Dear Parents/Guardians:

As we finish up the first half of our school year and prepare to move on to our second semester, we just wanted to send a reminder about the Judge Memorial attendance/tardy policy outlined in the handbook. Thank you for your partnership is adhering to these policies, and please be aware that any violation of these policies, procedures and rules will be enforced according to the policy.

In general, if your student is checking in late at the beginning of the day, they are to be accompanied by a note, or a phone call should have proceeded them to the main office, explaining the reason. If your student is going to be absent for the school day, a parent/guardian must call by 9 a.m. that day, and a follow-up note must be sent within 48 hours to the main office. If the absence is exempt, the exemption documentation must also be on file with the main office within 48 hours. Remember, if we do not receive this documentation within 48 hours, the attendance policy will be enforced. If you have any questions, please call the main office, 801.363.8895. Below, please review all aspects of the Judge Memorial student handbook that deal with attendance and/or tardies.

L. Attendance

Absence from school, a class, assembly, retreat, or assigned study time without excuse lessens the student’s learning time and creates a safety risk. Students may miss school, a class, assembly, or assigned study period only with written authorization from the Deans’ Office. Off-campus privileges do not excuse a student from assemblies or Masses. Students will be marked absent from assemblies if not seated as assigned by the CP instructor. Students who miss more than two school Masses, prayer services or liturgies will receive consequences regardless of whether parents excuse the absence.

Absences for authorized school activities or absences which are medically required and authorized by a physician are exempt from this rule. A physician’s authorization should be brought to the Deans’ Office within 48 hours of the student’s return to school. The school strongly encourages families to schedule doctor appointments and the like for after-school hours and to plan travel for school holidays. When this is impossible, families should follow the procedures for planned absences from school. (See Discipline and Attendance Procedures.)

Teachers may include participation as part of a student’s grade. Class absence, regardless of the reason, may impact the participation and attendance portion of the grade.

M. Excessive Absences

Excessive absences may affect a student’s academic standing. Two (2) unexcused absences from any class or study period will result in a failing grade for the quarter. Additionally, Excessive Absences from any class or assembly, whether excused or unexcused, may result in no credit for that class for the quarter. Without prior authorization from the Deans’ Office, the student will receive a failing grade for more than six (6) absences in a quarter from any class or study time. Absences for authorized school activities or absences which are medically required and authorized by a physician are exempt from this rule.

R. Tardiness

Tardiness for school, class, assembly, or assigned study time is a distraction to other students, is disrespectful to the teacher or presenter, and causes the tardy student to miss important information. A student arriving late to school must check in at the main office. Failure to do so, or arriving late to school without a legitimate excuse from a parent/guardian, will result in detention or other consequences. Students arriving late to a class will be marked tardy by the teacher if they arrive to class after the four-minute passing period. Teachers will notify the Deans' Office if a student is repeatedly or excessively tardy. Leaving a class or assembly before dismissal by the teacher will be treated in a similar matter. The tardy will become an absence after ten minutes.

Excusing and exempting absences

If a student is absent from school due to illness or emergency, the parent or guardian must call the attendance secretary at 801-517-2142 by 9 a.m. on the day of the absence. It is necessary to follow up with a note within 48 hours of the absence. The note must contain the date, the student's full name, an explanation of the absence, dates and times of the absence, parent name, contact information, and a signature. If the absence was medically necessary and the student wishes the absence to be exempt from the excessive absence rule (rule M), the student should bring the physician’s authorization to the Deans’ Office within 48 hours of his/her return to school. After 48 hours all absences will be considered unexcused.

Families should plan travel and other activities for school holidays. In the event of an emergency when travel is necessary during school time, the student should obtain a planned absence form from the Deans’ Office and complete it at least two weeks before the absence. Absences may affect a student’s grade, including any grades given for participation.

Late arrival and early dismissal

Students arriving at school after 8 a.m. for any reason must check in at the Deans’ Office before going to class. A late arrival will be excused if the parent or guardian has called the Deans’ Office with the estimated time and a legitimate reason for the late arrival. If a student must leave school before dismissal time, he or she must go to the Deans’ Office before 7:55 A.M. the day of the early dismissal, accompanied by a note from the parent or guardian, to obtain an early dismissal slip. A student who becomes ill and feels the need to go home during the day must report to the Deans’ Office and call a parent from there. Students must check in and out through the Deans’ Office even when they will not miss a class during the absence.

Parent/Guardian honesty

Honesty about any absence is one of the most important ways that parents and school officials can collaborate in forming responsible adults. Parents/guardians who falsify student information or fabricate excuses as to a student's absence or behavior fail to support the basic trust on which the relationship between school and parent is built.