Student Attendance

Regular attendance and promptness are essential to a student’s academic career and social development. Therefore, each student is expected to attend school daily unless there are serious reasons to the contrary. In order to ensure that students understand that their education is a top priority, the following absence, dismissal and tardiness policies are hereby to be followed by students and parents alike.

Attendance Notification Program
If a parent/guardian fails to notify the school of an absence, students who are absent from school will receive an automated phone message informing parents/guardians of the student absence.  Students who accumulate five or more unexcused absences, or who miss two or more periods unexcused in at least five days in a school year, will receive written notification of such absences.  Parents/guardians will be given the opportunity to meet with the Principal, or designee, to discuss an action plan for student attendance.  Additional notifications may be sent as necessary.

Elementary Absences

Absences, Notes, and Calls
It is important that a student acquires the habit of regular attendance. Parents/guardians are encouraged to promote good attendance and to refrain from making plans, which will interrupt the educational process.  When parents request assignments for absentees, they understand that this work will not replace a full day of teacher classroom instruction.  A large percentage of elementary instruction consists of oral work and classroom participation.

When a student is absent, parents should call the school’s main office number and leave a message.  If a parent or student has any questions or concerns regarding any attendance issues, they should speak to the Assistant Principal. For absences of five (5) days or more, students must bring a doctor’s note upon return. Upon receipt of acceptable documentation, the school may excuse lateness, absences and dismissals for the following reasons: medical/dental appointment, funeral, legal appointment, religious holiday, and at the discretion of the Principal/Assistant Principal.  All other absences are considered unexcused.

Dismissal From School
Emergencies and other unforeseen circumstances may require early dismissal.  If parents wish to pick children up from school, they are requested to notify the school in writing.  Parents who pick up their children during the school day or prior to regular dismissal are required to sign the student out in the office.  Dismissals for medical, dental, legal appointments, religious holidays, or to attend a funeral are excused dismissals from school.  All other dismissals are unexcused.

Tardy Procedure
Students arriving after the opening bell stated under school hours are considered tardy and must report directly to the main office.  Students who are tardy to school are recorded as “excused tardy,” or “unexcused tardy” and this appears on the daily attendance report. For a tardy to be “excused”, the student must have had a medical/dental appointment, legal appointment, or a funeral and provide acceptable documentation.  Parent notes will only excuse a tardy due to a funeral.

Students who accumulate four (4) or more tardies in any one term will receive written notification from school administration.  Tardies for medical, dental, legal appointments, or to attend a funeral are excused tardies.  All other tardies are unexcused.

Hanover Middle School Absences

Absences, Notes, and Call
In order to be marked present, a student must be in school until 11:00 a.m.  Any student dismissed before 11 a.m. or tardy after 11:00 a.m. will be marked absent for that day. For early release days, students must arrive in school before the beginning of period three in order to be eligible to participate in any extra-curricular, sports or co-curricular activity that day. Students who are marked absent any day will NOT be allowed to participate in any extra-curricular or co-curricular activity that day. A student who is tardy and dismissed on the same day without a valid excuse will not be allowed to participate in extra-curricular, sports or co-curricular activities on that day. 

When a student is absent, parents should call the school’s main number (781-871-1122, option 4) and leave a message. If a parent or student has any questions or concerns regarding any attendance issues, they should speak to the Assistant Principal. For absences of five (5) days or more, students must bring a doctor’s note upon return. Upon receipt of acceptable documentation, the school may excuse lateness, absences and dismissals for the following reasons: medical/dental appointment, funeral, legal appointment, religious holiday, and at the discretion of the Principal/Assistant Principal.

Absence From School
Daily
Consistent attendance is vital for educational success. There are times due to illness or family emergencies that a student may be absent. A student must never be absent without parent/guardian permission. Absent students are responsible for having their parents/guardians call the Middle School Main Office (781-871-1122, option 4) before 9:15 a.m. on those days that an absence occurs. Parents are asked to explain the reason for the absence. Parents/guardians who do not call the Middle School Main Office to verify an absence will be called during the day to confirm their child’s absence. Parents who speak directly with school personnel will not need to present a note of explanation stating the reason for the absence.

Planned
Parents must contact the Principal to discuss any plans for extended absences. The Principal will determine if it is an excused or unexcused absence. A student returning to school from an extended absence must be actively involved in completing work missed during the absence. The timeframe for completion of such work will be the length of the absence plus one day.

Chronic
Students who accumulate more than 20 unexcused absences in a full year must meet with their parents and the administration to develop an attendance plan going forward. Students will be issued a written warning at the 10 and 15 day mark for full year courses.

