At LWHS, we place high value on the active presence and participation of students in their classes. Classroom experiences are vital to a LWHS education. The following policies are a reflection of these values.
Families—In case of illness or family emergency, please notify the school before 8:30am and leave a message on the absence line (ext. 333) or email attendance@lwhs.org, stating your name, the name of the student, the date, and the reason for absence.
—TARDY POLICY—
Teachers take attendance at the very beginning of class, after which point students are considered tardy. Students/Families are expected to monitor their own attendance and school progress and must clear tardies with their grade level dean. Three unexcused tardies in one class, in one semester, are the equivalent of a cut and will result in a 1/6 (or 1.67%) semester grade reduction.
Process for Excusing a Tardy: - Student/Family MUST contact receptionist and grade-level dean within TWO weeks from date of tardy
- Grade-Level dean (in consultation with a teacher) determines if the tardy is, in fact, excused
- Dean will notify the student, family, and receptionist of the decision.
After the TWO weeks time frame has elapsed, the tardy will remain as unexcused and may result in a grade infraction (see above).
—ABSENCE POLICY—
Students miss classes for varied reasons, most often illness. Please find below the school policies about class absences. Please note, any student who amasses 10 missed class meetings OR 15 missed school days in a semester, for any reason, may be denied credit in that course. A family meeting will be required for any student nearing this situation.
Planned Absences
Families are asked not to schedule extended trips during school time—whether for college visits, personal vacations, etc. These trips should occur during scheduled school vacations. However, when such trips are absolutely unavoidable, families are required to contact the appropriate Grade Level Dean to get administrative approval.
Medical and dental appointments should be scheduled after or before school hours, but students who must miss school for such appointments must bring a signed doctor’s note within two school days of the appointment to clear the absence.
All students are expected to use the Anticipated Absence Form (obtained from grade level deans in person or requested via email) when missing more than one class period, and should work out a plan with their teacher for making up work. Out of respect for teachers and homework assignments, this must be done 48 hours in advance of missed classes.
Multiple Absences
Students who miss 6 or more sessions of a given class (not due to illness) during a semester because of a trip of choice (including college visits, family trips, etc), extracurricular activities, or unexcused absences (a.k.a. “cuts”) will lose credit in that class. Classes missed for illness, bereavement, or in-school field trips do not count towards the Multiple Absence limit.
When a student has missed 6 classes, their course grade is reduced by 1/3 and they cannot earn higher than an A– for the semester. The student’s grade continues to drop by 1/3 with each additional class missed in that semester. The grade reductions are implemented by the grade level deans at the end of each semester. For example, a semester grade of B+ would be reduced to B if that student misses 6 classes in the semester.
At 10 missed class meetings or 15 missed school days, not necessarily consecutive and including classes missed for athletic commitments, a student may be denied credit in that course.
Absences Due to Illness
Students who are ill SHOULD STAY HOME AND RECOVER. Teachers post assignments on the website and students will have as many class days to make up work as they were absent. Students who become ill while at school must check-out with the receptionist who will contact a parent/guardian to pick up the student or request permission for the student to travel home. After 3 consecutive absences due to illness, the grade level dean may request a note from a doctor.
Students who suffer a concussion requiring some medical modification of school attendance or school work should immediately notify the grade level dean.
Lengthy Illness that Results in a Medical Leave
Should a student miss a significant amount of school due to lengthy illness (e.g., appendicitis, concussions—excused absences, explained by a doctor’s note) the Grade Level Dean will devise a timeline for the completion of class papers/projects and final exams, within two rotations of the Spring Semester or two weeks into summer break. If work has not been submitted after the established timeline, the student’s work will be subject to a reduction in grade to be determined by the Dean of Students and the Assistant Head of School.
For students who have missed 7 or more school days due to illness:
- The grade level dean will require a family conference to discuss the missed class content.
- The administration/teachers will consult and devise an appropriate timeline for the student’s completion of curricular work.
- Extracurricular pursuits may be suspended until the student has caught up in the coursework.
Should the extended absence equal 10 missed class meetings or 15 missed school days in a semester (not necessarily consecutive), the student may not receive course credit for that semester and may be asked to take medical leave from school. Students who take medical leave from school and seek to re- enroll will be asked to provide a doctor’s note and parents/guardians will be asked to meet with the Head of School and Dean of Students to agree to the terms and conditions of the leave and re-enrollment, as established by the Head of School and outlined in a formal re-enrollment letter.
