In response to automated calls from our Attendance Office, or for any attendance concerns, please email:

Myrian Fuentes, or
Gabrielle Tomlin

Students are expected to attend classes each day unless they have an excused absence. According to state regulations, absences from school for the following reasons are lawful and shall be excused:

• Death in the immediate family
• Certified illness of the student
• Court summons
• Work or activity accepted by school authorities
• Observance of religious holiday
• Quarantine
• Physical and mental incapacity
• Violent storm
• State emergency

When a student is absent, his or her parent or guardian should call the school at 301-840-4714. The student must also bring a note to the attendance office within three days of his or her return to school. Also, if a student is tardy or needs an early dismissal, the parent or guardian must provide a note to the attendance office.

Required information for all absence/tardy/early dismissal notes:

• Date of note
• Student name and ID number
• Date(s) of absence/tardy/early dismissal
• Reason for absence/tardy/early dismissal
• Parent/Guardian’s name Parent/Guardian’s signature
• Current work and home telephone numbers

NOTE: Absence for vacation is UNEXCUSED.
County policy states: "except when ill or excused, all students have a responsibility to attend their schedule classes…if the student misses 5 or more sessions of one class during a semester due to unexcused absences resulting from truancy or indifference, an "LC" (Loss of Credit) and grade of E2 will be given for all marking periods within the semester, and credit will be denied for the semester."

College Visits

College visits are typically for juniors and seniors. The appropriate grade level administrator must approve a written note regarding college visits at least 5 school days in advance. College visits are limited to 5 days per year.

 

Cutting Class

Students are expected to be in each class for which they are scheduled unless officially excused. Cutting class will result in an unexcused absence and may result in parental contact and disciplinary action. The LC policy will be followed.
Note: Teachers are not obligated to accept missed work when the absence is unexcused.

 

Dismissal from Health Room

Students dismissed from school by the Health Room technician or nurse must sign out in the Attendance Office. Upon departing, student must present the Health Room dismissal slip to the Attendance Office. In return, the Attendance Office will make note on the attendance bulletin. Students who feel ill during the day must report to the Health Room in order to be excused for early departure.

 

Early Dismissal Procedures

Students will be excused for early dismissal only by presenting a note to the Attendance Office before 7:25 am. No student will be excused without a note. Telephone calls requesting early dismissal will not be honored. Student will not be permitted to leave without written confirmation.

 

Excuse Notes

A note from a parent or guardian is required to excuse any absence. A physician’s note may be required for chronic recurring extended absences due to illness. Notes regarding absences must be presented to the Attendance Office within 3 days of returning to school. After 3 days have passed, an absence is coded as unexcused.

 

Late arrival

Students arriving after 7:35 am must sign in at the Attendance Office. A note from a parent/guardian or physician citing an excusable absence is required to excuse any tardy.

 

Loss of Credit

MCPS policy states that students who acquire five (or its weighted equivalent) or more unexcused absences in a semester course will not receive credit for that class. They will earn an "E2". Students who lose credit are still required to attend class and are encouraged to follow the appeal process by submitting the LC appeal form to the teacher within the ten days of official notification.

 

Make-up Work

Upon returning from an absence, students have three days to make-up work missed during the period of absence. Teachers are obligated to assist students in making up work when the absence is excused; however, they are not obligated to accept missed work when the absence is unexcused. It is the students’ responsibility to find out what work they missed and to make arrangements for completion within the three-day time period following their return to school.

 

Tardiness

Students arriving to class more than twenty minutes late will be receive an unexcused absence. Three unexcused tardies or its weighted equivalent constitutes an unexcused absence from that class.

 

NOTE: It is the standard policy of the Attendance Office to verify notes for excusing absences, tardies, and early dismissals by telephoning parents/guardians.