Attendance
The Waukegan High School attendance policy is based on the premise that attendance is mandatory. Absence from school is the single greatest cause of poor achievement. Learning is a dynamic process of students actively engaging both teachers and peers. District No. 60 will enforce the State of Illinois law (l05ILCS51l3-6) regarding compulsory school attendance. The law is specific in that the parent/guardian has the primary obligation to see that the student attends school.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Both the students and their parents/guardians have attendance responsibilities. It is expected that students attend each of their classes on a daily basis. If, on occasion, a student needs to miss a portion of the day, the student must stop at the Attendance Office to pick up a pass for that time period. In addition, the parents must call the Attendance Office and state who is calling, their relationship to the student, date and periods to be missed, and a valid reason for the absence. The call must be received by 10:00 AM on the following day. WHS will not accept notes unless parents/guardians have verified with the administrator in charge of attendance that they have no telephone at their residence.
REPORTING ABSENCES
Whenever a student must be absent from school because of circumstances beyond the control of the student, the parent/guardian should call the Attendance Office (UGC) at 360-5629/5523; (NGC) at 263-4773 from 7:00 AM - 3:30 PM.
Students who are absent due to family trips, weddings, graduations, or celebrations should call the Attendance Office to report students' absences. Students who are absent due to funerals,immunizations,college visits, hospitalization or doctors' appointments must bring in proof.
MAXIMUM NUMBER OF ABSENCES
Attendance will be assessed on a per class basis. Once a student exceeds ten (10) absences per semester in any class, the grade for that class becomes "No Credit" (NC) due to lack of participation. The student will not be dropped from the class and will be required to attend the class and complete the required work assigned. Exceeding ten (10) absences may also affect eligibility to participate in an extracurricular activity.
There are times when illness or family emergencies may prevent a student from attending school everyday, but it must also be understood that consistent and regular school attendance is vital for normal educational progress and academic success. When a student is absent from class, he misses the teacher's presentations, class demonstrations, student discussions, or testing. It is impossible to fully duplicate the classroom experience after a student has been absent. Students with irregular attendance patterns, whether excused or unexcused, may find it difficult to be successful in specific classes and may be subject to a loss of graduation credits when the vital learning experiences cannot be duplicated. As a result,it is extremely important that the parent assures the student's academic success by emphasizing the need for the student to be in attendance each day.
ATTENDANCE REVIEW COMMITTEE
If a student has been assigned an NC grade but has improved his or her attendance and has completed the required course work, he or she may petition the Attendance Review Committee. This Committee will review petitioned cases of students who have received a "No Credit" status (NC) for a course. If the Committee determines that the student may receive credit, the teacher's grade for that student will be the final grade. All NC grades that have not been addressed by the end of the semester will be recorded as an "F" on the Waukegan High School transcript.
NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES
(All notifications will be sent in English and in Spanish to the residence of the student.)
Teachers will counsel students on attendance and make them aware of attendance concerns.
Parents/guardians of students who have accumulated three (3) absences in a single class will receive a written notice stating that the student's grade/credit in one or more of his classes is endangered. This notice will be computer generated. Teacher and Counselor will be notified that this letter has been sent. The teacher will attempt to contact the parent/guardian.
Once the student has accumulated six (6) absences in a single class, a second notice will be sent to the parent/guardian informing them that their student's grade/credit in one or more of their classes is endangered. Teacher, counselor and Department Chairperson will be notified that this notice has been sent.The parent/guardian is requested to call the teacher, the counselor, or the department chairperson to plan a course of action to address their child's attendance problem.
Parents/guardians of students who have accumulated eight (8) absences in a single class will receive a written notice by certified/registered mail emphasizing that three (3) more absences will render the student ineligible for a passing grade and credit in that class. This letter will be computer generated and will contain information on the review process. Teacher, Counselor, Department Chairperson, and Dean will be notified that this letter has been sent. As soon as absences in any class exceed ten (10), the student's grade will automatically become "No Credit" status (NC). A final notice will be sent home explaining the NC grade and review process. This letter will be computer generated. Teacher, Counselor, Department Chairperson, and Dean will be notified that this letter has been sent.
