Attendance
Regular attendance and arriving at school on time are vital to a student’s success in school. In order to take advantage of the educational programming offered by the teachers and staff at Damien, it is essential that students both attend school and arrive on campus on time, on a daily basis. Families should not make appointments for students during the school day. After school, holidays, and vacation periods should be used for all non-emergency appointments; this includes DMV appointments, celebrations, family matters, and non-medical personal appointments.
The school discourages students from taking leaves of absence (additional time off prior to or in addition to regularly scheduled school recesses) in the strongest possible terms. If such an absence is to occur, the student and parent should FIRST secure permission from the Dean of Curriculum, and THEN notify the Attendance Office. Students taking leaves of absence should understand that these count toward the total absences recorded for the student in the school year, and may also put at a disadvantage those students who are not diligent in making up missed work in a timely fashion.
1. For daily absences, the Attendance Office should only be notified, by telephone (ext. 226) by a parent/guardian only, on the day of the absence. In addition, a note must be provided when the student returns. Emails are NOT acceptable.
A. Acceptable reasons for absence are:
B. Illness
C. Need for medical services (with doctor’s note verification)
D. Court summons
E. Religious or holiday observance
F. Bereavement in the immediate family
2. Other than the reasons listed above, if a student is absent from school, the absence will count as an ‘Unexcused Absence’.
3. Upon return to school after any absence, a student must report to the Attendance Office with a note signed by a parent/guardian to be cleared for readmission to class.
Emails are NOT acceptable. Failure to report to the Attendance Office or to bring a note within 24 hours after a student’s return to school may result in disciplinary action, such as a weekday detention. Failure to attend detention will result in a Saturday detention. Failure to bring a note will result in an ‘Unexcused Absence.’
4. Students who participate in after-school, extra-curricular activities (including, but not limited to, athletics practices; interscholastic competitions of any type; music or drama rehearsals; clubs; debate; and retreats) must be present for at least one-half of their regularly-scheduled school day on the day of the activity.
5. Students who wish to participate in regular school social activities must be present for at least one-half of their regularly-scheduled school day on the day of the activity.
6. Students who wish to participate in major school social activities (including, but not limited to the Homecoming Dance, the Junior-Senior Prom, and the Senior Grad Night) must be present for their entire scheduled school day on the day prior to or the day of the event.
7. Students who participate in school-sponsored events will have an Excused Absence for the period/days missed. Students are not required to bring a note for these events.
8. The Dean of Students office and/or administration may make exceptions to the foregoing rules (#1-7), as circumstances warrant.
If a student is absent for more than 15 days during a semester in any class period, for any reason, that student may lose credit for that class. Students who accrue multiple absences will be required to attend an administrative conference with a parent/guardian to determine potential disciplinary and/or academic consequences.
Students who arrive late to school, regardless of arrival time, must report to the Attendance Office to obtain a Tardy Slip. Students who do not bring, within 24 hours, a note for being late when required to do so, will receive detention, which does not void the need for notes.
Once a student has received 15 tardies during a semester in any class period, for any reason, that student may lose credit for that class. Students who accrue multiple tardies will be required to attend an administrative conference with a parent/guardian to determine potential disciplinary and/or academic consequences.
1. Early dismissals are when a student needs to leave school early. Acceptable reasons are:
• Illness
• Need for medical services
• Court summons
• Religious or holiday observance
• Bereavement in the immediate holiday
• Extenuating circumstances as determined and approved by the Dean of Students office or administration
2. Students who wish to obtain an Early Dismissal will have to have a parent call the Attendance Office by 9:00 a.m. E-mails will not be accepted.
3. Other than the reasons listed above, if a student is removed from school, the absence will count as an ‘Unexcused Absence’.
4. An Early Dismissal counts as an absence in the class period(s) that is(are) missed and the absences are applied to the daily absence tally for that grading period.