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Absence is one of the major causes of poor performance and failure in school. Studies have proven that frequent absences are a predicator of academic failure.

It is the position of Northview High School that every class meeting is important and that anything less than perfect attendance will have a detrimental effect on learning and grades. Students at Northview accomplish something every day; there are no free days! “Skip days”are not recognized, condoned, or excused.

The Attendance Office opens at 8:00 a.m. Students are to allow ample time to conduct business prior to the start of class. Students will not be issued excused late passes because they were at the attendance office. A student needing to see an attendance clerk during the school day should first obtain a pass from his/her teacher, or do so during his/her lunch period.

Attendance Procedures Regarding Absences
Students absent from school must present upon return, an original note (emails or faxes are not accepted) from a parent/guardian explaining the nature of the absence.  This should be done at the Attendance Office before school begins on the day of the student’s return.  Students will receive an admit slip to present to each teacher upon return to class.  Teachers have been instructed not to admit students to class who have been absent and fail to produce an admit slip upon their return.

Absences for which a student fails to submit a written excuse including reason, parent/guardian signature, and a daytime phone number will be considered as truant until a note is presented.  Students have up to three days to submit a note to receive an excused absence; parental notes are also required for unexcused absences.

Students who are absent on final exam days must have a parent/guardian contact the Attendance Office (770-497-3828) in order for the absence to be considered as excused.

It is not necessary for the student to submit a note from a parent/guardian for absences that occur due to school-sponsored activities or pre-arranged absences for which a parent/guardian has already submitted written permission.

Students absent more than four periods will be considered as absent for the day and may not participate in school sponsored activities that day. Suspended students may not participate in school sponsored activities while under suspension.  Students suspended Friday and Monday may not participate in or be present at weekend events.

Excused Absences
The following circumstances are recognized as excused absences:

•personal illness
•personal medical or dental appointment
•severe illness or death in the immediate family
•religious holidays
•attendance at a funeral
•court appearance (subpoena must be presented)
•absences that have been pre-approved by an administrator

Students may complete missed work due to excused absences for full credit if completed during the prescribed time period as determined by the teacher. After ten absences, students must present a doctor’s note in order to have absences considered as excused.

Unexcused Absences
All absences that do not qualify as excused and have not been properly pre-arranged and approved by the student’s administrator are considered as unexcused.  This includes absences for which a written excuse was not presented within three days of the student’s return and for absences due to truancy or class cuts.  Students are allowed to make up work due to an unexcused absence but the grade earned may be reduced by 10 points.

Approved Absences/College Visitation
A pre-approved absence for family or personal reasons should be requested three days prior to the absence.  The request must be in writing from a parent/guardian for approval by the student’s administrator.  The student should obtain an approval form from the Attendance Office to present to his/her teachers.

Students may request up to six days of pre-arranged/arranged absences per year. Assignments should be turned in upon the student’s return. Pre-arranged absences will not be granted during final exams except in cases of very unusual circumstances. 

Attendance Procedures –Checking-In
Students arriving after 8:40 must report immediately to the Attendance Office.  Failure to report immediately constitutes a major attendance violation.  Students who are tardy to school but arrive prior to 8:40 are to report directly to class unless they have a parental note to present to the Attendance Office for an excused tardy. All students must check in and/or check out through the Attendance Office when arriving or leaving the campus outside of the normal start/end times.

Students wishing an excused check-in pass must present a written note including the reason, signature of a parent/guardian, and daytime phone number.  All notes must be verified.

Students arriving after 8:40 who do not have a note from a parent/guardian will be checked-in as unexcused.  All work missed will be graded as unexcused until a note is presented. Notes will not be accepted after three days.

Attendance Procedures –Checking-Out
Once students arrive on campus, they may not leave prior to dismissal without checking-out through the Attendance Office.  This includes leaving campus prior to first period.

Students needing to leave school prior to dismissal must present, before school begins,a written note including the reason, signature of a parent/guardian, and daytime phone.  The Attendance Office will issue a check-out pass stating when the student is authorized to leave campus.  This pass must be presented to the teacher in order to be released from class.  All requests must be verified.

Students who become ill should obtain a written pass from his/her teacher then report to the attendance office or clinic.  It is required by law that all students are properly checked-out before they can be released from campus.  Students are not to be on campus once they have checked-out.  Students should wait in the main lobby or under the front canopy to be picked up.

Phone requests to release students on the school day preceding Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Spring Break will not be honored.  A parent must personally sign-out students on these days if an appropriate written request was not brought to the attendance office prior to the start of the school day. Prom participants are expected to be present for the entire school day preceding the prom.

Phone calls from parents to check-out students will not be accepted after 2:30; if a note was not presented to the Attendance Office, a parent must personally sign-out the student.

Class Cuts
A class cut occurs when a student does not report to class without authorization from the office. Students who become ill or need to see a counselor or administrator during class should report to class first, obtain permission from the teacher to be excused, and have a written pass. Students who become ill and are not able to report to class must report directly to the clinic.

Truancy
Students are considered truant if they are absent from school without parental knowledge. Truancy is considered as a major attendance violation. A maximum grade of 80 per assignment will be given for make-up work. Referrals will be made to counselors and social worker.

Tardiness to Class
Students are expected to be in class and ready to begin work before the tardy bell sounds. Students arriving tardy to first period must check-in through the Attendance Office, then report to class. Students tardy to periods two - six are to report directly to class.

The first tardy to any class for the grading period will receive a written reprimand. Repeated tardiness to the same class will result in assignment of the following consequences:

•second tardy ………………………one day administrative detention
•third tardy ……………………….…two days administrative detention
•fourth tardy ………………………. one day Saturday School
•fifth and subsequent tardy .. referral to administrator

Excessive Absences
Students who accumulate excessive absences are subject to withdrawal or may be required to submit a doctor’s note in order to receive excused status. Administrators will refer excessively absent students to the Social Worker and/or the Student Support Team (SST).

It should be noted that OCGA § 20-2-690.1 states that any parent, guardian, or other person residing in this state who has control or charge of a child or children that accrues five unexcused absences during one school year will be deemed to have violated this Code section and shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to fines, imprisonment, community services, or any combination of these penalties.

Hall Passes
Students who are out of class for any reason must be in possession of a hall pass. Students are not to be present at any location other than for which the pass was issued. Teachers may not issue hall passes during the first ten minutes or last ten minutes of class.

Driver’s License Attendance Affidavit
Students may request through the attendance office the Certificate of Attendance affidavit needed to obtain a driver’s license. Please allow twenty-four hours for processing; there is a $2.00 notary fee. Additional Information on Driver's License from Georgia DMV.

Student ID Cards
Students will be issued a permanent ID card upon enrollment. If the card is lost or an updated card is desired, a replacement can be purchased at a cost of $5.00.