Attendance

An absence is defined as a minimum of one missed class period within a day.

Is defined as any absence that is not excused by a parent or legal guardian by 7:00 a.m. on the morning following the absence. In our online gradebook, a truancy is indicated by the letter "U."

The following are also considered truancies and subject to disciplinary action:

• Any absence without the prior knowledge and consent of the parent or guardian.

• Any absence in which a student fails to check out through the Attendance Office or the Health Center prior to leaving school.

• Leaving the classroom without the teacher's permission.

• Forged or unauthorized parent and guardian phone calls.

• Students who arrive to class after 10 minutes into the period without a pass from an NCHS staff member.

In cases where medical documentation can be provided that indicates a diagnosis and prognosis that the student has an illness, disease, or has had an accident that interferes with regular school attendance, parents shall be in contact with their school nurse regarding the chronic health program.

All schools in the district are closed campuses during normal school hours. Students are not allowed to leave at any time during the school day unless they are signed out by a parent or guardian or they have an early release schedule (ID will be checked).

Please make sure your student is following the district dress code while at school. Undergarments, chest, and torso need to be covered, and references to drugs/alcohol or inappropriate language/imagery are not allowed

Arizona state law defines absences as excessive when the number of absent days exceeds 10 percent of the number of required attendance days (18 days) whether the absence is excused or unexcused. It is important for a student to attend class regularly to receive a passing grade. A student or parent may request counseling intervention for excessive absences by calling the school principal or designee. The principal may require documentation from a doctor to verify a medical condition when absences total more than 10 percent of the number of required attendance days.

If your student needs to leave early, contact the front office at 602-449-5000. When you arrive, your ID will be checked and only those listed in Infinite Campus will be allowed to sign out the student. No student pick-up between 1:45 p.m. and 2:10 p.m.

Students leaving campus during the school day must have their parent or legal guardian's permission and must check out through the front office. Students who check in with the attendance office will be issued a permit to leave campus. Failure to get a permit to leave will result in the absence being marked unexcused. Per school district policy, parents and legal guardians are required to show picture identification before being allowed to remove a student from campus.

Outside food is only allowed if it is dropped off by a parent or guardian (ID will be checked). All other food deliveries will be turned away.

Any absence due to illness, death in the family, religious observance or other unusual circumstance will be excused. Missing class to attend school activities will be excused with prior teacher and administrative approval. Parents of absent students are expected to call on the day of the absence, preferably no later than one hour after the start of school. If no contact is made to the school within 24 hours of the start of the absence, the absence will be considered unexcused. Refer to your school’s website, newsletter and/or student handbook for guidelines for reporting absences.

Personal items that are not considered necessary for the student’s educational experience should be left at home, as the school cannot assume responsibility for these items. This may include cellphones, Airpods, handheld consoles, guitars, etc.

If the student rides a bike, scooter, or skateboard to school, the student is responsible for finding a place indoors or outdoors on campus where they can secure the item during the school day. The school concurrently does not assume responsibility for these transportation items.

Full Day: A full-day unexcused absence is any absence from school without the prior knowledge and consent of the parent or guardian.

Truant absence: Any unexcused full-day absence is considered a truant day as defined by law.

Unexcused Absence: One or more marked absences, once a student is at school, from one or more classes that day without an acceptable excuse approved by the school will be classified as unexcused.