Students will not be counted absent from school when participating in school-sponsored events or activities. To be counted present, students must be in school at least one half of the school day (2 blocks).

Following an absence from school, students must present a note from a parent/guardian to the Attendance Office BEFORE 7:20 am to avoid an unexcused tardy. To receive an “excused absence,” the note must include:
Student’s Name—First and Last (Printed)—No nicknames
Date(s) absent
Reason for absence(s) – see list that follows
Parent/Guardian signature
Home and work phone numbers of parents

Students must present a note to the Attendance Office on the day they return to school following an absence. Students who do not bring a note within 2 days will have the absence(s) permanently classified as UNEXCUSED.

Students MUST receive an Admit slip (excused or unexcused) from the Attendance Office to be admitted to class. Students who do not present an Admit Slip will not be admitted to class.

Based on School Board policy 6000.3, only the following reasons constitute an excused absence:
1. Illness or injury which makes the student physically unable to attend school.
2. Isolation ordered by the State Board of Health, or the Wake County Health Department.
3. Death in the immediate family.
4. Medical, dental or other appointment with a health care provider approved IN ADVANCE.
5. Court when a student is under subpoena.
6. Religious observance as suggested by the religion of the student or the student’s parents.
7. Absences due to educational travel, including college days, with prior approval of the principal. Parents must complete an Educational Absence form and submit to the principal at least three (3) days prior to the scheduled trip. Seniors are allowed two college days during the course of the school year.

All other absences will be considered unexcused. Examples: skipping class, car trouble, oversleeping, missing the bus, business trip with parents, etc.

All students participating in interscholastic activities must be present in school for the ENTIRE DAY in order to participate in activities, performances, or practices, except where specifically exempted by a physician.

Wakefield High School has a computer that will call home between 5:00-9:30 p.m. to inform parents that their child has been marked absent. The computer will call home for EVERY absence—even for excused absences. Our intent is to keep parents informed. Please do not be concerned if you receive a call about an excused absence. Attendance letters will be sent home following the 3rd, 6th, and 10th absences from school during a semester period.

Seniors may be exempted from exams if the following criteria are met:
• “A” average with 3 or fewer excused absences for the course.
• “B” average with 2 or fewer excused absences for the course.

All absences count in exemption absence total except for school-sponsored field trips or activities and pre-approved college days (see sample form in handbook). No senior can be exempted from a State End-of-Course test or VOCATS test. Seniors with unexcused absences will not be exempted. Teachers are responsible for determining eligible seniors in each class based on the above criteria.

Any student arriving after the 7:25 a.m. bell should report directly to the Attendance Office to receive an Admit Slip. The Admit Slip should be shown to every teacher whose class was missed. Students who report to class on time but have to be sent to the attendance office for an admit slip because of a previous absence, will be marked as having an unexcused tardy to class. Unexcused tardies will be handled through the discipline system. Habitually late students will receive disciplinary consequences and may lose their parking privileges and/or their off-campus lunch passes.

Any student who needs to leave school before 2:17 p.m. must present a note from a parent/guardian to the Attendance Office. The note must include:
Student’s Name—First and Last (Printed)—No nicknames
Date(s) absent
Time to leave
Reason for leaving
Parent/Guardian signature
Home and work phone numbers of parents to verify the note

The note must be dropped off by 7:20 a.m. Students should return to the Attendance Office at the appropriate time to check out. Students will receive an Admit Slip for use upon return. The Admit Slip should be shown to every teacher whose class was missed.

If student is leaving for a medical or dentist appointment, the student must bring verification of visit on doctor’s letterhead to the attendance office upon their return to school.

If a student needs to check out early and does not have a note, a parent or guardian must give the Attendance Office verbal permission to check out. Students should only come to the attendance office to check out if they have a note from their current teacher or are in lunch. If a parent cannot be reached by phone, student will not be allowed to check out.

STUDENTS WHO GO OFF CAMPUS FOR LUNCH, MUST RETURN TO SCHOOL TO CHECK OUT. YOUR PARENT MAY NOT CALL THE SCHOOL TO NOTIFY US YOU ARE SICK IN LIEU OF YOUR RETURNING TO SCHOOL.

FAILURE TO CHECK IN OR OUT THROUGH THE ATTENDANCE OFFICE WILL RESULT IN DISCIPLINARY CONSEQUENCES.