Walden_Daily_Attendance

The Walden Project

Daily Attendance

Because of the emphasis on community and shared dialogue within the Walden Project, attendance is an essential component of the program. Frequent absences from class--regardless of whether or not the work is made up at home--disrupts the continuity of the learning process. Valuable interaction within the classroom cannot be made up independently.

Consistent attendance helps to prepare students for the world of

work and higher education by developing effective communication and group interaction skills, in addition to good habits of punctuality and responsibility.

Encouraging attendance requires constant attention from students through peer support and from faculty, staff, and administration through consistent communication within the school and with parents and guardians.

Parents and guardians are asked to please remember that Vermont Law mandates that "each parent/ guardian having control of a child between the ages of seven and sixteen years shall cause the child to attend an approved public or an approved or reporting private school for the full number of days for which that school is held."

It is disruptive to the educational process to have students leaving school grounds during the school day It is expected that all students will remain at school unless they have been excused by a parent/ guardian prior to their leaving. Leaving school for lunch is not acceptable.

When a student returns to school after an absence, he/she must present a note to the attendance secretary, written and signed by the parent/guardian stating the date and reason for the absence. Students who have reached the age of eighteen (18) have the right to be responsible for themselves. They must sign their 18 year old papers in the main office. Eighteen (18) year old students must call the school before 9:30 a.m.,

on the day that they are absent or to have an early dismissal If they do not call before 9:30 a.m. the absence will be considered unexcused

Requests for extended absences must be made in writing to the Main Office prior to the leave. Arrangements for homework and other work is the responsibility of the student and teachers

Parents/guardians will be notified when a student has received 5 absences.

When a student is going to be absent from school the parent/guardian should call the school between 7:30 a.m. and 9:30 a m.

Medical Excuses

There will be occasions when a student, because of injury/illness, cannot participate in Walden for an extended period of time. The parent/guardian must send a note to the instructors explaining the student's injury/illness.

1) For each medical excuse up to three {3) the student will be required to make up the class work through physical activity or a written project. This make-up work must be completed within three days of the class that the student missed The make-up work must be cleared with the instructor before it will be accepted.

2) A student who totals five (5) unexcused absences in a semester may not receive full academic credit for Walden. A student who has sustained a long term illness/injury will receive a M (medical) on their report card as long as they have a note from their doctor. (A medical on their report card will not affect a student's grade point average.) In the case of serious illness, the instructors at Walden reserve the right to modify this policy to meet the needs of the student. Whatever modifications are made to this policy, however, must be approved by the students, parents, and administrators.

School Cuts

If a Walden student cuts a class, the following will occur:

1) The first cut from a class will result in the student meeting with the administration and being warned that another cut may result in a series of consequences that may culminate in being dropped from the program. A phone call and letter notifying parents of the situation will also be sent.

2) The second cut may result in a loss of credit. Parents will be notified by letter and the student will be on disciplinary probation.

3) Students with chronic AWOL problems will be asked to leave the program, after the above mentioned steps have been taken.

Late Arrivals

Because of the structure of Walden, a late arrival creates un-resolvable transportation issues. A student will be considered absent if they miss the bus that leaves the high school and an alternative administratively approved form of transportation is not found.

For students who have a scheduled appointment, plans must be made in advance to rendezvous with the Walden Project at an assigned destination and time. Failure to do so will result in an absence.