Trimble County High School Emphasizes Attendance Policy

Due to some confusion surrounding school policy on the issues of excusable absences, tardies, and proper procedure, TCHS wishes to make very clear the expectation.  Please contact TCHS at 255-7781 with any questions, or email our attendance clerk directly  

Copied directly from Trimble County High School’s Student/Parent Handbook 2009-2010:

Attendance

Good Attendance is necessary for students to take full advantage of the educational opportunities offered by Trimble County High School.  Good attendance is a sign of responsibility – a characteristic that both colleges and employers seek.  For these reasons, Trimble County High School must make provisions that will encourage good school attendance.

EXCUSED ABSENCES

Students are expected to be in each class every day.  However, certain circumstances may cause a student to be absent.  Excused absences for which school assignments may be made up include:

a.       Illness of the student.

b.      Death or severe illness in the student’s immediate family (parents, siblings, or grandparents).

c.       Other valid reasons as determined by the Principal.

All absences require a written explanation within 2 days of the student’s return to school.  The absence will be considered unexcused if a written explanation is not provided within this time.

PRE-ARRANGED TRIP

a.       The principal may allow special cases through prearranged agreements.  The principal or counselor must fill out a prearranged trip form five (5) days prior to the trip.  Prearranged trip days can only be excused if the student is within the attendance policy.  After excused absences are exceeded, prearranged trips will neither be approved nor excused.

b.      Senior college visits must be scheduled through the attendance officer and the student must be eligible to attend the college.  A maximum of two (2) days may be used for college visits.  To be excused, the student must present to the attendance officer an official document from the college verifying that the visit took place.

NOTE: A maximum of 10 absences may be excused with a note provided by the student’s parent/guardian.  After those 10 absences, a doctor’s statement is required.  Again, the absence will be considered unexcused if a written explanation is not provided within 2 days of the student’s return to school and the student will not be allowed to make up assignments.

UNEXCUSED ABSENCES

Unexcused absences for which school assignments cannot be made up include:

a.       Failure to return written verification of the absence

b.      Suspension from school.

c.       Reasons deemed invalid by the principal.

On the 4^th unexcused absence, disciplinary action will be taken.  Each following unexcused absence will also result in disciplinary action.

MAKING UP EXCUSED WORK

Students will be allowed an opportunity to make up work missed as a result of excused absences.  The following procedure should be followed:

1.       Provide the attendance clerk a note upon return to school.

2.       Pick up the assignment make-up sheet from the attendance clerk.

3.       Collect the work from each teacher – before school, after school, and/or between classes.

4.       Complete all work and return it to the teacher within two (2) school days of returning to school or by special arrangement with the teacher.

5.       Schedule appointments to make-up missed tests, lab activities, computer research/activities, or special projects.  These appointments will be scheduled before or after school.

If a student is going to be absent more than 2 days, please request assignments through the front office or via email before 8:15 A.M.  Teachers will complete the request during their planning period.

TARDY TO SCHOOL

Students arriving after 8:25 A.M. are considered tardy to school.  Students that check out early, missing less than sixty (60) minutes of instruction, are also considered tardy according to the Kentucky Attendance Policy.  All tardies require a written explanation upon the student’s return to school.  A tardy will be excused or unexcused for the same reasons as absence.  On the 4^th unexcused tardy, disciplinary action will be taken.  Each following unexcused tardy will also result in disciplinary action.

TRUANCY

Any student who has been absent from school without valid excuse for three (3) days or more, or tardy without valid excuse for three (3) days or more, is truant.  Truancy letters will be issued by the school once a student has accumulated 3 or more unexcused absences or tardies.  KRS 159.150 states any student who has been reported as truant two (2) or more times is a habitual truant.  (This means any student with 6 unexcused absences or 6 unexcused tardies is a habitual truant).  The County Attorney or Court Designated Worker will be notified once a student has become a habitual truant.

Weather: Cancellation and Delay

             During the school year, it may be necessary to dismiss school early or cancel school due to bad weather. Parents and students will be informed by the following radio or television stations: WHAS Radio, WHAS TV, WLKY TV, WAVE TV, all in Louisville, and WQRX Radio in Madison.

            If the weather becomes severe during school day, and school will be dismissed early, an announcement will be made in advance of dismissal time. If school will be closed for the day, the news media will be informed by 6:30 a.m. of that day. Announcements will also be made if school will be delayed for one or two hours. On any delay schedule, the school day would end at regular dismissal time.

Important School Information on
Transportation, enrollment, etc.

There are various policies and procedures parents and guardians need to know to assure a successful year and to make it easier for school personnel to carry out their responsibilities:

Bus Transportation: The school’s transportation department provides students with the best equipment and drivers and with the safest program possible. The following regulations must be complied with:

• Students must arrive at bus stop five minutes before arrival of school bus.

