• Bettye Henderson Holston Elementary Attendance Policy

     

    In accordance with the Clarke County Board of Education and Clarke County School District, Bettye Henderson Holston Elementary requires students to attend school daily in accordance with applicable state attendance laws. Maintaining regular and timely school attendance is fundamental to the academic success and social, emotional well-being of students. 

     

    While teachers and administrators are charged with the responsibility of providing worthwhile daily activities for students, the students and their parents must assume responsibility for being punctual and regular in attendance. 

     

    Students who are tardy are disruptive to their own learning process as well as that of other students. A student is tardy if he/she arrives at school after the time for all students to report and if he/she is not in the classroom when instruction begins.

     

    In accordance with Georgia Department of Education Regulation 16051.10, the following shall constitute excused absences upon submission of appropriate documentation:

    1. Personal illness or when attendance in school endangers the student's health or the health of others
    2. A serious illness or death in a student's immediate family necessitating absence from school
    3. A court order or an order by a government agency, including pre-induction physical examinations for service in the armed forces, mandating absence from school
    4. The observation of religious holidays, necessitating absence from school
    5. Conditions rendering attendance impossible or hazardous to student health or safety
    6. A student whose parent or legal guardian is in military service in the armed forces of the United States or the National Guard, and such parent or legal guardian has been called to duty for or is on leave from overseas deployment to a combat zone or combat support posting, shall be granted excused absences, up to a maximum of five school days per school year, for the day or days missed from school to visit with his or her parent or legal guardian prior to such parent's or legal guardian's deployment or during such parent's or legal guardian's leave.

     

     

    B.H. Holston will implement the following policy to address attendance concerns:

    • When a student is absent, a calling post will be placed to inform parents/guardians of the absence.
    • When a student is absent for two consecutive days, the teacher will contact the parent/guardian.
    • If the student does not return on the third day, the teacher will contact the school counselor.  The school counselor will contact the parent/guardian.
    • If the student does not return on the fourth day, the school counselor will contact the school social worker.  The social worker will contact the parent/guardian.

    The State of Georgia considers any child subject to compulsory attendance as truant when they accumulate more than five days of unexcused absences during a school calendar year.

     

    Excessive tardies negatively impact your child’s academic achievement.

     

    To be considered “in attendance” for a school day, a student must be present for at least one- half of the school day, excluding the lunch period. Students leaving school before meeting that requirement will be considered absent for the day.

     

    • When a student is tardy, a parent or guardian must sign the student in for the day.
    • Students with excessive tardies will be ineligible for the Pop Up treat.
    • Students with excused tardies will be ineligible for the Perfect Attendance award.
    • Excessive tardies can result in an absence for the student.