Absences

Lincoln Lutheran places an emphasis on regular and consistent attendance. Research has shown that regular attendance at school promotes educational success and encourages habits which are conducive to post-secondary and career success.

Parents (or legal guardians) are asked to notify the school by phone between 7:30 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. each day their student is absent. If notification by phone is impossible, a note explaining the student's absence must be sent upon the student's return to school. The call or note should include the following information: the student's name, the date(s) of the absence, the reason for the absence, and the identity of the parent notifying the school. In the case of a note, a daytime phone number for the parent should also be included so the office can verify the note, if needed.

At parent request, homework assignments will be made available at the end of the school day (3:45) for students who are absent for two or more consecutive days.

Excused Absence

Excused absences will be issued for the following reasons: personal illness, family emergencies, medical appointments, death in the family, prearranged absence through the office, and emergencies cleared through the office. Absences can be prearranged by note, phone call or e-mail office@lincolnlutheran.org. The student is responsible for making arrangements with their teachers to make up any work or exams missed in advance (if possible). Families are encouraged to avoid scheduling medical appointments during school hours. Families are also encouraged to avoid scheduling appointments consistently at the same time of the day. Students are eligible to receive credit for work missed due to an excused absence. Excused absences do count towards a student's overall absence totals.

Unexcused - Truancy

Missing school for any of the following reasons: oversleeping, missing a ride, conducting any kind of business that could be taken care of outside of school hours, staying home to study, working at a job, and failure to provide a note/phone call is considered truancy.

Lincoln Lutheran recognizes parents can request and/or give permission for their students to miss school for a variety of special reasons. Because absences affect both the individual student's education and the classroom environment (group work, etc.), the Lincoln Lutheran Administration reserves the right to make the final decision when classifying an absence as excused or unexcused. This would include any absences.

A student who is unexcused/truant will not receive credit for work missed and will forfeit the opportunity to make up tests or assignments. Arriving to any class more than 15 minutes late is considered an absence. Students may also face consequences according to the behavior guidelines. Repeated truancy can lead to suspension, and if continued, to expulsion. Parents will be notified whenever a student is truant.

 

Attendance Requirement for Participation in Practices or Activities

Students who are unable to arrive at school by 5th period due to illness may not participate or practice in a school activity that day.

Prearranged Absences

The policy of prearranged absence; for example a family trip, involves the completion of the following:
1. Notification from parents at least ONE WEEK PRIOR TO the absence, if possible.
2. Homework is to be made up before the absence, when possible. Assignment completion not arranged before the absence may be considered as "late" at the discretion of the teacher.
3. These absences are counted in the "twelve general absences policy" (see Course Credit p. 8).

Closed Campus

The Lincoln Lutheran campus is closed (students may not leave without permission) throughout the school day to all students except seniors. Seniors may leave campus during ASP or during their lunch period (seniors may establish appropriate "open-lunch" rules as a class each fall, with approval from the Administration, before being allowed to leave the campus during their lunch period). Any underclassmen who desire to eat lunch off-campus for special occasions must provide a parent note to the office at the beginning of the school day and must be accompanied by a parent to lunch.

College Visits

It is preferred that students make college and/or university visits on vacation days. However, if an invitation is received from a college or university for a specific purpose or for a set day of orientation or information, such absence will be considered an excused special absence. The student should work with the Guidance Counselor and their teachers to arrange for make-up work before they leave school.

Course Credit

Regular attendance is expected of all LL students. Any student who misses more than 12 days in a class in one semester stands to forfeit credit in that class. If a student is a member of a group involved in a school activity, the absence will not count towards the accumulated total. All other absences, excused or unexcused, will count towards a student's overall totals. A letter will be mailed to the parent(s) and a conference will be held with the student at the 7th absence to keep all informed. A student who exceeds the 12-day limit may petition the Academic Appeals Committee to have credit restored.

Tardies

Students will be considered tardy if they arrive at school after the designated starting time (normally 8:00). Students who arrive to any class more than 15 minutes late, will be counted as absent for that period. Tardies to all classes will be monitored by the individual teacher. Each student will be allowed two forgiven tardies per quarter in each class. Consequences for accumulating three tardies or more in any one class will result in the following:

1-2 Forgiven
3-4 Single Detention (See Detentions)
5-6 Double Detention (See Detentions)
7+ Saturday Detention (At the cost of $30 to pay for monitor-See Detentions)