Calling in for absent students:  Anytime a student is absent from school the parent or guardian must call in by 10:00 am with the reason for the absence.  Please call the attendance secretaries at (972) 882-7888 ext. 1 for 9th and 11th grade, and ext 2 for 10th and 12th grade. Tell the reason for absence, name, grade and spelling of last name. All absences are considered unexcused if we do not receive a call, and students are not permitted to make up the work. We do not take notes

What type of absence is excused:  Absences are excused if a student attends a doctor/dentist appointment or court date and can provide documentation upon return.  Students who are home ill are excused if the parent calls in for them on the day of the absence.  (Students who are excessively absent due to illness will need a doctor’s note to excuse absences.)  We also excuse absences for students to attend funerals of family members. 

Missing school for a doctor/dentist appointment:  According to the State of Texas, a student who is in attendance for a portion of the school day, and then attends a medical appointment will be counted present if the student submits a dated doctor’s note upon his or her return.  This allows students to maintain their semester exam exemptions in the classes they missed.  We allow students up to one week to return the doctor’s note, but the absence is marked “unexcused” until the doctor note is presented.  Note that “unexcused” absences prevent students from completing any make-up work from the class(es) missed.

What type of absence is unexcused:  Going out of town, job interviews, visiting family, running errands, or other “personal” reasons are not considered excused absences; and students will not be permitted to make up assignments missed.  Family trips or other out-of-town excursions that occur during the school day are not excused (except for religious holy days that are approved by Mrs. DeLamar-Documentation must be brought).   Our expectation at MHS is that our students will be present each and every day school is held.  Still, certain situations arise that require students to miss school, but we hope that you work to keep those situations to a minimum by scheduling personal business appointments outside the school day whenever possible.

Arriving late/Leaving early:  When a situation does arise where students miss a portion of the school day, it is important that they sign in or out.  This is our documentation of their whereabouts when not in school.  Students who arrive late or leave early without signing in or out will be marked unexcused from the classes missed, and the appropriate discipline will be assessed.  We expect parents or guardians to call the school in the morning if a student will be arriving late to school that day due to illness or other extenuating circumstances.

As a general rule, we do not excuse absences for students who leave school early for reasons other than their own medical needs.  If a student feels ill and needs to go home, he or she must first go to the clinic.  Our school nurse will make parent contact and release the student from school.  Students should never leave campus during the school day without receiving parental permission and going through the attendance office.  This will result in an unexcused absence being recorded.  In addition, appropriate discipline will be assigned for students who leave school without prior parent permission coming through the attendance office.

Consequences for unexcused absences:  Students who are absent (and the absence is unexcused) will not be allowed to make up the work missed in each class.  In addition, students may be given disciplinary measures for unexcused absences.  This includes students who oversleep and arrive to school late.  to top

Truancy Laws:  According to the State of Texas, children between the ages of six and eighteen are required to attend school each day for the entire period that the school’s program of instruction is provided.  In other words, students should not be called out of school early or allowed to arrive late.  Students who accumulate three or more unexcused absences within a four-week period are considered truant by the State of Texas.  When this occurs, it is the legal responsibility of the school district to file a complaint with the proper court against both the parent or guardian and the student (Class C Misdemeanor). A truancy warning letter will be mailed to the home address when a student has incurred three unexcused absences in a four-week period. 

College Day:  Each senior is allowed to take one college day per year and still maintain their semester exam exemptions for that day.  This day is marked as an absence but will not prevent a student from being exempt if he or she meets all the other criteria.  The spirit of the “college day” policy is to allow students to travel out of town to visit a school that could not have been seen fully in an afternoon after school.  Students are advised to obtain a college day form from the attendance office before their college visit. Upon returning, students must submit an original letter or other documentation from the college to the attendance office.

Recoup dates for the 1st semester are as follows:

Saturday Recoup 1st Semester - Cafeteria 8:30-11:30

• August 26
• September  2, 9, 16, 23, 30
• October 7,14, 21, 28
• November 4, 11, 18
• December 9

• September  5, 7, 12, 14, 19, 21, 26, 28
• October 3, 5, 10, 12, 17, 19, 24, 26, 31
• November 2, 7, 9, 14, 16, 28, 30
• December 5, 7

Recoup dates for the 2nd semester are as follows:

Saturday Recoup 2nd Semester - Cafeteria 8:30-11:30

• January 13, 20, 27
• February 10, 17, 24
• March 3, 10, 24, 31
• April 14, 21
• May 5, 12, 19

• January 9, 11, 16, 18, 23, 25, 30
• February 1, 6, 8, 13, 15, 20, 22, 27
• March 1, 6, 8, 20, 22, 27, 29
• April 3, 5, 10, 12, 17, 19, 24, 26
• May 1, 3, 8, 10, 15, 17, 22

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Recoup Policies

• There are no recoup days after final exams or before school. If you have to work or have early release, it is YOUR responsibility to make arrangements to attend the times offered. (If you attend recoup on Saturdays, you will receive credit for 4 classes) You must stay the entire time.
• Students understand it is their responsibility to check with the attendance office from this date forward. If a student is denied credit, letters will be sent to the home at the address the office has on file. Students will not be called down every time they miss another day.
• If you have to work or have early release, YOU need to make arrangements to attend the times offered. If the student is denied credit, letters will be sent to the home at the address the office has on file.  Students will not be called down every time they miss anotherday.  It is the student’s responsibility to keep up with absences and hours they need.

Rules:

1. No talking or passing notes
2. No sleeping or heads on desks
3. No late arrivals
4. If removed, no credit will be given and disciplinary actions will occur if merited.
5. All school rules apply.
6. Must have schoolwork to do or an appropriate book to read.

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View written district policy

If you have any questions regarding the attendance policy,
please contact Mrs. DeLamar at 972/882-7800 or E-mail Attendance.