Attendance and Withdrawl
Attendance and Withdrawl
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Regular attendance at school should be a priority of each student and should be encouraged and enforced by her parents. Regular attendance at school is an absolute necessity if a student is to succeed in her academic endeavors. It also develops in students the habits of accountability and responsibility needed throughout life.
A student must be present a minimum of 165 days to be considered for promotion to the next grade. If a student is absent more than 15 days for a year course or more than 10 days for a semester course, she may receive no credit in that course .
Any student who misses a total of three unexcused class sessions from a zero period or seventh period course, but is present for the school day, will be dropped from the course, a failure will be recorded on her transcripts, and no credit will be earned for the course.
Any student who is absent from school on the day of a school event (dance, game, retreat, etc.) may not attend or participate in that event.
The school grounds are closed to students until 7:30 a.m. However, students who must arrive to school earlier than 7:30 a.m. are permitted to enter through the gate and sit in the courtyard area until the official opening of the school grounds is signaled by the bell. The regular school day begins with a warning bell at 8:05 a.m. A student not in her homeroom at the 8:10 a.m. bell is considered tardy and will be noted as such on her attendance record. (See Discipline for penalties for tardiness)
Dismissal on regular class days is at 2:10 p.m., unless a student is taking a period 7 class or participating in an activity supervised by a teacher. Students taking a period 7 class will be dismissed at 3:00 p.m. Due to special scheduling, there will be days when students are dismissed earlier or later than the usual 2:10 p.m. dismissal time. These days are clearly indicated in the school calendar issued to parents and students at the beginning of the school year. Parents are expected to arrange transportation and supervision of their daughters in accordance with the dismissal times. The school assumes no responsibility for a student before or after the stated times unless she is participating in an approved school sponsored activity.
On most Fridays during the school year, students who did not receive a demerit during the week will be dismissed at 2:10 p.m. Students who received one or more demerits will report to a Demerit Detention. Dismissal for those students will be at 3:00 p.m.
To preserve the academic environment and security of the school, Archdiocesan high schools are designed as “closed campuses.” No person may enter the campus without lawful business authorized by the school administration. Visitors, including alumnae and parents, are directed to the school office for desired information or business. Visitors are not allowed on campus at any time without the expressed knowledge and permission of the school administration, nor may anything be delivered to students without expressed permission.
Excused absences include illness, verified doctor visit, verified dental work, validated court appearance, death in the family (up to 3 days) and approved school activities.
Unexcused absences are all other absences which are taken with permission of the parents but not of the school. Personal business, vacations, and visits to relatives are unexcused absences. Also, a student who does not bring a note the day she returns to school will have an unexcused absence, regardless of the reason.
Students are responsible to make up all class work, tests or assignments missed whether the absence is excused or unexcused.
Unauthorized absences or truancy are those absences without parental knowledge and/or permission. If a student is truant she is subject to disciplinary action. She may not make up class work or tests missed because of truancy. These cases will be handled by the Dean of Students who will hold a conference with the student and her parents.
To receive the maximum benefit from classroom and instructional participation, it is important that a student report to school each day. However, when she must be absent from school, the parents/guardians, are required to call the school office before 9 a.m. on the day the student is absent. The school phone number is 323-737-0012 ext. 107. If a parent fails to notify the school by the time specified, every reasonable effort will be made to contact the parent for verification of the absence. Students must also bring a note signed by one of their parents to the attendance office on the first day returning to school after an absence . Failure to bring this written excuse on the first day of return will result in a demerit; failure to bring the note the following day will result in suspension from classes. A parent will be asked to bring this note to school in order for the student to be readmitted to her classes, If a student is absent three or more consecutive days, a doctor's certificate is to accompany the note .
If a student is absent four or more consecutive days, her parents should contact the school to request assignments and make arrangements to pick up the needed books and papers. It is the student's responsibility to make up all assignments, projects, and tests she missed during her absence. A student who is absent three or fewer consecutive days should ask her teachers about assignments upon her return to school, or should contact classmates about class work and assignments during her absence.
When a student returns to school from an absence, she must present a written explanation of her absence to the attendance clerk. The note should include the student's name, the date(s) of the absence, the reason for the absence, and the parent's signature. The student will receive a re-admit slip which must be presented to each teacher. No student will be permitted to enter a class without the re-admit slip. If the student has an excused absence, she may make up the missed work in accordance with the course policy.
