared to be picked up in the main office before 4:00pm. Students are responsible for returning missed work in the time set by the teacher. If there is a medical reason preventing the student from completing the assignment in the time allocated by the teacher, parents must notify the teacher in writing prior to the due date of the work.
- A record of attendance for each student is kept. The total number of days absent and days present is recorded on the student's quarterly report card. Parents are asked to keep in mind these facts as they consider family trips, outside of school holidays, that lead to absences:
- Students can rarely be absent without a negative effect on their progress.
- Asking the teacher to help a student catch up on missed work creates an additional burden on teachers.
- If a family trip is planned (unexcused), please notify the Grammar School office and the teacher in writing at least seven days in advance. This is considered an unexcused absence from school. Students will fill out an absence form that is signed by the teacher(s) and headmaster. The teacher will gather as many assignments as possible for the student to take prior to the trip. Parents are responsible for ensuring that all class work and homework is completed and given to the teacher on the first morning of their return. Tests will not be given early. If the absence coincides with the last week of a quarter (end of a grading period), a student must take all tests and complete assignments prior to the absence. The school calendar provides many opportunities for family trips. Please refrain from taking additional days.