Regular attendance has a direct correlation to high levels of student learning and students are encouraged to attend every class on time and every day of the school year. Northfield High School’s attendance goal, as part of the School Improvement Plan, is 95%; this percentage is equal to five absences per semester. An absence is defined as non-attendance in class, and can be either “excused” or “unexcused,” as outlined below. All seniors must maintain a 92% attendance rate to walk at Graduation.
Northfield High School contacts parents/guardians regarding student attendance concerns and responds with appropriate consequences, when non-attendance becomes problematic. Parents/Guardians can request their student’s attendance report from the Main office and an attendance report can be obtained from the student’s Infinite Campus account.
To excuse an absence:
When possible, please communicate excused absences to the Main Office prior to the absence or the day of the absence. Absences remain “unexcused,” if the request for an excuse is not accepted within one day of the absence.
All “excuses,” whether written or verbal must include:
If a student is absent for three or more days, a doctor’s note must be provided.
Providing an excuse note one or two days after the absence does not apply to excused tardies or partial absences; these must be excused on the day they occur.
The following reasons constitute an excused absence:
Please provide 24-hours notice, if your student will miss a portion of the school day. All partials must be confirmed by a parent/guardian before a student can be dismissed. Students must sign in and out of the Main Office, when they leave and when they return. Leaving school without doing so is considered an unexcused absence.
Excused
When a student has five or more excused days of absence during a nine-week time period, Northfield’s attendance secretary will complete an attendance referral to an engagement specialist.
Unexcused
An attendance referral is made for one or more periods of unexcused absence (truancy), and always in response to more than five unexcused absences in any nine week period. Students with more than 20 unexcused period absences, tardies or combination of both per semester, could lose the privilege to participate in extracurricular activities, including athletics, dances or after-school functions.
Students with excessive absences may face several interventions, which vary based on the severity of the concern.
Late to Class
Three unexcused tardies in one class equals one unexcused absence. A student is considered tardy if they are not in class when the bell rings.
Attendance Process
1-5 unexcused period absences in a 9 week period
6 or more unexcused period absences in a 9 week period
After the initial referral to an engagement specialist, successive unexcused absences result in an increase in the level of consequence.
When a truant student younger than 16-years-old accumulates 20 absences during the school year, a Northfield social worker automatically evaluates the initiation of judicial proceedings under the Compulsory Attendance Law.
Students, 16-years-old and older, who are absent from school 20 or more consecutive days and who cannot be located, and students who are enrolled in an alternative placement, such as a day treatment program, may be withdrawn from Northfield High School.
Any student who is found off campus while their privileges are denied is required to attend the Northfield Restorative Center for the remainder of the day. A parent/guardian is contacted and an engagement specialist may decide to revoke the student’s off-campus privileges for the following nine-week period.
Being punctual is necessary for both college and career. A student is considered tardy if they are not in the classroom when the bell rings. Teachers mark students tardy within Infinite Campus within the first five minutes of a class period. After this time, students are required to go to the Main Office for a tardy pass. Students who arrive at class 15 minutes after the bell rings are marked absent.
Tardies are excused with a note or phone call from a parent/guardian at the time of arrival, and students must check in with the Attendance Office up on arrival. Excessive excused tardies, seven within a nine week period, may result in a referral to an engagement specialist.
Unexcused Tardies:
These counts and consequences reset every nine weeks.
For a detailed description of DPS’ policies regarding attendance, conduct, discipline, health-safety, and interscholastic activities, please download the DPS Parent Handbook.
Colorado Revised Statutes, 22-33-102, provides that school districts establish policies for attendance. DPS/ board policy JE directs that schools develop specific guidelines and policies for student attendance. Northfield aligns to district policies.
The student or family is responsible for initiating make-up work when absent. For each excused absence or school activity absence, students are permitted two-days (48 hours) to complete and submit course work unless other arrangements are made with a teacher. Teachers may decide to give equivalent work, not necessarily identical assignments given to students who were present in class. It is up to a teacher’s discretion whether or not an unexcused student is allowed to make up missed work. Students who are attending a school activity may make arrangements with teachers to turn in work before their absences.
If a student is unable to participate in a physical education class due to an injury, a note signed by the parent must be given to the class teacher in advance. If a student fails to participate in a class two or more consecutive times, a doctor’s note is required. If non-participation becomes excessive, a doctor’s note may be required for each day of non-participation.
Missing Assignments
It is the student’s responsibility to meet promptly with a teacher to discuss a plan of action to resolve missing coursework. If late assignments are accepted by the teacher, coursework is only accepted within one week of the assignment due date. All missing coursework is recorded in the teacher’s grade book as a “zero” or “m” until the agreements of the action plan is met. If the agreements of the action-plan are not met, the coursework grade permanently reflects the grade of zero in the grade book.
Homework Request for Extended Absences
Students who are on an extended absence for more than three days due to illness or other approved reasons, may request make-up work from their teachers.