• Students are expected to ride their assigned buses and are not permitted to switch buses without school authorization.

• The routes are now set, and students should return home at about the same time each day. An authorized adult must be at the bus stop to accompany home preschool, Head Start or kindergarten children. If the driver does not see someone at the bus stop, the child will be returned to school for safety measures, and the parent is required to come to school to pick up his or her child.

Car pickup: Bedford and Milton elementary students are to be picked up in front of the school, and Trimble County Middle School students at the back entrance.

Enrollment: Students enrolling for the first time in Kentucky must have physical examinations and show proof of that on a Kentucky School Health Form. In addition, state law requires all sixth graders to have physical exams and proof of measles/rubella/hepatitis B immunization

Dress Code: Dresses, skirts and shorts above mid thigh length are not permitted, as well as tank tops, spaghetti straps and strapless tops, and clothing containing vulgar or sexual innuendoes. Shoes must be worn at all times; open toe shoes are not permitted, including flip-flops. Clothing not covering the midsection is not permitted. Clothing must cover undergarment and pants must not drag the floor. Extreme unnatural hair colors, makeup, jewelry or body piercing (other than ears) are not allowed. No hats or bandanas unless a special day is announced.

Medication: Schools must have on file a signed form from a parent or guardian giving school personnel to administer prescribed medication to students. A separate form must be filled out for each prescribed medication. Also, no more than three doses of over-the-counter medication (Tylenol, Advil, Aleve, Tums, etc.) are allowed in a school year. If more needed, school must have physician’s written consent.

Conduct: Students are to obey district and school rules and regulations on discipline; otherwise disciplinary action will be taken and could lead to dismissal or expulsion.

School meal prices; eligibility requirements for free or reduced

Trimble County Schools take part in the National School Lunch/Breakfast program. Meals are served every school day.
Prices for breakfast are 95 cents at elementary schools and $1.00 for middle and high school students. Lunch prices are $1.70 at elementary schools, $1.80 at the middle school and $1.85 for high school students.

Start-of-year school packets include applications for free or reduced prices for school meals. Children whose households receive Food Stamps or K-TAP, or are at or below household income as outlined in the application, are eligible for meal benefits. In  addition, foster children, migrant students, homeless students and students from WIC households may be eligible for free meals.

Elementary students are allowed to charge for breakfast, lunch, milk or juice for a maximum of three days, according to district policy. A record of charges is kept in the computer and the student is informed each time a charge is posted to his or her account. All charges must be paid within two weeks. No charges are allowed the last two weeks of the school year.

Should it be necessary for a student to charge for more than three days, the parent must call or send a note to the school principal or cafeteria manager to make arrangements for the charges and payment. Notices for unpaid charges are sent home twice a month.

Trimble County High School Student Handbook Highlights:

 • Academic grades will be based on the following - 50 percent for assigned daily work (participation, class work. Homework, discussion, quizzes and special projects. 50 percent for test scores (formal exams, performance events, writing portfolio entries, special projects). Semester exams will account for 20 percent of the grade.

• Student fees will range from $4 for textbook rental to $30 for art class supplies. Other fees are spelled out in student’s registration packet.

Telecommunication Devices

During the instructional day, students shall not be permitted to use telecommunication devices. The instructional day lasts from 8:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Students may possess these devices, but shall keep them in a locked locker for use once the instructional day ends. “Telecommunication devices” include but are not limited to: paging devices, iPods, cellular phones, and mp3 players. When students violate this prohibition, they shall be subject to disciplinary action, including losing the privilege of bringing the device onto school property. In addition, an administrator may confiscate the device, which shall only be returned to the student’s parent/guardian.

1. Students are responsible for keeping up with devices they bring to school. The District shall not be responsible for loss, theft, or destruction of devices brought onto school property.

2. Students shall comply with any additional rules developed by the school concerning appropriate use of telecommunication or other electronic devices.

3. Students shall not utilize a telecommunication or similar electronic device in a manner that would violate the District’s Acceptable Use policy or procedures or its Code of Acceptable Behavior and Discipline.

• Each student will be assigned a locker and may rent a lock from the office for a $5 fee. All other locks will be removed from the locker. Because of increasing enrollment, underclassmen will be asked to share a locker.

• The school district’s disciplinary code will be enforced at all school-sponsored, supervised and endorsed functions, trips and activities, whether on or off school grounds.

• Students are not allowed to bring to school firearms, knives, or any other dangerous instrument. Violations may lead to suspension or expulsion, in addition to notifying law enforcement officials.

• Student are not to possess tobacco products on school property, school buses, and at school-sponsored functions. Also, alcohol, drugs and other controlled substances are prohibited on all school property, including buses, and at school-sponsored functions.

• Students driving to school are to observe certain regulations, which are also defined in student’s registration packet.