Attendance

Attendance Policy

Students with consistent attendance records are likely to achieve more satisfactory grades. Parents are encouraged to monitor their student's attendance and progress via the Eden Prairie website. It is extremely important for all students to be in class each day, and the school recommends that medical and dental appointments be scheduled after school hours. Additionally, family vacations should coincide with regularly scheduled holidays, breaks, and in-service days. Family vacations are limited to five days per year, days beyond five days will be considered unexcused. Parents/guardians who choose to have their son/daughter absent from school for an extended period of time must realize that their child's grades may suffer due to missing class activities that cannot be reproduced; i.e. discussion, labs, cooperative groups. Teachers are not required to provide assignments prior to the students vacation. Students are responsible to work closely with each of their teachers to complete make-up work upon their return to school.

Students who are 18 years old are not allowed to call themselves in for attendance or early release as long as they are still members of their parent's/guardian's household.

Attendance Policy Definitions

Tardy: not arriving at the set or expected time. Three unexcused tardies = one unexcused absence

Excused Absence: any absence called in by a parent/guardian within 48 hours after the class was missed.

Unexcused Absence or Truancy: any absence not called in by a parent within 48 hours of absence or an absence not known by parent/guardian or school. The student will not receive credit for anything missed that day.

School-excused absence: any absence as a result of a school-sponsored activity (i.e. field trips, activity meetings, or student participation in competition). This absence must include a parent/guardian signed permission slip and does not need to be called in by the parent.

Procedures for Excusing Students

Parents are encouraged to call the school prior to 11 a.m. each day their student is absent. Parents must follow procedures for excusing students. A voice messaging system is available; the phone number is 952-975-8001. For Spanish: Mi hijo/a estara ausente de la escuela o tiene una cit ahoy. Llame a la escuela: 952-975-6855. For Somolian: Ilmahaygu ma iman doono dugsiga ama wuxuu Leeyahay ballan takjtar. Soo wac dugsiga: 952-975-2444.

All absences must be called in within 48 hours; no absences will be excused after that time period. Notes are not accepted. School will not accept calls from parents/guardians to excuse their student from missing a class while remaining in the building.

Early Dismissals/Late Arrivals:
Parents/guardians should call 952-975-8001 when their student needs to be dismissed early or will be arriving late to school. Please understand, however, that early dismissals from classes and late arrivals to class will be counted towards the student's attendance.

Unexcused Absences

EPHS has an automated phone calling system that will contact a parent/guardian when a student has an unexcused absence to a class.

Upon the 6th unexcused absence from any class during one term:

The teacher will provide information to the counselor and dean via the unexcused attendance notification form.
The counselor/dean team will provide an intervention.
Parent/guardian and teacher will be notified of the intervention.

Excessive Excused Absences

Teachers may request an intervention if a student incurs 6 or more excused absences. The following will occur:

Counselor/Dean team will meet with the student.
Referral to school nurse (if applicable).
Parent and teacher will be notified of results of the meeting.
If further excused absences occur, the student and parent/guardian will need to seek support to deal with other issues that may be contributing to the problem.

Leaving School during the Day

No student is to leave the building or its premises during the school day without having an early dismissal slip, permission from a dean, signing out with the nurse, being on an authorized work program, having a permanent pass (juniors only), or a senior privilege (seniors only). Students who leave without permission will be considered unexcused from the classes missed and disciplinary action will follow. Students must leave the building through authorized doors (North, South and East main entrances), show pass to security and sign out at the doors.

State Tournament Attendance

Students wishing to be excused from classes to attend a state tournament as a spectator must have a parent/guardian call the student attendance office to excuse the absence. Students will be dismissed at an appropriate time to allow for travel to the tournament. Absences will be counted as part of the student's absence allocation.