1.0) ATTENDANCE REGULATIONS
1.1) Admission Requirements:
1.1.1) Minimum Age:
A child shall be eligible for admission into kindergarten at the beginning of the school year if the child is five years of age or will be five years of age on or before October 15 of the current school year.
The board of education may admit a child who will reach the age of five between October 16 and February 1 of the current school year if the parent or guardian requests such entrance and provides an affidavit stating that (a) the child attended kindergarten in another jurisdiction in the current school year or (b) the family anticipates a relocation to another jurisdiction would allow admission within the current year. Early admission based on ability assessment reports is not permitted.
A child shall be eligible to enter first grade at the beginning of the school year if the child has not attended kindergarten but is six years of age or will be six years of age on or before October 15 of the current school year, and school officials determine that such grade level is the appropriate placement for the child.
1.1.2) Graduates:
A student who has received a high school diploma or received a General Equivalency Diploma shall not be eligible for admission or continued enrollment.
1.1.3) Age 21:
A student shall not be admitted or continued in enrollment after the end of the school year in which the student reaches the age of 21. The school year for this purpose ends at the last day of instruction for graduating seniors.
1.1.4) Birth Certificate, Physical, and Immunization:
BEFORE A STUDENT WILL BE ENROLLED the parents or legal guardian shall furnish:
(1) A certified copy of the student’s birth certificate issued by the state in which the child was born, prior to admission of a child for the first time. Other reliable proof of the child’s identity
and age, accompanied by an affidavit explaining the inability to produce a copy of the birth certificate, may be used in lieu of a birth certificate. An affidavit is defined as a notarized statement by an individual who can verify the reason a copy of the birth certificate cannot be produced.
(2) Evidence of a physical examination by a physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner, within six months prior to the entrance of the child into the beginner grade and the seventh
grade or, in the case of a transfer from out of state, to any other grade.
(3) Evidence of protection against measles, mumps, rubella, poliomyelitis, diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus, and other diseases as required by applicable law, by immunization, prior to enrollment, unless the parent or legal guardian submits a written statement refusing immunization or meets other exceptions established by law.
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1.2) Mandatory Attendance Provisions:
Research of schools find that irregularity in attendance among students is the most frequent cause of failure; consequently, laws and regulations have been passed stating that all students of school age shall attend school unless excused by the school.
Furthermore, schools have found that maximum benefit may be gained for all students only if regular attendance is attained in each individual class. Classroom instruction of a continual and cumulative nature is impossible in the classroom without regular attendance of its members. Schools have found it necessary to pass regulations insuring such a manner that students acquire satisfactory school performance. Also, a proper class attitude toward learning is possible only if each class is composed of members who attend class sessions regularly; thus, pressure is not applied for some to pursue other interests during scheduled class sessions.
The responsibility for regular attendance at school as stated by the Nebraska law and by the policies of Scribner-Snyder High School rests with the parent but, the law is equally specific that the school is the only one who may excuse a student from attending school . Parents may ask to have a student excused but only the school may grant the excuse.
1.2.1) Mandatory Ages of Attendance:
The mandatory ages of attendances for truancy purposes are as follows: For the 2004-2005 school year (that is, prior to July 1, 2005), the mandatory ages of attendance are age 7 to 18. For the 2005-2006 school year (that is, after July 1, 2005), the mandatory ages of attendance are age 6 (as of January 1 of the then-current school year) to age 18.
Attendance is also not mandatory for a child who has reached the age of 6 years of age prior to January 1 of the then-current school year, but will not reach age 7 prior to January 1 of such school year, if the child’s parent or guardian has signed and filed with the school district in which the child resides an affidavit stating either: (1) that the child is participation in an education program that the parent or guardian believes will prepare the child to enter grade one for the following school year; or (2) that the parent or guardian intends for the child to participate in a school which has elected or will elect pursuant to law not to meet accreditation or approval requirements and the parent or guardian intends to provide the Commissioner of Education with a statement pursuant to section 79-1601(3) on or before the child’s seventh birthday.
Attendance is also not mandatory for a child who: (1) has obtained a high school diploma by meeting statutory graduation requirements; (2) has completed the program of instruction offered by a school which elects pursuant to law not to meet accreditation or approval requirements; (3) has reached the age of 16 years and such child’s parent or guardian has signed a notarized release discontinuing the enrollment of the child on a form provided by the school; or (4) has reached the age of 16 as of July 16, 2004.
