• Attendance 

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    Strive To Overachieve Through Accountability and Respect

    Research has shown that by 9th grade, attendance can predict graduation rates even better than 8th-grade test scores.  Absences add up quickly, and missing even two days a month on a regular basis can cause a student to fall behind academically.  We know some absences or tardies are unavoidable due to health problems or other circumstances, but, regardless of the reason, our goal is to ensure every student attends school regularly. 

  • Excused Absences

    State Attendance Rule 160-5-1-10 states that students will be excused from school under the following circumstances:

    1. Personal illness or attendance at school endangers a student's health or the health of others.

    2.  A serious illness or death in a student's immediate family necessitates an absence from school.

    3. A court order or an order by a governmental agency, including pre-induction physical examinations for service in the armed forces, mandating absence from school.

    4. Observing religious holidays, necessitating absence from school.

    5. Conditions rendering attendance impossible or hazardous to student health or safety.
    **Note: This decision is made only by Dr. Calvin Watts, Superintendent of Gwinnett County Public Schools.

    6. A period not to exceed one day is allowed, at the discretion of the local unit of administration, for registering to vote or voting in a public election.

    7. Visiting with a parent or legal guardian prior to or during leave from deployment to a combat zone or combat support posting as a member of the armed forces of the United States or the National Guard (maximum of five school days per year).

  • College Visits

    • If a senior must go on a college visit during a school day, the “College Visit Form” should be completed prior to the absence related a college visit.
    • The form is completed in parts by teachers and parents prior to the college visit.  During the college visit, a college official will sign the form to validate the senior’s visit.
    • The form is turned into at Attendance desk upon return to school.
    • In order to avoid falling behind academically, it is recommended that college visits take place during non-school days or weekends.

  • Students Counted Present

    Non-School Activities for Which Students Are Counted Present:

    • Students will be counted as present when they are serving as pages of the Georgia General Assembly.
    • Students who are in a foster home or otherwise in the foster care system under the Division of Family and Children Services of the Department of Human Services will be counted present for any day, a portion of a day or days missed from school when at­tending court proceedings related to that student’s foster care.
    • Full-time high school students who participate in a Student Teen Election Participant (STEP) program shall be counted as present and given full credit for the school day during which he or she serves as a volunteer to work as a poll officer during any primary, special, or general election. Participating students may be counted as present for up to two days within the school year.

    Absent/Tardy Form

  • Absence/Tardy Form

    To document an absence or tardy attendance (pre-arranged or after the event), you may print this form and turn it in at the Attendance desk just inside the front door of the school.  This form will be available in paper form also at:

    • Attendance desk
    • Front Office
    • 9th and 10th Grade Student Support Office
    • 11th & 12th Grade Student Support Office
    • Counseling Office 

    Absences and tardies to school are noted in the form. If you have additional documents to provide, just attach them to the form. 

    Absence/Tardy Form

  • Pre-Arranged Check Outs or Absence

    Written notification of a pre-arranged check out must be turned in by 7:30 am on the morning of the checkout.  If not using the “Absent/Tardy Form” to notify the school of the pre-arranged absence, the note provided must include ALL of the following information:

    • Student’s first and last name
    • Student’s school ID number
    • Reason for checking out
    • Time of check out
    • Signature of a parent/guardian listed as a contact in the student information system
    • Contact number of parent/guardian listed as a contact in the student information system

     

    **Please Note: All pre-arranged checkouts must be verified with a phone call before a student will be allowed to leave campus. 

    In order to maintain a positive learning environment, checks outs are not permitted after 1:30 pm on regular school days.  
    Checkouts are not permitted on exam days.
     

Impact of Absences & Responses

  • 1 Period

    55 minutes of instruction

    Coordinate with 1 teacher for 1 lesson

    Automated Parent Contact

     

    1 Day

    5.5 hours of instruction

    Coordinate with 6 teachers for 6 lessons

    Automated Parent Contact

     

    5 Days

    27 hours of instruction

    Coordinate with 6 teachers for 30 lessons

    Automated Parent Contact

    5 Unexcused Days - Parent Letter

    6+ Interventions by Attendance Team/Counselors

     

    10 Days

    54 hours of instruction

    Coordinate with 6 teachers for 60 lessons

    Automated Parent Contact

    10 Unexcused Days - Parent Letter

    Targeted Interventions & SARC/SST Meeting

     

    15 Days

    81 hours of instruction

    Coordinate with 6 teachers for 90 lessons

    Automated Parent Contact

    15 Unexcused Days - Parent Letter

    School Social Worker Support

     

     

  • attend today, achieve tomorrow

    Attendance Team
    678-714-5850

    Front Office Staff: Theresa Stelmachers & Sythan Jarvis

    Support: Josh Lovelady

    Assistant Principal: Dr. Vicki Husby

    Assistant to Dr. Husby: Kim Couch

    Social Worker: Laura Eubanks

    **Additional staff may serve intermittently on the Attendance Team, including administrators, counselors and teachers.

    Interventions and Supports
    At any time you need help with attendance-related concerns, the Attendance Team (team members listed above) is more than happy to connect you, your child, or your parent/guardian with someone to help.  Simply call or stop by the Attendance desk, and we will work with you to determine the best people, strategies, and resources to support your needs. 

SOAR Strategy for Success

  • Success comes with intentional steps.  Check out the SOAR Strategy for Success by following the link.  The video explains how to use tools at your fingertips to complete tasks on time, plan study time, get help, make up missing work and build in time for fun. 

    A simple template is available for printing or digital use.  Also, you will find teachers’ office hours on this page. 

    SOAR Strategy Video

Quick Links