There is a high correlation between student attendance and academic performance. Parents should realize that the number of absences a student incurs could directly affect the student’s academic progress. Students will be rewarded throughout the school year for excellent attendance. The School Code of Illinois, Section 26-1 states: Whoever has custody of any child between the ages of seven and sixteen years shall cause such child to attend some public school in the district wherein the child resides the entire time it is in session during the regular school term. Responsibility for regular school attendance lies with the student and parent/ guardian. The State Compulsory Attendance Law states that the parent is obligated to see that the student is in school. For the protection of students and sincere concern for the family, the following attendance procedures will be strictly enforced:

ARRIVAL AT SCHOOL

All students are to enter at the auditorium doors and use their ID to swipe in. Students are not allowed to loiter in the locker areas. The school doors officially open at 6:45 A.M. and the students who begin first period are to be in class and ready for work just before 7:30 A.M. Students arriving late for their first class will receive a tardy from their classroom teacher. Disciplinary action will be taken if tardiness is habitual. School tardiness will result in an after school detention to be served that day upon every infraction. Further disciplinary action will be imposed if detentions are not served.

ABSENCE FROM SCHOOL

In case of absence, the parent or legal guardian is to phone the school’s Attendance Office at 773-535-2325 extension 25794 or 25795 giving the reason for the absence. Students absent for the day will show up on the Daily Absence Bulletin. Upon returning to school, the student is to bring a note to the attendance office signed by either parent or legal guardian stating student’s full name, date, and specific reason for absence, including a phone number where parent or legal guardian can be reached during the day. The excusal notes will only be accepted within a week’s time, unless accompanied by a doctor’s statement. Forged signatures/notes may result in out of school suspension. Immediately upon returning to school, the student is responsible for arranging to complete make-up work within the timeline established by the teacher. Students may not receive missed work for unexcused absences.

CLASS ATTENDANCE

Students are expected to attend all classes on their schedule. Non-attendance will result in consequences ranging from automated phone calls in the morning and afternoon to Parent Conference to In-School Suspension and Out-of-School Suspension. If a student is not present for a full day, an automated phone call will be generated to the home for the day. Text messaging is also available for parents to receive daily information about attendance and grades. Students may not receive work from teachers for unexcused absences and it is the student’s responsibility to request work for excused absences. According to the Chicago Board policy, section 605.1 “Students must attend their classes in order to learn and retain course subject matter. Consequently, students’ success in earning credits towards promotion shall be determined by attendance in class as well as by performance on academic assignments. Therefore, students who have unexcused absences in 20% or more of the classes in a particular course during the period for which a unit of credit is earned shall not pass the course and shall receive no credit towards promotion.”

EXCUSAL FROM CLASS

Students who are to be excused from one or more classes to participate in an activity (field trip, dance, game, assembly, etc.) must secure the permission of the teacher of the class to be missed prior to the event. Official forms or tickets of admission must be signed by the classroom teacher and the parent. If a student is failing a class, frequently tardy, absent, or missing assignments, a teacher may refuse to sign a student out of class. If the student does not receive the teacher’s written excuse prior to missing the class, the absence will be considered a cut and processed as such. A cut is defined as an absence from an individual class without prior approval. All students are entitled to work missed due to excused absences. Work missed due to unexcused absences may be made up at the teacher’s discretion. In either case, it is the student’s responsibility to communicate with the teacher.

TARDY TO CLASS/ DIVISION

Classroom and division teachers are to close their doors when the bell rings. All students late to class are to be admitted in class and marked tardy. Habitual tardiness will result in lowering of a student grade, loss of privileges, text messages, emails, phone calls before and after school, parental conferences, detentions and in and out of school suspension.

HALL SWEEPS

Hall sweeps will be conducted throughout the day either at random for individual periods or every period depending upon the day. Hall sweeps are not meant to be punitive. They are conducted in an effort to increase the classroom instructional time for all students and eliminate constant classroom disruption. Students caught in a hall sweep must serve an after school detention that same day. Further disciplinary action will be imposed if detentions are not served.

TRUANCY FROM SCHOOL

A truant is defined as a child subject to compulsory school attendance who is absent without valid cause for a school day or portion of the school day. In case of truancy, the student’s parents are notified through mailings and phone calls. Kennedy’s attendance policies are in effect to help students stay in school, maximize their learning potential, graduate from high school and become successful citizens. Parental cooperation is both essential and appreciated.

ATTENDANCE CONSEQUENCES

Students who fail to comply with school policies regarding attendance may subject themselves and families to the Truancy Adjudication procedures set forth by the Chicago Board of Education. Disciplinary actions will include parent and student conferences, demotions of grades, detentions, in and out of school suspensions, automated phone calls before and after school or withdrawal from school. Students who demonstrate a disregard for these policies may forfeit participation in any or all extracurricular or school sponsored events. These may include, but are not limited to, field trips, sports, clubs and participation at the graduation ceremony.

LOSS OF PRIVILEGES (L.O.P)

Students unable to meet the minimum attendance requirements of less than 25 tardies, 10 cuts of class or 10 unexcused absences in any given quarter will be placed on the L.O.P list. Students who do not meet this requirement will forfeit ALL opportunities to participate in ANY school sponsored activities until the conclusion of that quarter.

ADDRESS AND TELEPHONE NUMBER CHANGE

All students and parents are mandated to keep the school informed of any change in their name, address or phone number during the school year. This is a safety precaution should an emergency arise. Information should be submitted in writing to the Attendance Office. The parent or guardian should sign and date the changes on the updated emergency form.

EARLY DISMISSAL (E.D.)

An early dismissal is only granted with parental consent. No student is allowed to leave the school without an ED from the Attendance Office and a parent/ guardian escort. Early Dismissals will be issued for illness, personal/ family emergency, appointments and/ or any other unavoidable occurrences.

IN CASE OF ILLNESS DURING SCHOOL HOURS

1. Students are to be sent or escorted to the Nurse’s Office with a pass. 
2.  If the student is too ill to remain in school, the parent/ guardian will be contacted to pick the student up from school and an ED will be issued. EXTENDED ILLNESS

Parents should immediately contact the Attendance Office, the child’s counselor, and the nurse.

 Kennedy High School is a closed campus school. Students violating this rule will be disciplined accordingly.