Regular attendance is essential. If a student is to make satisfactory progress and receive credit for his/her year’s work, parents must be sure that their children are absent only when absolutely necessary. Extensive absenteeism can result in a failing grade. It is the school policy that if a student is absent from school 10 days in a semester (a total of 20 for year-long courses), that student’s grade will be dropped by 10 points (the equivalency of a full letter grade). After 10 days of absences, students will begin accumulating zeroes for all days missed beyond the previous 10 days. All absences will be counted equally. A parent’s note or phone call will not be considered as an exempted reason for the student’s absence. It is very possible that for a number of reasons (e.g., tardiness, early dismissal), a student could violate the policy in one class (such as English) and not another (such as math), depending upon when the classes meet; or it is possible for a student to lose credit at the same time for all courses taken. Vacations taken during school time will count directly towards the number of days missed.
Letters will be sent home to inform parents when a student has accumulated 5 absences.
The following situations, however, are exempt from the total number of absences: Any illness IF the student was seen by a doctor and submits a doctor's note on the day of their return; doctor’s note from a dentist or doctor for a scheduled appointment if necessary when they arrive late or are excused early; religious holidays or other religious commitments such as a funeral; a unique circumstance approved by the administration. Upon the day of your child’s return, it is the student’s responsibility to see his/her teachers to arrange make up work and to complete that work as soon as possible. However, once a student is in violation of this policy, they will not be permitted to make up any missed work unless a doctor's note is submitted.
Students with prolonged/chronic illnesses MUST resubmit a doctor’s note every 4 weeks for exemptions to continue to apply. This medical supervision will be required until symptoms resolve. Should student NOT be reevaluated, the attendance will return to excused non-exempt status. Students should arrange for the completion of make-up work in consultation with their guidance counselor and teachers. Ultimately, the administration will continue to reserve the right to review any case regarding this policy without prejudice due to extenuating circumstances that are brought to their attention.
• Parents’ notes/phone calls only verify that the student is not subject to disciplinary actions. They do not exempt the tardy or absence.
• Please refrain from planning vacations during school time. However, in circumstances where time away from school cannot be avoided, there will be consideration given on an individual basis by the Principal and the Vice Principal of Academics. Any request for such consideration must be made in writing well in advance. Please Note: This request must be made in writing and given to the Vice Principal of Academics, not to the teachers or Guidance Department. If this procedure is not followed, the days absent can be designated as unexcused absences and subject to academic penalties.
• College visits for seniors and juniors should be planned for days when school is not in session such as: faculty professional development days, holidays and school vacations.
• If a student is absent on any given day, he/she cannot attend or participate in any after-school function that day without the expressed consent of the Principal. The student must attend at least two classes to be marked present. The Principal reserves the right to waive this regulation.
• We do not recognize a student who reaches the age of 18 while attending Saint Raphael Academy to be legally responsible for himself/herself. The Academy will only recognize parent/guardians as the responsible agents for their child.
If a parent feels there is an urgent need for a student to be excused before the end of the school day, the student must bring a note to the Vice Principal of Student Life’s Office for approval prior to the start of school at 8:00 A.M. on the day of the dismissal. We reserve the right to deny this privilege if we deem the reason to be insufficient. Parents are advised to schedule appointments outside of the school day. A student will only be allowed 3 early dismissals a quarter unless there is an emergency.
Seniors are given the privilege of being dismissed at 1:13 pm when they have no class during the last period. In addition, seniors who have study periods during the first period are permitted to enter school at 8:56 am. Students being dismissed must sign out in Office 25, and students entering school late must sign at Office 25 as well.
This is a privilege that must be earned and is not a right. They must fill out the appropriate privilege form and have it signed by a parent/guardian. Seniors must be in good standing academically behaviorally and have a good attendance record. The dismissal is contingent on the following criteria:
1. If a student has been suspended or has excessive detentions or outstanding detentions.
2. If a student has a poor academic record.
3. If a student has a poor attendance record, such as excessive tardiness or absenteeism.
*The Vice-Principal of Student Life is the final arbiter in matters concerning the Senior Privilege for early dismissals. The senior privileges will go into effect when the Vice Principal of Student Life feels the senior class overall displays exemplary academic and behavioral expectations.
A student who arrives in school after 8:00 a.m. is late and must report directly to homeroom. If a student arrives after homeroom (8:10 or later), they must secure an admittance slip from the East or West Office before reporting to class. Excessive tardiness will result in disciplinary action. Arriving late to school is not an excuse not to use a crosswalk. Students are expected to cross Walcott Street at either crosswalk. Due to safety concerns, crossing the street in a non-marked zone is strictly prohibited. Any student found not to be using a crosswalk will be issued detention. Please note: In order for the student to be excused from his/her tardiness, we must receive either a note from a parent or a call from a parent stating why the student is tardy on the day of the tardiness. Notes/calls will not be accepted at a later date. Oversleeping is not considered as an excused tardy.
3 Tardies per Quarter = 1 Office detention
6 Tardies per Quarter = 2 Office detentions
9 Tardies per Quarter = 3 Office detentions
12 Tardies per Quarter = 4 Office detentions
More than 12 Tardies = 1 Day In-School suspension and parent will be notified. If a student arrives after 8:30 a.m. without a note or without the office receiving a phone call for the tardiness, he/she will serve one office detention.
Tardiness will increase with every unexcused hour. In addition, Letters will be sent home informing parents when a student has reached 10 violations of our late to school policy.
Tardy after 8:30am = 1 office detention
Tardy after 9:30am = 2 office detentions
Tardy after 10:30am = 3 office detentions
Tardy after 11:30am = ISS
If the violation continues the Vice Principal of Student Life will request a conference with the parents regarding the issue.
Students with an unexcused tardy for class 5 minutes or less will report directly to class and the subject teacher will take appropriate measures (ex. teacher detention) to ensure that is does not happen again. Students with an unexcused tardy for class over 5 minutes, must report to the office to obtain an admittance slip to class. Having an unexcused tardy for class over 15 minutes will be considered a cut class. Teachers who detain a student, therefore making him/her late for a class, should issue them a pass to enter their next class. Class unexcused tardiness will result in the following disciplinary actions:
Under 5 minutes = teacher may issue a teacher detention to be served with the teacher. Students not reporting to teacher detention will receive 1 Office Detention and will still be required to serve the teacher’s detention.
Over 5 minutes
1st violation = 1 Office detention
2nd violation = 2 Office detentions
3rd violation = 3 Office detentions including a Friday detention
4th violation = 1 Day In-School suspension and parent will be notified
5th violation = 2 Days In-School suspension and parent will be notified
Class Cut
Over 15 minutes is considered a Class Cut = 3 Office detentions If the violation continues the Vice Principal of Student Life will request a conference with the parents regarding the issue.
Students are expected to be at school on every scheduled school day. A student who is found to be truant (absent without parental consent) will be liable for an internal suspension and a grade of zero for all work missed. There are no “skip days” provided within the school calendar.
Excused absences must be reported to the school by telephone, email or a written note excusing your child’s absence within 24 hours. Any student who does not have an excused absence within 24 hours will be subjected to the discipline chart below. TO AVOID CONSEQUENCES, ALL ABSENCES MUST BE REPORTED WITHIN 24 HOURS TO THE ATTENDANCE OFFICE. The attendance office will not accept excuses past the 24-hour time frame.
Truant Discipline Chart:
1st violation = 1 detention
2nd violations = 2 detentions
3rd violations = 3 detentions
4th violations = 1-day Internal Suspension
5th violation = 2-day Internal Suspension
6th violation = 3-day Internal Suspension/Discipline Board Hearing