Absence Due To Field Trips
Any assignment due the day of a field trip must be submitted prior to leaving on the field trip. Any assignment to be made up as a result of the field trip will be due the next day. A student must be on time in order to go on a field trip later in the same school day.

Absence From Class
Any unauthorized or deliberate absence from class is a major infraction of the Code of Conduct. Students will not be allowed to make up any missed class work, tests or quizzes for a class cut or truancy.

Attendance In School
Daily attendance is taken in homeroom. A student who fails to report to homeroom is marked absent for the day. A student who is late to school is expected to report to the office.  

Dismissal From School
Students may leave the building during school hours only with permission from the nurse or administration.  Any dismissal due to illness must be issued by the school nurse and recorded on the dismissal sheet in the Main Office. Any student who is dismissed due to illness at anytime during the school day cannot participate in co-curricular or extra-curricular activities that day.  If a student wishes to be excused for reasons other than illness, he/she must bring a note to the Main Office at the start of the school day, signed by the parent/guardian, giving the date, reason for dismissal, and the parent/guardian must come in and sign the student out.  Only authorized individuals will be allowed to dismiss students.

If a student has a doctor or dental appointment, the student should be sent to school first since most appointments are not until after 8:00 A.M.  The student will be dismissed from school for the appointment and will return to school after the appointment.  Being dismissed in this manner, the student is neither tardy nor absent, and the student is in class as much as possible.  Failure to follow any aspect of the dismissal procedure will result in a consequence detailed in the Code of Conduct.

Tardy Procedure
Tardiness to School
Students must report to homeroom by 7:40 a.m.  Any student who arrives to school after 7:40 must report to the main office.  The staff member in the main office will record the time the student reports and mark the student as tardy.  The student will be given a pass to either homeroom or scheduled class depending on the time of arrival.  Students who are tardy to school are recorded as “excused tardy,” or “unexcused tardy” and this appears on the daily attendance report. For a tardy to be “excused”, the student must have had a medical/dental appointment, legal appointment, or a funeral and provide acceptable documentation.  Parent notes will only excuse a tardy due to a funeral. The Assistant Principal will verify this documentation. A parent or guardian must contact the Assistant Principal if s/he feels that there are any extenuating circumstances for the “unexcused tardy.” After the Assistant Principal completes his/her investigation with the parent/guardian, it is at the discretion of the Assistant Principal whether or not to excuse the tardy. Students who accumulate three tardies per term will receive a tardy letter.  Students will receive an office detention for every four tardies and a Saturday detention for five tardies in one term.  If tardiness continues, the Hanover Police and Hingham District Court may be requested to intervene. 

Tardiness to Class
Students tardy to class are expected to produce a pass from the previous teacher.  Failure to produce a pass may result in the assignment of a teacher after-school session. If tardiness to class becomes a chronic issue, the teacher will contact the parent and may make a referral for administrative intervention.

Truancy
From Class: Truancy is the unauthorized absence from any class or the school day. Initial truancy from any class will result in a conference with the student and Assistant Principal; the student will be assigned one office detention up to one extended detention.  A second incident from any class will result in two extended detentions.  A third incident from any class and all subsequent incidents will result in an in-school suspension.  Parents will be notified by mail. 

From School: Students truant from school will be subject to the following: First Truancy: Student will receive three extended detentions. Parents will be notified. Two or more Truancies: The student will receive three extended detentions and an administrative conference with parent will be held.

Hanover High School Absences

Absences, Notes, and Calls
In order to be eligible for extra-curricular, sports or co-curricular activities that day, a student must be in school until 1:00 p.m.  Any student dismissed before 1:00 p.m. or tardy after 9:45 a.m. will not be able to participate in extra-curricular, sports or co-curricular activities that day. For early release days, students must arrive in school before the beginning of period three (9:10 a.m.) in order to be eligible to participate in any extra-curricular, sports or co-curricular activity that day. Students who are marked absent any day will NOT be allowed to participate in any extra-curricular or co-curricular activity that day. A student who is tardy and dismissed on the same day without a valid excuse will not be allowed to participate in extra-curricular, sports or co-curricular activities on that day. 

When a student is absent, parents should call the school’s main number (781-878-5450) and leave a message. If a parent or student has any questions or concerns regarding any attendance issues, they should speak to the Associate Principal. For absences of five (5) days or more, students must bring a doctor’s note upon return. Upon receipt of acceptable documentation, the school may excuse lateness, absences and dismissals for the following reasons: medical/dental appointment, funeral, court appearance or legal appointment, driver’s license, college visitation [maximum of three (3) per year], religious holiday and at the discretion of the Principal/Associate Principal.