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1.2.2)Reporting And Responding To Truant Behavior:
Any administrator, teacher, or member of the board of education who knows of any failure on the part of any child of mandatory school attendance age to attend school regularly without lawful reason, except for those for hall within three days report such violation to the superintendent. The superintendent shall immediately cause an investigation into any such report to be made. The superintendent shall also investigate any case when of his or her personal knowledge, or by report or complaint from any resident of the district, the superintendent believes that any child is unlawfully absent from school. The school shall render all services in its power to compel such child to attend some public, private, denominational, or parochial school, which the person having control of the child shall designate, in an attempt to remediate the child’s truant behavior. Such services shall include, as appropriate, the services listed under the “Excessive Absenteeism” and “Reporting Habitual Truancy” policies.
1.2.3) Reporting Habitual Truancy:
Students of mandatory attendance age who accumulate twenty (20) absences per year shall be deemed to be habitually truant. If the student continues to be or becomes habitually truant, the principal shall serve a written notice to the person violating Neb.Rev.Stat. §79-201, (i.e., the person who has legal or active charge or control of the student) warning him or her to comply with the provisions of that statute. If within one week after the time such notice is given such person is still violating the school attendance laws or policies, the principal shall file a report with the county attorney of the county in which such person resides.
1.2.4)Discontinuance Of Enrollment For Children Younger Than Six Years Of Age:
Any person with legal or actual charge or control of a child younger than six years of age prior to the then-current school year, who is enrolled in this school district, may discontinue the enrollment of such child by submitting a written notification to the Superintendent or the Superintendent’s designee, indicating that child’s name, date of birth, grade level and effective date of discontinuation of enrollment. The notification must be in writing and on a form provided by or acceptable to the Superintendent or the Superintendent’s designee containing all information required herein. The form must be dated and signed by a parent or person with legal or actual charge or control of the child. The school district may request written verification or documentation of the person’s authority to un-enroll the child. Upon receipt of required written form and any other required information or documentation, the school district shall note discontinuance of the enrollment on its official records pursuant to state law. Any child un-enrolled shall not be eligible to re-enroll in this school district until commencement of the next school year, or until the child reaches the age of six prior to the then-current school year, whichever occurs earlier. Any person signing a request for discontinuation of enrollment, acknowledges this policy, procedure and the requirement thereof, and expressly agrees thereto.
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All absences, except those for which the school assumes sponsorship, will be recorded as such regardless of reason. If you have an absence which falls under any item described in “Excused Absences” or “Medical Appointments”, a written excuse from home must be given to the office for a permit to get back into class. All other absences shall be considered unexcused and will be handled as herein described. It is important to note that anytime a student misses school other than for a school activity it is recorded as an absence, excused or unexcused. A teacher will not permit a student who was absent the day previous to enter class without an admit slip.
After five (5) absences notice will be given to the student informing him/her of the number of absences. When a student has reached seven (7) absences, the student as well as the parent will receive a letter informing him/her of the actions taken.
A student exceeding seven (7) days absences within a semester will be subject to the following:
The student is placed on the ineligibility list and the amount of time missed from class will be made up in detention. The student will be taken off of the ineligibility list when the time to be made up is completed.
Any student later than 20 minutes for a class will be considered absent by the office.
An excused absence is one in which the student is absent because of illness, a medical appointment, participation in a school sponsored activity, and absences which have been requested on a prior basis with the approval of the school principal.
The list below is not meant to be a complete or exhaustive list or as acceptable in all situations, but one that may apply in most cases. Changes or additions are at the discretion of the principal. These would be generally accepted excuses for absence:
Students will have 2 school days to make up each day’s assignments if the absence is excused.
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1.3.2) Unexcused Absences:
Absences not meeting the above criteria are considered unexcused; essentially this type of absence is truancy. Students that have been truant from school will not be permitted to make up work missed.
Below is a general list of excuses that will not be accepted for missing school by students. Infrequently, there could be extenuating circumstances where the principal exercises discretionary authority in making exceptions. A special occasion could also be of such nature that additional excuses could be included with this list of unexcused absences. These are generally unacceptable excuse for absences:
Any time a student arrives at school after truancy, leaving school without permission, forged excuses, or any situation in which the administration does not recognize the validity of the excuse for absence, will be counted as an unexcused absence. Disciplinary action is as follows:
1 st Offense: The student will make up the time the student was absent from school.
2 nd Offense: Same as the 1 st offense and the student will be suspended in-school for three (3)
days and readmitted to school only after a conference between the student’s
parents and the principal.
3 rd Offense: The student will be subject to expulsion from school for the semester, pending a hearing.
On any absence past 10 days in a semester the student will receive a 0 (zero) grade and will not be allowed to make up work missed. If a student has a severe illness, prolonged hospitalization, or unusual circumstances then this rule could be waived by the administration.
The student is required to report to the office upon returning to school after any absence. Unless prior notification was made the student will need a note that includes the day, date, reason for the absence, and parent’s signature. The student will receive a make-up slip that is to be presented to all teachers of classes missed. Teachers will note assignments on the make-up slip and initial. The make-up slip will be kept by the teacher in the last period of the day for which the slip is written.
