Whitman High School Attendance Policy
Please call the Attendance Office if a student will be absent from school.
The attendance secretary can be reached at 301-320-6576.
General Rules:
- Students must attend all scheduled classes daily.
- Students who arrive after the warning bell must sign in at the Attendance Office and receive an Admittance Slip before going to class.
- Students requesting early dismissal must obtain an Early Departure Form from the Attendance Office. Every student issued an Early Departure Form must sign out at the Attendance Office when leaving the building and sign in upon returning.
- A note from a parent/guardian is required to excuse any absence. A physician's note is required for medical appointments during the school day and for any absence of five (5) or more days due to illness.
- Notes regarding absences must be presented at the Attendance Office within three (3) days of returning to school.
- Missing twenty (20) minutes of any class constitutes an absence from that class.
- Three (3) unexcused tardies in a class constitute an unexcused absence in that class.
- Five (5) unexcused absences from a class result in a loss of credit (LC) for the course.
- Students who anticipate being absent should bring a note to the Attendance Office one week prior to the day of their absence, i.e., college visits, school-related activities, etc.
- Students who participate in school sports must turn in notes 24 hours prior to each pre-approved absence, early departure or late arrival.
Early Departure Procedures
Students will be excused for early departure only by presenting a note to the Attendance Office. For security purposes, no student will be excused without a note.
All students must sign out in the Attendance Office in order for the absence
to be excused. If medical appointments must be made during school hours,
a doctor's note must be presented when signing back in. All notes must be
written
in ink and include:
Student's full name (printed)
Student's ID number
Date and time of early departure
Reason for early departure
Parent's/guardian's work and home telephone numbers
Parent's/guardian's signature or
Student's signature if an "Age of Majority" form is on file.
Upon returning, the student must sign in at the Attendance Office and exchange the Early Departure Form for an Admittance Slip. The student must present this form to the teacher whose class he/she is entering. Students are responsible for making up all class work and assignments missed as a result of early departures.
Students who leave school without permission and without signing out will be marked as unexcused for classes missed.
Excused Absences/Lawful Absences
The State of Maryland regards the following as lawful absences from school:
- Illness of student
- Death in immediate family
- Court summons
- Religious Observances
- Violent/hazardous weather
- Emergencies designated by Superintendent of Schools
- State emergency
- Work or other activity accepted by school authorities (see "Excused Absences-Special Exceptions" )
Excused Absences - Special Exceptions: The Principal may excuse certain absences for school or work-related activities, provided a parent/guardian submits a written request at least one week prior to the absence. Included are:
- Participation in activities sponsored or approved by MCPS, county or state agencies.
- Visits to colleges and participation in college orientation programs.
- Work hours in cooperative education programs.
For more information, contact the Attendance Office at 301-320-6576.
Loss of Credit (LC)
If a student loses credit in a course an E2 will be given in place of a
course grade for all marking periods within that semester. Credit will
be denied
for the semester unless the student successfully petitions the teacher
in writing
for credit reinstatement. A student who has lost credit in a class
should see his/her counselor regarding the right to petition for restoration
of course
credit and the procedure for doing so.
Students who lose credit for a course are required to continue attending
course classes.
Notes Excusing Absences
A note from a parent/guardian and/or physician/dentist citing a lawful
reason for absence is required to excuse any absence including
medical/dental appointments.
A physician's note is required for medical appointments during
the school day and for any absence of five (5) or more days due to illness.
All
absences are
considered unexcused until a student presents a note signed by
a
parent/guardian or physician. The student is responsible for bringing
the note to the
Attendance Office. All notes must be written in pen.