All students at Stagebarn Middle School will be allowed a maximum of 20 absences per period, per year. Any absence after 20 will result in an unexcused absence. For each missed day, students with excused absences are given two days to make up the work, to receive full credit. Parents/guardians may request that their student be excused from school for the following reasons:
Personal illness: Each absence that is excused by a parent or guardian due to personal illness. In instances of chronic or irregular absences reportedly due to illness, the school administration will require a physician’s statement certifying such absences to be justifiable.
Appointments: Medical, dental and legal appointments will be excused when written notification from a physician’s office, dentist office, or court services’ office is provided to the attendance office. Dr. appointments, with written notification, will not count toward the 20 absences per year.
Parent or family request: For funerals, weddings and other special family events, the school reserves the right to determine whether or not an absence is excused.
Inclement weather or poor road conditions: On days of bad weather, parents will have to use their own discretion in sending their children to school. Road and weather conditions may vary throughout the school district.
Family vacation: All absences of this classification must be requested with reasonable advance notice by the parent or guardian. The student’s parent/guardian must telephone the attendance office or visit the assistant principal’s office stating why and when the student will be absent.
Major religious holidays.
Special circumstances upon prior approval by the administration.
Any absence other than those listed above may be considered unexcused. Administration may at any time refuse to grant an excused absence regardless of parent consent.
Please refer to South Dakota Codified Law (13-27-1) for reference.
UNEXCUSED ABSENCE
An unexcused absence is defined as a school day or period for which a student chooses to skip an academic or non-academic period and/or fails to obtain a documented excused absence from parent and/or legal guardian.
Behaviors such as being late to school, oversleeping, skipping, missing class to work on homework, wandering the halls, are considered unexcused absences.
Administration may at any time refuse to grant an excused absence regardless of parental consent.
Unexcused absences will result in disciplinary action from the school administration
Parents have 24 hours to excuse an absence, or it will be considered unexcused.