Students failing to provide the office with a written excuse or phone call from the parent will receive a detention to be served that day. If parental notification is not made by the following day the absence will be UNEXCUSED.
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Unexcused tardiness to class disrupts the educational process for both you and the class. It is considered an indication of a lack of self-discipline, a characteristic that if allowed to continue will have adverse effects on the student’s educational development. Classroom interruptions and unnecessary repetition of instruction impede progress in classroom endeavors; thus, it is mandatory that students be present at the beginning of the class period.
Students are tardy to school if they are not in the assigned classes or study halls at the beginning of each half-day of school. Students are tardy to class if they are not in the classroom in assigned seats when the bell rings to begin the period.
If it is necessary for a teacher to hold a student after the bell has rung, that teacher will issue a pass for the student for his/her next class and will be considered excused. All other tardiness from previous classes will be classified as unexcused by the instructor of the class for which the student is tardy and will serve a 10 min detention that day after school with the teacher.
Students who are tardy when arriving at school for the first time during the day are to go the principal’s office to receive a tardy slip for admission to class or study hall.
Students who are tardy for the first period of the day or the first period after lunch will serve 15 minutes on the first offense and 30 minutes in detention for each subsequent incident.
A STUDENT WHO IS MORE THAN 20 MINUTES LATE FOR ANY CLASS WILL BE CONSIDERED ABSENT.
1.5) Medical Appointments:
If at all possible, medical appointments should be arranged so that the student is not taken out of the classroom. Students who are not able to arrange an appointment out of school time must acquire a BLUE SLIP from the office, have all teachers involved initial, and turned back into the office before they leave the building. If the appointments are arranged so that it is impossible to attain prior approval, the principal’s office should be contacted before the start of the school day. PLEASE BE AWARE THAT MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS COUNT AS ABSENCES ON YOUR ATTENDANCE RECORD.
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Students who return to school after an absence must stop at the principal's office and pick up a make up slip. The makeup slip is our way of communicating between the student and teacher exactly what work is to be made up. The admit slip must be signed by each of the student's current classroom teachers. A student, for an excused absence, will be given two days for each day of absence in which to complete the make-up work. If not completed in this time, the student can receive no credit for the work. A teacher may choose to extend this deadline, but is not required to do so.
If a student is absent on the day of a quiz or test, the student shall make-up the test the day he/she returns to school if he/she had previous knowledge as to the date for the quiz or test.
Make up slips will be given to the last teacher of the day and will be returned to the office via absent slip pickup.
1.7) Blue Slips:
In cases where students know ahead of time that they will be absent for something other than a school sponsored activity it is important that a note be brought to the principal’s office or a phone call be made explaining the reason for the pending absence. Students will then be given a BLUE SLIP. This is to be signed by each teacher and must be turned in to the office before the time of the absence. Work assigned may be required to be made up prior to the absence if designated by the Principal.
The Scribner-Snyder High School operates on a closed campus basis. Under no circumstances is a student to leave the building during the school day without first obtaining permission from the office and signing out at the office counter. The student must report to the office and sign in upon returning to the building. Failure to sign out could be considered "unexcused." The first time it occurs the student will serve double the time gone or 200 minutes (whichever is the greater amount) in detention. The second offense will result in a three-day in-school suspension and double the time gone or 200 minutes (whichever is the greater amount) in detention. The third offense the student will be subject to expulsion from school. Excuses from home to leave must be approved by the principal before the student leaves.
Seniors are encouraged to visit colleges and schools that offer advance education in the field of endeavor they are seeking. All visits must be scheduled through the guidance counselor and approved by the principal. BLUE SLIPS must be obtained after all arrangements have been made. We will need verification of the school to be visited, admission counselor you are meeting, and departure time before a blue slip is tendered. These college visitations are to be scheduled during the holidays and teacher in-service days when possible. By arranging these meetings in advance it is possible to visit a couple of schools in a day. COLLEGE VISITATION DAYS ARE COUNTED AS AN ABSENCE ON YOUR ATTENDANCE RECORD.
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It is the recommendation of the Scribner-Snyder Community School that all family vacations be scheduled so as not to interfere with students' school attendance. All class assignments that may be asked for during a vacation period that takes a student out of school will be completed prior to a student leaving for the vacation, unless arrangements are made with the teacher. THE TIME AWAY FROM SCHOOL IS COUNTED AGAINST THE STUDENT'S ATTENDANCE DAYS.
1.11) Detention List:
When an office detention is given the student is put on this list. Privileges of activity participation, passing privileges, library, and computer use will be suspended until time is made up. When time is made up the student’s name will be taken off the list and privileges restored.
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