Absence From School
Daily
Consistent attendance is vital for educational success. There are times due to illness or family emergencies that a student may be absent. A student must never be absent without parent/guardian permission. Absent students are responsible for having their parents/guardians call the High School Main Office (781-878-5450) before 9:15 a.m. on those days that an absence occurs. Parents are asked to explain the reason for the absence. Parents/guardians who do not call the High School Main Office to verify an absence will be called during the day to confirm their child’s absence. Parents who speak directly with school personnel will not need to present a note of explanation stating the reason for the absence.

Planned
Parents must contact the Principal to discuss any plans for extended absences. The Principal will determine if it is an excused or unexcused absence. A student returning to school from an extended absence must be actively involved in completing work missed during the absence. The timeframe for completion of such work will be the length of the absence plus one day.

Chronic
Students who accumulate more than 20 unexcused absences in a full year course or 10 unexcused absences in a half-year course will lose credit for the course. Students will be issued a written warning at the 10 and 15 day mark for full year courses and at the 5 and 8 day mark for half year courses.

Absence Due To Field Trips
Any assignment due the day of a field trip must be submitted prior to leaving on the field trip. Any assignment to be made up as a result of the field trip will be due the next day. All students who participate in a school-sponsored field trip MUST submit a signed official field trip form prior to departure on the trip. A student must be on time in order to go on a field trip later in the same school day.

Absence From Class
Any unauthorized or deliberate absence from class is a major infraction of the Code of Conduct. Students will not be allowed to make up any missed class work, tests or quizzes for a class cut or truancy.

Attendance In School
Daily attendance is taken in first period. A student who fails to report to first period is marked absent for the day. A student who is late to school is expected to report to the office for a tardy slip. Failure to report to the office for a tardy slip will result in two office detentions.

Dismissal From School
Students are not permitted to leave school grounds at any time during the school day without a note from a parent/guardian and approval from the Main Office. Any dismissal due to illness must be issued by the school nurse and recorded on the dismissal sheet in the Main Office. Any student who is dismissed due to illness at anytime during the school day cannot participate in co-curricular or extra-curricular activities that day.  The appropriate administrator must approve any other dismissals. All dismissal notes must be turned in to the Main Office before school begins and must include a telephone number where a parent/guardian can be reached during the day.  If a contact number has been omitted and the parent/guardian cannot be reached, the student may not leave school. All students who are dismissed early must report to the Main Office and sign out before leaving the building. Failure to follow any aspect of the dismissal procedure will result in a consequence detailed in the Code of Conduct.

Tardiness to School
Students must report to class at 7:55 a.m.  Any student who arrives to school after 7:55 a.m. must report to the main office.  The staff member in the main office will record the time the student reports and mark the student as tardy.  The staff member will sign the student’s passbook so that the student can be admitted to class.  Students who are tardy to school are recorded as “excused tardy,” or “unexcused tardy” and this appears on the daily attendance report. For a tardy to be “excused”, the student must have had a medical/dental appointment, legal appointment, court appointment, college visit (up to 3 per year), driver license or permit appointment, or a funeral and provide acceptable documentation.  Parent notes will only excuse a tardy due to a funeral. The Associate Principal will verify this documentation. A parent or guardian must contact the Associate Principal if s/he feels that there are any extenuating circumstances for the “unexcused tardy.” After the Associate Principal completes his/her investigation with the parent/guardian, it is at the discretion of the Associate Principal whether or not to excuse the tardy. Students tardy to school and arriving after 8:18 a.m. will be considered to have cut the class if the tardy is unexcused.  On a quarterly basis, when a student has unexcused tardies numbering 3-5, an office detention will be assigned.  On a quarterly basis, when a student reaches 6 or more unexcused tardies, an extended detention will be assigned.

Tardiness to Class
Students tardy to class after first period will be accepted into the room and a teacher detention will be assigned. If tardiness to class becomes a chronic issue, the Associate Principal will become involved via an incident report form.

Truancy
From Class: Truancy is the unauthorized absence from any class or the school day. Initial truancy from any class will result in a conference with the student and Associate Principal; the student will be assigned one extended detention.  A second incident from any class will result in two extended detentions.  A third incident from any class and all subsequent incidents will result in three extended detentions.  Parents will be notified by mail. 

From School: Students truant from school will be subject to the following: First Truancy: Student will receive three extended detentions. Parents will be notified. Two or more Truancies: The student will receive three extended detentions and an administrative conference with parent will be held.