VALID CAUSES AND ABSENCE(EXCUSED ABSENCE)
The Illinois School Code, Section 26-2a, recognizes specific forms of absences as valid reasons for not attending school.
EXCUSED AND UNEXCUSED ABSENCES
WHS will continue to record excused and unexcused absences. Except as indicated below, excused and unexcused absences count toward the ten (10) day limit per semester. An unexcused absence (e.g.,skipping a period or truancy from school for an entire day) will mean that the student cannot earn credit for the class work missed during that absence.
The following absences will not count toward the ten (10) day limit
- Hospitalizations
- Counselor, dean, or other office appointments
- School related activities in which the student is a participant
- History of chronic health problems for which proper documentation
has been filed
- Death in the family
- Mandatory court dates
- Observance of religious holidays
- Unavoidable medical-related appointment
- College visits
The following absences are examples of absences that will count toward the ten (10) day limit
- Any fraudulent call made by someone other than the parent/ guardian
- Any absence not reported to the Attendance Office by 10:00 AM the following day
- Oversleeping
- Going "out of town"
- No ride to school
- Personal business
- Activity camps
- Celebration parades (e.g.,St. Patrick's Day)
- District/state contests or other school activities in which the student is not a participant
- Family vacations
- Missing the bus
- Needed at home
- Car trouble
ADMINISTRATIVE ABSENCES
Any classroom absences or tardy caused by school procedure (i.e. field trips, suspension, immunizations, counseling, dean's office, etc.) will not be counted toward the ten (10) absences contributing to the "No Credit" (NC) grade. All other absences, whether excused or unexcused, will be counted.
ATTENDANCE RECORDSWaukegan School District No. 60 maintains permanent attendance records for each student for a period of sixty (60) years. Educational institutions, prospective employers, the armed services, or the courts may refer to a student's attendance records at any time during that 60-year period. Therefore, a student should maintain regular attendance at school and the parent/guardian should contact the school when the student is absent.
TRUANT OFFICER
A truant officer has been hired to assist with the student truancy problems. He/she will assist with phone calls, home visits, and parent conferences and will recommend court action where needed.
THE FINAL DECISION FOR AUTHORIZING AN EXCUSED ABSENCE RESTS WITH THE ADMINISTRATION.
SPECIAL LEAVES
The lIIinois School Code under the Compulsory Attendance Act (Section 26-1) does not recognize family vacations as a valid cause for student absence. As a result, Waukegan School District No. 60 encourages all parents/guardians to coordinate vacation plans to coincide with those days on which school is not in session and discourages vacation plans during those days on which school is in session. Those days not approved will be considered unexcused and may result in loss of credit.
FUNERAL LEAVES
Parents/guardians of students who are close friends of the deceased should contact the Attendance Office (UGC) 360-5629 or 360-5523, (NGC) 2634 773 notifying the school that permission is granted to allow the student to attend the funeral. Students are encouraged to visit the funeral home on the afternoon or evening prior to a funeral rather than during the school day. Students will be excused during the time of the funeral leave but will be expected to make up all work and assignments missed.
STUDENT TRUANCY
Waukegan High School operates as a closed campus. Students are not to leave the school building at any time during school hours, including lunch periods. Students are also considered truant if they are found loitering in the school building or on school property during school hours when assigned to a class. Any student who must be out of a particular classroom during school hours for any reason should have in his possession an authorized hall pass signed by a staff member or member of the administration. Students who are not following their prescribed schedule of classes and are not in possession of an authorized hall pass will be considered truant. This includes students leaving the school without written authorization during lunch and study hall periods. Students who are habitually truant during the school day may be subject to corrective measures including, but not limited to, detentions, partial loss of credit,removal from class, or removal from the school environment. Intervention with counseling and other student services will occur prior to removal from school.
READMITTANCE TO SCHOOl/CLASS
Students returning to school following an absence should report directly to class. If the Attendance Office received a call excusing the absence, the teachers will have been notified. Students returning to school following an absence for which the Attendance Office has not received a call should also report directly to class. If a student wishes to verify an absence as being excused, it will be the student's responsibility to do so before or after school. Students absent from a particular class period as a result of being detained by a staff member should obtain a pass from the staff member. The pass should be presented to the Attendance Office prior to returning to classes in order to clear the student's attendance record.
