Hawthorne School Parent-Student Handbook 2016-2017
ATTENDANCE: STUDENT
The State Law of New Jersey requires that all children between the ages of six and sixteen
must attend school regularly. Students are expected to attend all the days and hours that school
is in session. When a student exceeds eighteen (18) unexcused absences in a school year,
the Principal may retain the student or require completion of specific assignments before
promotion is allowed.
The classroom teacher is expected to check all student absence excuses in accordance with the
following protocol:
EXCUSED ABSENCES:
Every student is required to bring a written excuse from home for every
absence. This excuse should be brought in the first day the student returns to
school after an absence. An ―excused‖ absence is an absence for personal
illness, death in the immediate family, observation of a religious holiday, for a
court-ordered appearance, personal illness of five or more days, suspension in or
out-of-school, authorized school field trips and events, and as set forth in a
student's IEP, Section 504 plan, or individual health care plan.
UNEXCUSED ABSENCES:
Students who fail to bring a written excuse or who are absent for reasons other
than personal illness, religious observance, or death in the family or an absence
excused by the Principal, shall be listed as an unexcused absence. In the event
of a request for a change from unexcused to excused, a written request should
be submitted by the parent/guardian to the Principal. The Principal will then
judge the validity of the request.
RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS:
If a student expects to be absent for religious observance, he/she should present
a written excuse from home or religious institution prior to his/her absence. In
the event that the student fails to submit the excuse, please call the parent to
request one upon his/her return to school and take a few minutes to remind the
parent of the correct procedure.
Please be reminded that legally any absence due to a religious holiday must be
recorded in the school register as an excused absence; also, if a pupil misses a
test because of a religious holiday, he/she must be given the right to take an
alternate test or examination. All such absences must not be recorded on any
transcript.
A list of excusable religious holidays is contained in this handbook.
TARDINESS:
All students who are tardy to school are to report to the nurse‘s office for their
tardiness to be recorded. Students who arrive to school tardy with a written
excuse from their parent/guardian will be considered excused if the stated
reason is one set forth above as an ―excused absence.‖
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