Attendance
3122 STUDENTS – GFPS ATTENDANCE POLICY
The Board believes and research supports that students who attend school regularly are more successful than those who do not. Students are responsible for attending class, with family support and encouragement. The learning experiences that take place in the classroom environment are an essential part of the educational process. Absences and tardiness tend to disrupt the continuity of the instructional program and the time lost from class is irretrievable, particularly in terms of opportunity for interaction and exchange of ideas between students and teachers. Missing class hinders a student’s ability to master the subject matter, and this may be reflected in the grade. Grades earned in any course shall reflect the student’s fulfillment of academic requirements, achievement, and daily participation. The administration does not condone absences that detract from our academics. The Board’s attendance policy is designed to prepare students to become self-reliant and responsible citizens. The Board recognizes the diverse needs of students. Consequently, administrative practices allow for flexible paths to graduation, which may include alternative attendance plans.
GFH Attendance and Assessment Information
Our mission statement at Great Falls High School is “To successfully educate students to navigate the future.” Student attendance is integral to our mission; it is difficult to educate students who are not in school. Data has flat lined over the last four years at about 88.25% Average Daily Attendance, falling below our goal of 91%. Academic achievement is closely linked to attendance.
Cooperatively, Great Falls High School and Great Falls Public Schools are working to redefine assessment within the classroom. Our goal is to provide students, families and teachers with timely feedback on assessments. Your GFHS staff continues to work to combine district assessments with semester assessments, reducing testing time but making semester tests mandatory for all learners.
GFH Attendance Procedures** Note: Students who reach 12 absences (6 absences in every-other-day classes) per class period per semester for any combination of reasons, excluding school related / bereavement /verified medical excuse, may have credit withheld by their Associate Principal and may retain the option to appeal for credit reinstatement to their Associate Principal with input from their counselor, teacher and school based advocate.
Absence Notification.
A phone call from a parent or legal guardian is necessary when a student is absent or late. Calls should be received by 9 am on the day of the absence (the Attendance Office number is 268-6251). Students who are found calling in and representing themselves as parents or guardians will face disciplinary consequences. Absences must be excused within 48 hours or absences will revert to an unverified absence/truancy.
Automated Attendance Notification System.
If your student is absent from a class, and if you, as the parent, have not called in to excuse the absence, you will be notified via phone that your student’s absence is currently unexcused. Please notify the school of phone number changes.
The automated system will call at intervals of several hours until our Attendance Office receives a call back from you, the parent. The recorded message will give you all the pertinent details. Of course, it is very important that we have your current phone number(s); it is the parent’s responsibility to update contact information.
Attendance Matters
“Attendance Matters” is a partnership between Great Falls Public Schools and the local business community. Students seeking employment may be asked to provide an attendance record with their academic transcript to a prospective employer as part of the job application. Students are responsible for requesting the transcript and may sign for it if they are 18 years old, or have a parent sign if they are a minor. The GFH Records Office issues these transcripts.
Inclement Weather.
During inclement weather, listen to the radio for weather updates. Social media is also utilized. Check Twitter (@GFPublicSchools), Facebook and the school district website (www.gfps.k12.mt.us) for updates. If you have questions, please contact the school office. In the case of school or bus cancellations, absences will be school related. If, at any time, you feel that it is not safe for your child to travel to school because of road/weather conditions, please call and speak with your child’s associate principal. Great Falls High will work with you to support family decisions to keep their children safe.
Planned Absences.
It is important to remember that the learning experiences taking place in the classroom environment are an essential part of the educational process.
Absences accrued due to a student missing school by choice to participate in vacation, family trips, or other activities that could otherwise be scheduled on a non-school day or outside of the school day, often negatively impact the student's grades as a result of missing essential classroom discussion, labs, and activities. Teachers and students usually work out arrangements for handing in the work missed; however, often it is not possible or reasonable to expect teachers to reconstruct classroom activities when a student misses class by choice.
When missing school is unavoidable for a non-school related, planned activity, school officials and teachers appreciate knowing the student will be absent. Parents are asked to CALL THE ATTENDANCE OFFICE (268-6251) in advance of the absence when they know their child will miss school. Students need to pick up a “Request for Absence Approval and Assignments” form from the Attendance Office and take it to teachers for signatures and homework. Absences for school-sponsored activities are excused, and teachers will work with students to make up the work missed.
Absences during semester tests, unless a verified emergency, must be cleared two weeks in advance with the Associate Principal and counselor. Failure to take mandated exams may result in a zero grade being assigned for the exam.
Make-up Work.
