Attendance

Students who arrive at school after CATS on Time and before the end of first or second block with or without a note should report directly to the Attendance Office.  Students who are absent from school for more than half of the school day are usually too sick to be in school.  If a student wishes to check in after 10:30am, the student must either have a doctor’s note or the student’s parent must come into the Attendance Office and sign the student in. 

 

Checking Out of School

A student who needs to leave school early should present a note to the Attendance Office, including explaining the reason and the time and date to be excused. This note must be signed by a parent/guardian and should include a phone number for verification. The student should present this note to the attendance office before the school day begins to have the note verified and to receive a permission slip to be released from class at the appropriate time. The student should report to the attendance office to sign out. If the student returns to school on the same day, he/she should sign in at the attendance office to receive an admission slip for class. If the student returns the next day, he/she should treat this situation as an absence and present to the Attendance Office a note from a parent along with the early release slip that was previously issued by the Attendance Office.

When leaving during the day to visit a doctor or dentist, the student should have the medical office receptionist stamp the early release slip and return this form to the attendance personnel. Students who properly obtain permission for early release in advance assist the attendance personnel from interrupting classes and also prevent further delays for parents who have come to provide transportation.

 

Following an absence from school, students must present a note to the Attendance Office before 7:20am, written by a parent/guardian, explaining the reason for the absence.  Failure to present a legitimate note by the second day following an absence will result in the absence being unexcused.  When possible, a student should include any official documentation from doctors, court officers, etc.

Excused Absence Criteria:

·         Illness or injury which makes the student physically unable to attend school

·         Isolation ordered by the State Board of Health or Wake County  Health Department

·         Death in the family

·         Medical, Dental or other appointment with a health care provider approved in advance

·         Court when a student is under subpoena

·         Religious observance, as suggested by the religion of the student’s parents

·         Participation in a valid educational opportunity*

·         Catastrophic event or natural disaster

* A student must obtain prior approval from the principal for educational travel including college days or family trips.  This approval must be obtained three (3) days prior to the scheduled trip.  If the principal grants the request, these absences will be excused; however, excused absences will still count against senior exam exemption.  A student who does not obtain prior approval of an educational absence or a request that is not granted by the principal will be coded as an unexcused absence.

Frequent absences affect a child’s learning.  North Carolina law requires that a child enrolled in school attend regularly.  Parents, guardians and custodians are legally responsible for the school attendance of their children.  Schools have the responsibility of determining whether or not absences are excusable according to law.  At the secondary level, cumulative absences of ten (10) or more days in a block course or twenty (20) or more days in a full year course are excessive. Attendance letters will be sent after the third, sixth and tenth absence to keep parents/guardians and students informed.

 

A student who accumulates fourteen absences will be required to provide official documentation (doctor’s note, court documents, etc.) for every absence beyond the fourteenth day.  Parent letters will no longer be accepted.  Failure to provide official documentation will result in the absence being coded as unexcused. 

A student who exceeds more than ten (10) unexcused absences in a course will be in jeopardy of receiving a grade of FF for that course.  If a student’s average is lower than a 70, he/she will receive the grade earned.

 

Students must maintain 85% or above attendance or be subject to the loss of Winterfest Assembly/Dance (first semester attendance), and Prom and/or senior class activity privileges (second semester attendance).

 

All students participating in interscholastic activities must be present in school for the entire day in order to participate in activities, performances or practices except where specifically exempted by a physician.  Refer to the “Co-Curricular Activities and Athletics” section for details on absences and participation in activities.   

Hall Passes

Official hall passes are required for students in the hallways following the sound of the tardy bell.  Students must properly identify themselves when asked by a staff member.  

Tardy Consequences

•   Any student tardy will report to the nearest sweeper station to receive a CATS on Time tardy pass to be admitted to class.   
• Students will be assigned consequences immediately upon receiving their sweeper passes.
• Once a student accumulates 2 tardies (not per block but overall) they will receive an administrative phone call informing parents that their child will start to receive the following consequences when they reach the 3rd overall tardy:

Tardy 3-4—One Day ASD

Tardy 5-8—One Day ALC

Tardy 9-12—Two Days ALC

Tardy 13--ALC Plus 5 Days

After 13 Tardies, students will be referred to their administrator.

Tardies reset at the beginning of each quarter.

Head Coverings and Electronic Devices 

Head coverings may not be visible in the buildings at any time.  Playing cards, dice and other equipment deemed disruptive to an environment conducive to learning are not allowed to be visible or used from 7:20 a.m. until 2:20 p.m including between classes and during lunch.   Such items may be taken by staff members and held by an administrator until the parent of the student comes to retrieve them. The school will assume no responsibility for confiscated items.  Electronic devices, such as cell phones and iPods are allowed to be used during class change and lunch, and during class with teacher permission and electronics policy form completed.

Restricted Areas

Students must be in their assigned areas at all times.  Students may not leave campus without permission.

 

1.        Millbrook Exchange Park is off limits to students at all times.

2.        The Faculty Parking Lot is strictly off limits to students at all times.  Parking in this area will result in cars being towed and/or other administrative action.

3.        The Junior/Senior Parking Lots are off limits to students who do not have parking passes assigned in those lots.   Students are only permitted in the lots before and after school, or during lunch if students have off campus lunch privileges.

4.        Locker rooms are off limits to students not assigned to the class that is in session, and to individuals not on athletic teams that are in season.  Students are not permitted in locker rooms after hours or between classes unless under the supervision of MHS staff.

Dress Code

Students should be appropriately dressed at all times.  Students should not dress in any matter which would be disruptive to a climate conducive to serious study or the orderly operation of school.  Students are expected to adhere to standards of dress and appearance or wearing clothing which is disruptive, provocative, revealing, profane, vulgar offensive, or obscene, which endangers the health and safety of the students or others is prohibited.

 

Prohibited dress or appearance include, but are not limited to, the following:

·          No exposed undergarments

·          No spaghetti straps

·          No bare midriff shirts, halter tops, backless shirts, or crop shirts

·          Tank tops may be worn as long as arm openings are even with underarms and the straps are at least 2 inches in width

·          No pants worn below the hips; no sagging pants

·          No excessively short or tight garments (or daisy dukes); shorts must be no more than 8 inches from the knee

·          No strapless shirts

·          No attire with messages or illustrations that are lewd, indecent, or vulgar or that advertise any product or service not permitted by laws to minors

·          No adornments such as chains or spikes that reasonably could be perceived as or used as a weapon

·          Shoes are to be worn at all times

·          No head covering of any kind

·          No symbols, styles or attire frequently associated with intimidation, violence or violent groups about which students at a particular school have been notified

·          No sunglasses

·          No pajamas or house shoes

·          No leggings worn alone

 

Inappropriately dressed students will have the opportunity to change clothes or they will be placed in ALC until appropriate clothing is provided.  

Discipline Guide - taken from the student handbook

 

Violation of school rules may result in varying consequences.  This list does not include every possible violation of the Student Code of Conduct.  Please refer to the Wake County Student/Parent handbook for others.  Consequences may vary depending on the situation.  Administrators reserve the right to modify these consequences when deemed necessary.  A serious violation of any of these policies may result in long-term suspension or expulsion.  Repeated violations may also subject a student to long-term suspension or expulsion.