Excused Absences:

• For an absence to be EXCUSED, your parent’s note must include one of the following reasons:
  • The student is too ill to attend school.
  • Inclement weather in which would be dangerous to the life and health of the student
  • Legal quarantine
  • Death in the immediate family
  • Emergency conditions as determined by the superintendent or principal

• All documentation for absences must be received within 3 days, or the absence will be unexcused.

Check PowerSchool daily. If you notice an absence code has not changed in PowerSchool, please contact Mrs. McJunkins within the first 10 days of the absence. No modifications will be made after this time period.

Unexcused Absences:

• Any absence other than the reasons listed for an excused parent note.

HCBOE Truancy Procedures:

• 3rd Unexcused Absence- Notify student and guardian (letter given to student)
• 4th Unexcused Absence- Notify guardian (phone call)
• 5th Unexcused Absence- Local school refers the student directly to the "Houston County Truancy Prevention Project" provided by SpectraCare; Notify guardian (phone call)
• 6th Unexcused Absence- Refer to Early Warning Court and RHS Saturday School
• 7th Unexcused Absence- File a complaint/petition with Juvenile Court Services/DA's Office

Tardiness:

• A student is tardy when 
  • he/she is not in class when the tardy bell rings
  • he/she has a check-in or check-out
• RHS Tardy Procedures:
  • 4 tardies: Verbal Warning
  • 6 tardies: ISS
  • 9 tardies: ISS
  • 12 tardies: Alternative School

Extracurricular Activities (NOT sponsored by RHS):

• Any activity NOT sponsored by RHS will need to be approved at least 48 hours before the absence for it to be considered a Student Activity (SA).
• Students may have 2 SA codes per semester.
• SA codes will count as an excused absence.
• Examples of activities not sponsored by RHS include, but are not limited to: 
  • NPF Junior Fair Board
  • Alabama 4-H
  • College Visits
  • Ribbon Cuttings
  • Dance/Theatre Productions
  • Church Retreats

Field Trips:

• A Field Trip (FT) is an activity sponsored by RHS and will not count against a student’s attendance.
• Examples of activities sponsored by RHS include, but are not limited to:
  • RHS Athletic Teams
  • RHS Band
  • RHS Clubs/Organizations

Check-Out Procedures:

• A student may be allowed to check-out with the WRITTEN consent of a parent or guardian and the advance approval of the principal.
• A student without advance written approval may not leave campus unless the parent or guardian comes to the school and checks the student out.
• Check-outs remain unexcused until documentation is presented. Documentation must be submitted within 3 days of the check-out.
• If your student becomes sick, they will need to see the nurse, who will contact you if a check-out is necessary.
• Check-Out parent notes must be turned in by 7:45 a.m. and contain the following information:
  • Student’s first and last name
  • Date of the check-out
  • Time of the check-out
  • Adult’s name picking your student up
  • Parent’s name (please print)
  • Parent’s contact number
  • Parent’s signature

EXAM EXEMPTION POLICY

Semester Courses

"A" average with 3 or fewer excused absences

"B" average with 2 or fewer excused absences

"C" average and perfect attendance

Year-Long Courses

"A" average with 6 or fewer excused absences

"B" average with 3 or fewer excused absences

"C" average and perfect attendance

*A student will automatically lose his/her test exemption in the event of the following:

• 1 unexcused absence
• More than 3 days of ISS
• More than 3 tardies
• Alternative School