Page 12 - CMH 2018-2019 Student Handbook

the school’s voice mail system is set up to take calls before the attendance assistant arrives. Information
given to the answering machine or attendance assistant should include the student’s name, grade, and the
reason for the absence.
A student returning from an absence, no matter the length or reason, must report to the attendance
officer with verification from a parent/guardian giving the specific reason for the absence. The student
will be given an admit slip to return to classes. Students should take care of this business in the attendance
office before the 7:20 warning bell rings.
ATHLETIC PARTICIPATION
Athletes who wish to participate in a practice or game on any given day, MUST be in attendance for the
majority of the day. They must enter by 11:00 a.m. and may not be released before 11:30 a.m.
EXTENDED ABSENCES
A tentative school calendar is enclosed in this handbook to help avoid absences due to travel or family va-
cations. Please refer to the official school calendar on MyCMH. The following procedures to report extended
absences should be followed:
1. The parent, not the student, should contact the Attendance Office, using the Vacation Request form
found on MyCMH, at least two weeks before the intended absence;
2. An assignment form will be given to the student whose responsibility it is to see that it is completed by
all teachers and returned to the office one week in advance of departure. Copies will be given to the
student and filed in the office.
Ordinarily, no examinations missed because of travel or family vacations may be made up. All students are
expected to be present for final exams on the scheduled days.
LATE ARRIVAL
A student who arrives late to school must report immediately to the office. He/she will receive an admit
slip. Oversleeping, missing the bus, needing to stop for gas, etc., are not valid excuses for being tardy. The
total number of days tardy or absent will be recorded on the quarterly report card. (See page 14 on Tardiness).
STUDENT RELEASES
Students should not be released from school during unscheduled classes such as study hall. Students are
expected to attend all activities as part of their school day, including Masses, prayer services, programs, and
other activities directed by CMH. On days when liturgies and / or assemblies are scheduled during regular
school hours, no telephoned releases will be honored. To be released, a student must bring a note signed
by a parent that states the specific reason for the release. This note must be presented to the attendance
officer by 9:00 A.M. The student will then receive a release form. Upon returning to the campus, students
report to the office. The time of return will be put on the release slip, which serves as a pass back to class.
If, in an emergency, a parent must call in a release, the parent must contact the Attendance Office prior to
the student leaving the building. Students must always check in and out of the office when released.
TRUANCY
Statute 118.16 of Wisconsin Legal Code mandates that students are to attend school regularly during the full
period and hours that school is in session until such time as the student attains the age of 18 or completes
the requirements for graduation. The code states, “Truancy means any absence of one or more days from
school during which the school attendance officer or principal has not been notified of the legal cause of such
absence by the parent or guardian of the absent pupil… ‘Habitual truant’ means a pupil who is absent from
school without an acceptable excuse…for either of the following:
1. Part or all of 5 or more days out of 10 consecutive days on which school is held during a school semester.
2. Part or all of 10 or more days on which school is held during a school semester.
The legislature has extended the school attendance enforcement (Statute 118.16) to include penalties for
parents who do not prevent a child’s truancy. Parents of students who are suspected of truancy will be
notified by the school and investigated by the appropriate civil authorities.
APPOINTMENTS
Every effort should be made to schedule appointments with dentists, doctors, etc., during times
when school is not in session. If this is not possible, students should present a parental note stating the
specific type of appointment and time the student is to be allowed to leave school. The student should check
back into school after his / her appointment by reporting to the office for an admit slip.