MAKE-UP WORK/CREDIT
Students have the right and responsibility to procure assignments and make up all work missed while absent from school. Students absent for reasons identified as UNEXCUSED will have the right to make up all tests and assignments missed at the initiative of the student and within specific time limits set by the teachers. HOWEVER, CREDIT WILL BE GIVEN OR WITHHELD DEPENDING ON THE QUALITY OF WORK AND THE DISCRETION OF THE INDIVIDUAL TEACHER.
STUDENT PARTICIPATION
Students absent from school during the school day shall not be eligible to
participate in school activities such as athletic practices and events, dances, school plays, and club meetings. Such violations could cause the forfeit of an IHSA contest or meet.
ILLNESS/ACCIDENTS
Students who become ill or are involved in a minor accident during the school day should obtain a pass from a teacher and report directly to the school nurse. The nurse, prior to the student leaving, verifies a student who must leave school because of illness or injury. Please note that the school district is not responsible for payment of medical bills due to an injury that has occurred at the school.
STUDENTS ARE NOT TO LEAVE THE SCHOOL GROUNDS UNLESS THE NURSE HAS CONTACTED THE PARENT/GUARDIAN OR PERMISSION HAS BEEN GIVEN BY THE ADMINISTRATION.
PROLONGED ABSENCES
A student who will be absent for an extended period of time due to circumstances beyond the student's control should contact the Attendance Office to make arrangements prior to being absent. Parents/guardians of a student who will be absent for extended periods (three consecutive days or less) due to injury; serious health problems, hospital confinement, or other impending difficulties should contact the Attendance Office each day that the student is absent to keep the school informed of the student's progress. Parents/guardians of students who will be absent for extended periods (four or more consecutive days) should inform the Attendance Office as well as the student's counselor in order to make arrangement for homework assignments. Periods of prolonged absence may require a medical excuse from a physician prior to returning to school, receiving tutorial services, or receiving full credit for assignments completed. A parent/guardian should contact the nurse whenever serious or reoccurring medical problems exist.
ABSENCES DURING SEMESTER EXAMS
Parents/guardians of students absent during final exams should contact the Attendance Office prior to 11 :00 AM on the day of the exam. Students who must be absent during the exam period may ask to take "Early Exams." A request to take early exams should be obtained through the Guidance Office and approved by the administration no less than one week prior to the day of exams. The student is responsible for making arrangements with the individual teachers to take exams prior to or following the exam day. FaHure to do so will result in a failing grade for any examination missed and possible loss of credit.
TARDINESS TO SCHOOL
Parents/guardians of students arriving late to school should contact the Attendance Office prior to the student's arrival at school. Tardiness due to a late bus, weather conditions, illness, or family emergencies that are verified by a parent/guardian will be considered excused, entitling the student the same privileges as an excused absence. Tardiness due to over sleeping, missing the school bus, or wasting time will be considered unexcused. Tardiness due to special circumstances will be determined as excused or unexcused at the discretion of the administration. Habitual tardiness will have a detrimental effect on student progress and may result in disciplinary action as well as loss of credit. Students must report to the Attendance Office so that they are aware of the time of arrival.
TARDINESS TO CLASS
Students have been given an appropriate amount of time (6 minutes) to travel from one class to another during the school day and are expected to arrange their traffic patterns so that they will be in class ready to begin when the class bell rings.
TARDY POLICY
Students will be considered tardy if they are not in their classroom or assigned area at the conclusion of the second bell. Students who are habitually tardy will be subject to disciplinary action by the classroom teacher and dean. Students that accumulate 5-10 detentions for being tardy will be assigned Saturday School. Students who fail to serve Saturday School or accumulate more than 10 unserved detentions may receive in/out of school suspension. Note: 3 tardies = 1 unexcused absence and will fall under the Attendance Policy.
ATTENDANCE AND TARDY POLICY MAY CHANGE PENDING ADMINISTRATION REVIEW AND BOARD APPROVAL.
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