14300 N. E. Tenth Street
Choctaw, OK 73020

Attendance: 390-2201
Counseling Office: 390-6147
Athletics: 390-6119

Attendance-

Policies and Procedures

There is a close relationship between academic success and school attendance. Good attendance habits learned and developed in school will be carried over into the world of work. The rewards for good attendance at CHS are increased learning and an increased probability that students will be successful. Of equal importance is the development and practice of dependability and punctuality (two essential skills in the world of work). Most important is the need to attend in order to learn from both teachers and classmates. To our knowledge, no student who had perfect attendance has ever failed in learning.

Definition of an absence-

An absence is defined as any time a student misses more than fifteen (15) minutes of a class period during the school day.

Notification of an absence by parents-

By state statute, it is the duty of the parent or guardian of a student to notify the school concerning the cause of any absence. This should be done between 7:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. on the day the student misses school. School personnel will make every reasonable effort to notify the parent or guardian of an absence for any part of the school day unless the parent or guardian notifies the school of such absence. It is important for a student to accept responsibility for his/her behavior. Accordingly, if a student is out of school without his/her parent's permission, he/she will not be allowed to make up the missed work. An absence of this nature is known as an UNEXCUSED absence.

Unexcused absence-

1.  If you leave campus and do not check out and receive an early dismissal slip.

2. Presenting an unacceptable verification or notes for excused absence (see   

    excused absences).

3.  Failing to have parent/guardian authorization

4. Oversleeping

5. Missed bus or car trouble

Any unexcused absence becomes an unexcused/truancy if it is not cleared with 48 hours by parent or documentation.

Absences on day of activity- See OSSAA guidelines

Absences for extracurricular activity-

An absence for a student who has to miss school for a Choctaw High Schoo activity will be counted as an activity absence.  This absence will not count towards administrative failure.  Students should pay close attention to the state’s ten-day activity absence policy.  (See OSSAA Guidelines)

Administrative discretion absences-

At times a principal may excuse an absence at his discretion that are not activity or documented absences.  These could include, but not limited to:  college visits, working as a page, community related functions, school district related functions or other family emergencies that may arise.  

College Visits-

Choctaw High School seniors are given one day to visit a college of their choice, which could include residual ACT dates or enrollment.  This absence does not count against the ten-day rule, administrative failure, or test exemptions.  The senior is strongly advised to clear the absence with the senior principal BEFORE they miss school.  Documentation from the school visited may be required upon the students return.  The administration strongly encourages the seniors to take a second college visit on the day of enrollment in the spring, which seniors are not required to attend or snow make-up days.

Excused Absence-

1.  To make an absence excused, a parent must make contact by phone or in person to the main office.

2.  An excused absence must be cleared within 48 hours or it becomes an unexcused absence and discipline action may occur.

3.  A parent notifying the office does not make the absence a documented absence (see below).

Documented Absence-

1.  A documented absence is necessary to keep the student out of administrative failure.

2.  A documented absence can be defined as: a doctor’s note, a court document, or funeral information.

3.  The main office must have this documentation if not; the absence will count as a personal absence, which counts towards administrative failure.

4.  Documentation must be turned in within five days of the absence or it will not count as a documented absence.  The principal will make determination if circumstances prevented the absence from being cleared within the time limit.

Administrative Failure

To implement the school policy of administrative failure and encourage attendance in school, he following procedures and guidelines shall be used:

1. No student shall be absent more than three times in any one nine‑week period (block), without proper documentation (see documented absence). 

2. Any student who has more than three absences, without proper documentation may not receive a passing grade in the appropriate subjects or grade level for that nine-week (block) period. For grading purposes, the student will receive a 59% daily average for the nine‑weeks (block), unless the actual earned grade is lower than 59%.

3. If a student has an unexcused absence, the student will receive a zero for all work missed. The student is still expected to make up the work. Also, the student should expect some disciplinary action.

Home And School Communications-

Absence Reporting

It is the student's responsibility to tell the parent when there has been an absence. Also, it is the student who should insure that the parent knows how and when to contact the school. It is the student's responsibility to check with the parent to insure that the contact has been made and not forgotten. All absences must be cleared within 48 hours or the absence is unexcused. Documented absences must be cleared within five days.

Answering Machine

An answering machine, (390‑2201) will be available during non-school hours, seven days a week to take your attendance message.

