Attendance Policy
Attendance Procedures
- Parents/guardians listed on the student’s emergency card may email Mrs. Kimberly Dean for attendance-related needs, including:
- Excusing an absence
- Communicating attendance concerns
- Requesting a student checkout
- Submitting doctor’s notes
- Doctor’s notes may be accepted throughout the school year to excuse absences related to student illness or medical appointments.
- All student checkouts must be communicated through email to Mrs. Dean. Walk-in checkouts are not permitted during the last 30 minutes of the school day.
Unexcused Absences
The following reasons are considered unexcused absences and will not be approved for attendance purposes:
- Birthdays or birthday celebrations
- Vacations or family trips
- Participation in non-Pine Ridge High School-related sporting events, clubs, or activities
- Lack of transportation
- Oversleeping or waking up late
- Missing the bus
- Personal errands or appointments that are not medical-related
- Work obligations or job-related conflicts
- Babysitting or family responsibilities
- Staying home due to weather conditions when school is open
- Traffic or travel delays
- Attending concerts, events, or activities that are not school-sponsored
- Any absence that does not meet district-approved criteria for an excused absence
Parents/guardians are encouraged to communicate any attendance concerns with the school; however, documentation does not automatically guarantee an absence will be excused.
Excused Absences
The following reasons may be considered excused absences when proper documentation or communication is provided:
- Pre-authorized school-sponsored activities, including field trips, competitions, and events
- Pine Ridge High School-related athletic events, club activities, or extracurricular activities
- Medical, dental, or mental health appointments for the student
- Illness or medical conditions with appropriate documentation
- Family emergencies or significant family circumstances
- Required court appearances or legal obligations
- Religious holidays or observances
- Other absences approved by school administration in accordance with district guidelines
Attendance Note: Parents/guardians may excuse absences through email for the first 15 days of absences. After a student reaches 15 absences, additional absences may only be excused with appropriate documentation, such as a doctor’s note.
Students with a chronic illness or medical condition that results in significant absences should contact the MTSS Chair to discuss available supports and attendance interventions.
Academic Achievement and Time Spent Engaged in Educational Activities
The vision statement of the Volusia County School District sets the tone for this district’s commitment to providing a quality education to all of its students. In order to produce students who will become successful contributors to our democratic society, we must first begin with an educational system that allows each child to reach their maximum potential. Academic achievement is at the top of the list of variables that contribute to a child’s ability to succeed in life. Academic achievement is directly correlated to the time spent engaged in educational activities. “A National Center for School Engagement literature review (Heilbrunn, 2007) found that truants have lower grades, need to repeat grades, drop out of school, are expelled from school, or just do not graduate from high school, at higher rates than students with fewer unexcused absences” (National Center for Mental Health Promotion and Youth Violence Prevention, Prevention Brief).
During the first national symposium on truancy prevention held in Washington, DC in December 2004, J. Robert Flores, Administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention stated in his message to participants, “the three A’s – Attendance, Attachment, and Achievement… reflect an important component of a child’s school success and ultimately his or her future as a productive, healthy, and happy adult.” While the ultimate goal of any educational institution is to maximize the academic achievement of all of its students, current conventional wisdom dictates that you cannot achieve this goal without also addressing regular school attendance and a child’s emotional connection with the school. If a child does not feel a connection or a bond with their school they will not attend and if they do not attend, they cannot achieve. If our district wants to distinguish itself as a leader in educational excellence, then we cannot ignore nor neglect the important role that regular attendance plays in achieving this goal.
THE ATTENDANCE POLICY
Illness or other legitimate causes will be excused with the permission of the parent/guardian and the school principal up to 15 days within the school year. After 15 days of absence, excused or unexcused, a student must have a doctor’s verification for subsequent absences due to illness.
STUDENT ATTENDANCE RESPONSIBILITIES
Phone calls to explain absences will not be accepted. Written notes from parent/guardians within 2 days of their return to school should include the student’s Alpha code, full name, reason for absence, and date of absence.
LEAVING SCHOOL GROUNDS
Parental permission is required for any student leaving campus. All check-out notes will be taken to attendance before school. Proper identification and a signature will be required. Failure to comply with sign-out procedures will result in unexcused absences and disciplinary action. Students who ride the school bus to school in the morning may not leave campus without properly checking out of school. After exiting their bus, these students may not enter parking lot area.
Please email kcdean@volusia.k12.fl.us for check outs and absences. Thank you.