Teachers will grant 2 days for each day of excused/ verified absence (such as appointments/illnesses verified by a parent) for work completion at full credit. It is the student’s responsibility to make individual arrangements with his or her teachers for work completion. Students may not be able to make up work missed during unexcused/unverified absences. (Per Board Policy 3122R: Any absence must be verified within 48 hours of the absence or the absence will be recorded as unverified.)
Tardies.
Students are expected to arrive to class on time, with materials, and be ready to learn. Students, late for any reason, must report to the attendance office and receive an admit slip. The teacher will handle classroom tardies; excessive tardies may be referred to an administrator. Tardy contracts are an option for teachers and administrators to use. Chronic tardiness may adversely affect a student’s academic progress. A tardy of more than 15 minutes is considered an absence.
Before and After School.
Students who arrive early are expected to keep voices at a normal level and not to be loud or disruptive to zero period classes that are in session. After school, students are asked to leave the building as soon as possible (within 5 minutes of class ending), unless they are being supervised by a staff member. Students waiting for rides or for driver’s education classes should remain in the breezeways.
Disciplinary Action for Truancy.
Truancy may result in disciplinary action. Students are to attend every class, every day.
Change of Address.
It is very important that any change of residence or phone numbers during the school year be reported to the Attendance Office (268-6251). This includes primary addresses and second mailing addresses.
Impact on Extra-Curricular Activities: In order to participate in an extracurricular activity, including practice, a student must be in school during the afternoon of the date of the event or during the afternoon on the last day prior to the activity, if the activity falls on a non-school day. Rare exceptions may be made by an Administrator. This expectation also extends to students enrolled in Drivers Education courses!
Part Time Attendance. Students requesting part-time enrollment will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. A committee of school professionals and the parent will review the application and make a recommendation. The final decision lies with the Principal, subject to review by the Superintendent upon request.
Release of Student from School.
Students must check out with the attendance office before leaving school during the day. Failure to sign out before leaving will result in disciplinary action. A student who wishes to leave school during the day must have a parent call the Attendance Office with the reason for leaving. If a student is at school and becomes ill, he/she needs to come to the Attendance Office in Main Campus or the South Campus Office, so that parents may be contacted. Students may only be released to adults listed on Powerschool.
Transfer or Withdrawal from school.
Students transferring schools or withdrawing from school must have permission from their parents. After a letter or phone call from parents to an Administrator, the Administrator will proceed with the checkout process. All textbooks must be returned, fines paid, and other obligations met prior to grades being granted and transferred.
The Board believes and research supports that students who attend school regularly are more successful than those who do not. Students are responsible for attending class, with family support and encouragement. The learning experiences that take place in the classroom environment are an essential part of the educational process. Absences and tardiness tend to disrupt the continuity of the instructional program and the time lost from class is irretrievable, particularly in terms of opportunity for interaction and exchange of ideas between students and teachers. Missing class hinders a student’s ability to master the subject matter, and this may be reflected in the grade. Grades earned in any course shall reflect the student’s fulfillment of academic requirements, achievement, and daily participation. The administration does not condone absences that detract from our academics. The Board’s attendance policy is designed to prepare students to become self-reliant and responsible citizens. The Board recognizes the diverse needs of students. Consequently, administrative practices allow for flexible paths to graduation, which may include alternative attendance plans.
GFH Attendance and Assessment Information
Our mission statement at Great Falls High School is “To successfully educate students to navigate the future.” Student attendance is integral to our mission; it is difficult to educate students who are not in school. Data has flat lined over the last four years at about 88.25% Average Daily Attendance, falling below our goal of 91%. Academic achievement is closely linked to attendance.
Cooperatively, Great Falls High School and Great Falls Public Schools are working to redefine assessment within the classroom. Our goal is to provide students, families and teachers with timely feedback on assessments. Your GFHS staff continues to work to combine district assessments with semester assessments, reducing testing time but making semester tests mandatory for all learners.
GFH Attendance Procedures** Note: Students who reach 12 absences (6 absences in every-other-day classes) per class period per semester for any combination of reasons, excluding school related / bereavement /verified medical excuse, may have credit withheld by their Associate Principal and may retain the option to appeal for credit reinstatement to their Associate Principal with input from their counselor, teacher and school based advocate.
Absence Notification.
A phone call from a parent or legal guardian is necessary when a student is absent or late. Calls should be received by 9 am on the day of the absence (the Attendance Office number is 268-6251). Students who are found calling in and representing themselves as parents or guardians will face disciplinary consequences. Absences must be excused within 48 hours or absences will revert to an unverified absence/truancy.
Automated Attendance Notification System.
If your student is absent from a class, and if you, as the parent, have not called in to excuse the absence, you will be notified via phone that your student’s absence is currently unexcused. Please notify the school of phone number changes.
