Attendance Office

770-631-3232, ext. 221

Annette Hunt & Joan Griffin, Attendance Secretaries

After an absence from school, a student must bring a written excuse note to the Attendance Office prior to first period.  If the student has a legitimate excuse note, his /her absence will be considered “Excused”, entered into the attendance record as such, and he/she will be able to make up all missed work.  If the student does not have a legitimate excuse note, his /her absence will be considered “Unexcused”, entered into the attendance record as such, and he/she will not receive credit for missed work.  Credit for make up work will not be given until/unless a student’s absence has been excused. Students have THREE school days after an absence to bring a written excuse note. After the three day period, the absence will automatically become unexcused. The State Department of Education’s only excused absences are as follows:

A student may not participate in an after-school, extra-curricular activity if he/she is absent from school on the day of the activity.

An 11^th or 12th grader may miss two days during his/her junior and/or senior year for the purpose of visiting a college. A Notification of Intent to Visit a University/College must be completed and submitted to the Attendance Office at least one day prior to the visit. A completed Confirmation of an Off-Campus College Visit form must be returned to the Attendance Office within three days of returning to school.  These absences will be considered as legitimate “college visits”, entered into the attendance record as such and not counted toward exam exemption.

McIntosh High School is required by law to report students age 15 through 17 who drop out of school without graduating and remain out of school for 10 consecutive days; have more than 10 days of unexcused absences in a year; or who have been suspended from school for a) threatening, striking, or causing bodily harm to a teacher or other school personnel; (b) possession or sale of drugs or alcohol on school property or at school sponsored event, (c) possession or use of a weapon on school property or at school sponsored event, (d) any sexual offense prohibited under Chapter 6 of Title 16, or (e) causing substantial physical or visible bodily harm to or seriously disfiguring another person, including another student.  The driver’s licenses of such students will be revoked or not issued according to the provisions of the law.

Students need a Certificate of Attendance (COA) to get their first GA driver’s license/permit. Pick up the necessary form in the main office. Fill in the top portion of the form and give it to the front office secretary with the $2.00 notary fee. Your information and attendance record will be verified and the form will be notarized. Students should allow one school day “turn-around time” for the completion of this process.

All students are to be present in first period by 8:40. A student arriving after 8:40 or late during any part of the school day (whether excused or unexcused) reports to the Attendance Office to check in before going to class. (The state’s reasons for excused absences are also used for a check in.)

Any student needing to leave school early should present a signed note to the Attendance Office prior to first period.  The Attendance Office will call the parent/guardian to verify the check out note.  After verification is received a check out slip will be completed. It is the student’s responsibility to return to the attendance office after first period or prior to the check out time to pick up his/her check out slip.  Students will show the check out slip to the teacher at the designated check out time and then report to the attendance office before leaving the building.  Classes will NOT be interrupted to call students to the attendance office to check out.

Students with a zero period class should check-in at the Attendance Office when arriving at school after the zero period tardy bell (7:05 for weight training; 7:30 for academic classes).  Students who miss zero period but arrive anytime later (including before first period) must check-in at the attendance office or they will be deemed skipping zero period.

If a student is any place other than that directed by the school during class time, he/she is considered cutting class and will be subject to disciplinary action.  If a student is absent from school without his parents’ knowledge and permission, he/she is considered truant and will be subject to disciplinary action.

The Fayette County Board of Education provides a homebound teacher for students who are absent for long periods of time because of prolonged illness.  Parents should notify the school to request the services of the homebound teacher.  To qualify for homebound a physician must verify in writing that the student will be absent from school for at least two weeks.  The student is placed on homebound as soon as the doctor signs the forms.  There is no waiting period.  The student is counted present each day if seen by the homebound instructor for the minimum number of hours per week.  Students are not eligible if absence is due to communicable diseases.

Fayette County Board of Education policy on electronic communication devices prohibits the use of cell phones during the school day by students. A student who becomes ill during the day should report to the school nurse in the clinic.  The parent will be called by the nurse so that the student can be picked up or allowed to check out.

Except in the case of an excused absence or circumstances deemed extenuating by the teacher, students WILL NOT be permitted to make up homework, tests, and/or quizzes.  A student who is present the day an assignment is made (test/quiz announced) will turn in the assignment (take the test/quiz) on the first day of his/her return to school. A student who is absent the day an assignment is made (test/quiz announced) should get his/her assignment(s) and due dates for the assignment(s) on the first day of his/her return to school.  Failure to turn in work (make-up test/quiz) by the teacher-established due date will result in a grade of zero.

A student who will be absent for three consecutive school days may get his/her assignments by calling the Guidance Office.  When requesting assignments, please keep the following in mind:

1.   Teachers must be given 24 hours to complete the assignment request form and return it.  Assignments requested on Monday morning, for example, may be picked up no earlier than Tuesday morning.

2.   Please do not request assignments for students who have been or will be absent fewer than 3 consecutive days.

3.   If assignments are not picked up by the agreed upon day, they will be returned to the teachers.

4.   When requesting assignments, give locker number and lock combination so that textbooks may be collected. Textbooks should be clearly labeled with the student’s name.