Automated Calling Machine-

The school has an automated calling machine that will call every student that has an unexcused absence for one or more hours during that school day.  It is the students and parents responsibility to clear the absence as soon as possible.

Guaranteeing The Call

It is advisable to have your student drop by the attendance office the following day to insure that the call was received. Calling as soon as possible will give us extra time to clear up any confusion. If you feel there are special considerations to be made regarding your calls to the school, please call the Attendance Office during working periods and discuss the matter with the secretaries. Also, if there are ever any questions regarding calls received in your name, please feel free to contact the school.

Leaving Campus/Returning To School During The Day-

Students reporting to school after 7:55 a.m. and during a regular class period, must report to the main office to get an admit slip to class. THIS SLIP IS NOT AN EXCUSED TARDY OR EXCUSED ABSENCE ADMIT. The parent must still contact the school to explain the nature of the student's absence. (If the parent brings or returns the student to campus, it is preferred to have the parent accompany the student to the main office. When this is possible, all attendance questions can be cleared up immediately and will not require any further calls). Students having off campus appointments must have their parent notify the office at least one period prior to the student's dismissal. If a student has an emergency and needs to leave school during class time, he/she must report to the main office, contact a parent by phone, and let the Attendance Secretary talk to the parent before the student leaves campus. Note: if a parent cannot be contacted, the Principal or Vice Principal must be notified before the student leaves campus. We do not feel that there are any reasons for a student having to leave campus without notifying the main office. Any student leaving campus (or the classroom) without prior approval, or administrative permission, will be issued an UNEXCUSED ABSENCE.

Missed Assignments Due to Short Term Excused Absences-

If an absence is excused, it is the responsibility of the student and /or parent to make arrangements for completing missed daily work for credit. Tests missed during an unexcused absence may not be made up. Assignments made during any excused absence a student has two (2) days to make up a missed assignment or test (see scheduled tests).

Getting Make-Up Work For Extended Excused Absences-

To insure that make-up work does not become a burden to the student or the teacher, absences in excess of three consecutive days must require a parent request for assignments to warrant make-up. The due date for such requested make-up work begins the day the assignments are available to the parent in the main office. Circumstances that prevent a student from properly completing assignments during an extended excused absence may be cleared through a principal.  Unless approved by the individual teacher or authorized by the Principal, any work turned in after the extension time or beyond limits imposed by other sections of this handbook, will receive a zero (0) grade.

Getting Help For Missed Assignments-

It is the student's responsibility to obtain the missed assignment and make arrangements for teacher assistance. The teacher's duty day begins at 7:30 a.m. and ends at 3:00 p.m. , which allows one, thirty-minute period during which a student can, by appointment, meet with the teacher for help. Additional off‑duty time often can be arranged with the teacher. However, please understand that the staff members have their own families and responsibilities to cover and the student should work out arrangements in advance. (See Tutorial Procedures)

Absences Known In Advance: In the event there is foreknowledge of the absence, as in the case of scheduled school activities, the work must be turned in either on the last day of attendance or the day the student returns.

Assignments known in advance-

Long-term assignments such as special projects or term papers are due upon student's return.  Students do not have the two days to make-up a long-term assignment as they would in regular daily assignments.

Scheduled Tests-

Any examination announced during the student's presence in class or which is regularly scheduled (e.g., 9 weeks or block) which is missed by the student because of any type of absence, may be administered upon the student's return or at the teacher's discretion.

Responsibilities for make-up work-

1.  Each teacher will establish a time for make-up testing consistent with his or her class structure. This schedule will insure timely completion of the assignment and provide the student no more than one working week to take the test.

2.  It is the student's responsibility to know the make‑up test schedule of the exam missed and verify the appointment with the teacher. Students who miss the scheduled make‑up test period will receive a zero, unless excused by the teacher or site administrator.

3.  The site and district administration will cooperate whenever possible to insure that schedule make‑up times are not infringed upon.

Any exceptions to this procedure shall be limited to those approved by the building principal.

Make-Up Extension Time for Extending Beyond A Grading Period-

If the allowed time for make-up work extends beyond the normal reporting period or if work is returned after grades are recorded, an Administrative Grade of "I" (Incomplete) will be issued. This grade reflects only the fact that work is still pending and allowed. After the extension time has been exhausted, all work will be graded and the final grade recalculated and recorded.