The automated system will call at intervals of several hours until our Attendance Office receives a call back from you, the parent. The recorded message will give you all the pertinent details. Of course, it is very important that we have your current phone number(s); it is the parent’s responsibility to update contact information.
Attendance Matters
“Attendance Matters” is a partnership between Great Falls Public Schools and the local business community. Students seeking employment may be asked to provide an attendance record with their academic transcript to a prospective employer as part of the job application. Students are responsible for requesting the transcript and may sign for it if they are 18 years old, or have a parent sign if they are a minor. The GFH Records Office issues these transcripts.
Inclement Weather.
During inclement weather, listen to the radio for weather updates. Social media is also utilized. Check Twitter (@GFPublicSchools), Facebook and the school district website (www.gfps.k12.mt.us) for updates. If you have questions, please contact the school office. In the case of school or bus cancellations, absences will be school related. If, at any time, you feel that it is not safe for your child to travel to school because of road/weather conditions, please call and speak with your child’s associate principal. Great Falls High will work with you to support family decisions to keep their children safe.
Planned Absences.
It is important to remember that the learning experiences taking place in the classroom environment are an essential part of the educational process.
Absences accrued due to a student missing school by choice to participate in vacation, family trips, or other activities that could otherwise be scheduled on a non-school day or outside of the school day, often negatively impact the student's grades as a result of missing essential classroom discussion, labs, and activities. Teachers and students usually work out arrangements for handing in the work missed; however, often it is not possible or reasonable to expect teachers to reconstruct classroom activities when a student misses class by choice.
When missing school is unavoidable for a non-school related, planned activity, school officials and teachers appreciate knowing the student will be absent. Parents are asked to CALL THE ATTENDANCE OFFICE (268-6251) in advance of the absence when they know their child will miss school. Students need to pick up a “Request for Absence Approval and Assignments” form from the Attendance Office and take it to teachers for signatures and homework. Absences for school-sponsored activities are excused, and teachers will work with students to make up the work missed.
Absences during semester tests, unless a verified emergency, must be cleared two weeks in advance with the Associate Principal and counselor. Failure to take mandated exams may result in a zero grade being assigned for the exam.
Make-up Work.
Teachers will grant 2 days for each day of excused/ verified absence (such as appointments/illnesses verified by a parent) for work completion at full credit. It is the student’s responsibility to make individual arrangements with his or her teachers for work completion. Students may not be able to make up work missed during unexcused/unverified absences. (Per Board Policy 3122R: Any absence must be verified within 48 hours of the absence or the absence will be recorded as unverified.)
Tardies.
Students are expected to arrive to class on time, with materials, and be ready to learn. Students, late for any reason, must report to the attendance office and receive an admit slip. The teacher will handle classroom tardies; excessive tardies may be referred to an administrator. Tardy contracts are an option for teachers and administrators to use. Chronic tardiness may adversely affect a student’s academic progress. A tardy of more than 15 minutes is considered an absence.
Before and After School.
Students who arrive early are expected to keep voices at a normal level and not to be loud or disruptive to zero period classes that are in session. After school, students are asked to leave the building as soon as possible (within 5 minutes of class ending), unless they are being supervised by a staff member. Students waiting for rides or for driver’s education classes should remain in the breezeways.
Disciplinary Action for Truancy.
Truancy may result in disciplinary action. Students are to attend every class, every day.
Change of Address.
It is very important that any change of residence or phone numbers during the school year be reported to the Attendance Office (268-6251). This includes primary addresses and second mailing addresses.
Impact on Extra-Curricular Activities: In order to participate in an extracurricular activity, including practice, a student must be in school during the afternoon of the date of the event or during the afternoon on the last day prior to the activity, if the activity falls on a non-school day. Rare exceptions may be made by an Administrator. This expectation also extends to students enrolled in Drivers Education courses!
Part Time Attendance. Students requesting part-time enrollment will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. A committee of school professionals and the parent will review the application and make a recommendation. The final decision lies with the Principal, subject to review by the Superintendent upon request.
Release of Student from School.
Students must check out with the attendance office before leaving school during the day. Failure to sign out before leaving will result in disciplinary action. A student who wishes to leave school during the day must have a parent call the Attendance Office with the reason for leaving. If a student is at school and becomes ill, he/she needs to come to the Attendance Office in Main Campus or the South Campus Office, so that parents may be contacted. Students may only be released to adults listed on Powerschool.
Transfer or Withdrawal from school.
Students transferring schools or withdrawing from school must have permission from their parents. After a letter or phone call from parents to an Administrator, the Administrator will proceed with the checkout process. All textbooks must be returned, fines paid, and other obligations met prior to grades being granted and transferred.