UNEXCUSED ABSENCEs, a.k.a. “Cuts"
Absent students not on the list of excused absences will be considered unexcused and the absence will be marked as a "Cut."
Lateness or absence due to malfunctioning alarm clocks, missed buses, late night studying, and the like, are considered unexcused as is being tardy or absent from a given class for 30 minutes or more. *Cuts taken because of social justice work are treated differently: see below.
Process for Excusing a Cut:
- Student/Family MUST contact receptionist and grade-level dean within TWO weeks from date of unexcused absence
- Grade-Level dean (in consultation with a teacher) determines if the absence is, in fact, excused
- Dean will notify the student, family, and receptionist of the decision.
After the TWO weeks time frame has elapsed, the CUT will remain as unexcused and is subject to consequences below.
An unexcused absence results in a:
- Grade reduction of 1/6 (or 1.67) of the student's semester grade
- Zero” on any daily assignment OR
- Lowered grade on any major assignment (including papers, projects, or tests) that was due during the class that was cut, as determined by the Dean in consultation with the teacher.
- "Cuts" also count towards the Multiple Absence limit (see above)
Failure to attend a Community Meeting, Assembly, or Advising Group is counted as an unexcused absence and will result in consequences such as suspension of off campus privileges, mandatory study hall, and if such behavior continues, disciplinary probation.
If a pattern of unexcused absences and tardiness continues, the school will contact the student’s family for a conference to discuss further disciplinary consequences, which may include denied credit in a course. Students who continue to amass unexcused absences and tardies will be put on Disciplinary Probation and may even be asked to leave LWHS.
Athletics and Performing Arts
Students participating in school activities such as athletics and performances must attend classes on the day of those activities/performances (or day before in the case of a Saturday event). They may not participate in games, practices, performances, rehearsals, or attend school-sponsored functions such as a dance, play, etc., if they have missed any part of the school day. Exceptions are made for medical and dental appointments if a parent has notified the school. In the case of illness the parent/guardian should contact the Dean of Students to discuss above.
If students need to miss any classes or portions of classes for sports or performing arts activities or other school-sponsored events they must obtain teacher permission and signature on an Athletics Anticipated Absence Form (available from School Receptionist Molly French) the DAY PRIOR TO THE EVENT, no later than 4pm.
- If the signed form is NOT submitted the day before, the student MAY NOT miss any class(es) to attend the event
- Students are responsible for turning in assignments on time and for making up any work missed as a result of their absence, preferably in advance
- Only students in good standing will be allowed to miss class—others may be required to attend class because of the negative academic consequences of being absent
- Teachers and/or Deans reserve the right to deny early dismissal for such events
- Students who have multiple assignments or major projects outstanding in a given class (e.g. semester papers or projects) may not attend athletic, performing, or any schoolwide co-curricular events until this work has been submitted
CUTS for Social Justice/Activism/Protests:
Students who miss class (es) due to a protest or other activism will initially receive a cut for those missed classes. Within two weeks of receiving a cut for social justice-related work, students must complete the social activism attendance form (housed in the Center with Student Council). Once this form is reviewed by the Student Inclusion Chair (s), they will notify the appropriate dean with their final decision on whether or not the document is approved. The dean will uphold this decision unless there are extenuating circumstances that must be addressed. When the document is approved, Molly will be notified and she will turn your cut into a “cut for social justice work.”
Additionally, the following will occur:
- Students will not receive a 1.6 grade reduction in the semester grade of the class (es) you missed.
- Students must submit homework due in the class (es) you missed, digitally, by the start time of that block.
- Students will need to rely on a peer to access missed coursework.
- Students will receive a "zero” on any classwork that was assigned and due in the block missed; a 1/3 letter grade deduction on any major, quarter-dependent assessments as students must coordinate with their teacher to make up the assessment for reduced credit.
- Students will also receive a "zero” on assessments that cannot be made up (debates, presentations, etc.)
Cuts for Social Justice Work do not mean that the school is in support of the student leaving school. Students should make individual choices in accordance with their personal and familial values. Students are encouraged to consider the risks in attending rallies and protests, and be mindful of their personal safety and aware of their surroundings.