102 people

absence

irregular attendance

fire drills

POLICIES:

Please call if a student will be absent. 
The first day a student returns from an absence, she/he should bring a written note with the information as listed below.   

Students must attend each of their regularly scheduled classes unless officially excused. Attendance is taken in every class each period throughout the school day. Teachers will report the names of students who were absent from classes to the attendance office or designee. The attendance office will review the list of absentees, and disciplinary action will take place for those with irregular attendance. Students will be held accountable for attendance at Whitman.

ABSENCE

1. Absent from school- When a student is absent from school, the parent/guardian should call the Attendance Office (252.1204) to inform the school of the absence, or the parent/guardian may send a note with the student including the following information when he/she returns to school:

a. Student name in full, especially if it is different from that of the parent or guardian.
b. Date of absence.
c. Reason for absence.
d. Signature of parent or guardian.

Excuses which we can legally accept for absences and late arrivals are personal illness, medical/dental appointments, business/legal appointments, religious holidays, funerals, out-of-town trips, and family emergencies which require the student's presence. Oversleeping, missing the bus, or other transportation problems are not excused.

2. Late to school- A student who arrives after 7:45 AMand before 8 AM should go directly to class and make sure the teacher marks them there.  A student who arrives after 8:00 a.m. must report to the attendance office (102) for an admit slip. Students with excessive tardies will be contacted and disciplinary action will be taken.

Parents will be notified of excessive tardiness. A bell rings five minutes before the tardy bell rings each morning, which gives you a five-minute warning to be in your room at the proper time.  Classes begin at 7:45 AM.

3. Need to leave school early- Sometimes it is necessary for a student to request permission to leave school early. This is called and "early dismissal", and a written request from your parent or guardian stating the time of dismissal, date of dismissal, and reason for dismissal must be brought to the Attendance Office on the day you want the early dismissal. Try to take care of this before 7:45 AM.  Early dismissals for any reason other than medical or dental appointments must be cleared by the assistant principal or designee.

NO STUDENT IS TO LEAVE THE SCHOOL GROUNDS AFTER MORNING ARRIVAL WITHOUT PERMISSION FROM THE ATTENDANCE OFFICE.

4. Change of address - If you move or change your phone number, be sure to report such change to the Attendance Office immediately. It is important that your address and telephone number be kept up-to-date so that a parent or guardian can be reached in the event of an emergency.

IRREGULAR ATTENDANCE

As stated earlier, Whitman students will be held accountable for attendance. The following acts constitute irregular attendance; class cuts, unexcused absences, tardy to class, and unexcused tardies to school. Students with irregular attendance will be disciplined. Any one or more of the following disciplinary actions may be taken for irregular attendance.

1. Parent notification
2. Teacher notification
3. Conference with assistant principal
4. After-school detention
5. Lunch detention
6. Saturday detention
7. Additional class assignment
8. Referral to public agency for assistance (i.e., court referral)

Fire drills are held regularly. You will be instructed by each teacher you have as to which exit will be used for the room you are in. When the fire signal is sounded, you are to leave the building quickly and in an orderly fashion and remain outside until the signal is sounded for your return.

Setting off false fire alarms is a criminal offense. Anyone setting off the fire alarm, when no emergency exists, will be referred to the office of the Fire Marshall and dealt with accordingly.

Earthquake drills may follow the fire drills. The order for this drill is given by your teacher. There will be no bell for this drill. Follow your teacher's directions quickly and quietly. If you are on the playground, do not come near the building, but stay at least twenty feet away. If you are in the halls, try to stand in a doorway away from glass.

SIGNAL FOR FIRE DRILL: A CONTINUOUS BLAST OF THE "HORN"

SIGNAL FOR RETURN: TWO SHORT BLASTS OF THE "HORN" or TWO SHORT BELLS.