Students are reminded that each year's record of absence and lateness goes on their permanent record and, as such, becomes a part of every transcript sent to a school or business.
A warning bell rings at 8:05. A student who is not in her homeroom and in full uniform at 8:10 will be considered tardy. She must then report to the attendance office to receive a tardy slip. (See “Discipline” section for consequences.)
Early Dismissal, Off-Campus Permits, Illnesses and Accidents
Parents are urged to leave their daughters in school for the entire day. Medical/Dental appointments or other appointments should be scheduled outside of school hours and on school holidays whenever possible. If a medical/dental/legal appointment occurs during the school day, the student must present a note to the attendance clerk before school begins, and must present a written verification from the doctor, dentist, court specifying the time and length of the appointment to the attendance clerk upon her return to school. If a special and/or emergency situation arises resulting in an early dismissal, a written request must be presented before the start of the school day, stating time and reason for this early dismissal and the means of transportation at time of departure. The student will receive an off campus permit. When the student returns to school, she must bring the off-campus permit or a note from her parent/guardian to the attendance office to receive an admit slip to return to class. For legal and security reasons, phone call requests for early release will never be honored. Parents must sign out their daughter in the attendance office. No student will be permitted to leave early on any day with a scheduled class/school-wide activity for any reason whatsoever .
If a student is injured or becomes ill at school, she is to report to her teacher and ask for a permit to come to the school office. If necessary, parents will be contacted, using the information provided to the school on the emergency card. All students who are injured or become ill must check out through the office before leaving school. Students who are ill or must leave school due to an emergency, must first obtain permission to leave from an administrator or delegate, then contact a parent or guardian to make arrangements to be picked up from school, and then must sign out in the school office. Under no circumstances will a student be released from school without an accompanying adult. There is only one exception to this policy: a s tudent with on-campus parking permits may drive herself home when sick provided written parental notice is on file in the office granting the student permission to drive herself home and releasing the school from all liability. However, this is not recommended. Remember: It is necessary that we know where to reach a parent/guardian at all times at home and work.
No medication, including aspirin, may be distributed by the school.
A student who has been absent from school because of a reported communicable disease must have a permit issued by the Public Health Department, a physician or a nurse before she is re-admitted to school. The principal may readmit a student absent because of non-reportable communicable disease, such as chicken-pox, German measles and influenza.
Infection with AIDS in and of itself should not be a reason to exclude students from any Catholic elementary or secondary school, religious education program or institution of higher learning. However, alternate educational and catechetical arrangements may be made for infected children whose behavior has been shown to be a danger to others.
The school will undertake an educational effort to inform staff, students and parents about serious communicable diseases in general and Acquired Immune Deficiency syndrome (AIDS) in particular.
Each instance of AIDS involving a student shall be treated in a strictly confidential manner. Decisions regarding such occurrences shall take into account Christian concern and compassion, community health and well-being and individual privacy and needs. Each situation shall be analyzed and responded to as required by its particular facts.
Decisions regarding admission or retention of students should involve a confidential consultation with the student's parents/guardians, family physician, pastor, principal and regional supervisor from the Department of Catholic Schools.
The school will require a definite medical diagnosis within a prescribed period of time, as with any other serious communicable disease, for any student who has been told that she has AIDS.
The school will keep in strict confidence all information it receives from any source regarding students who have a serious communicable disease, subject to the requirements of the law and these guidelines.
In accordance with Archdiocesan policy, when a student's pregnancy becomes known to school personnel by whatever means, the Principal meets with the student and her parents. The student will be required to receive appropriate professional counseling consistent with Catholic teachings to assist her with the circumstances of the pregnancy and with making choices for the future of both parents and the new born child.
Plans for the continued education of the student will be determined in a student-parent-principal conference. Should the student remain in school she may participate fully in all activities to the extent that her condition permits and the common good of the school is fostered. It is possible that the plans for her continued education will include the student's return to school after delivery of her child.
Without jeopardy to the above guidelines, the school retains the right and responsibility to promulgate Catholic moral teaching and to implement disciplinary measures, including expulsion, for public and overt breaches of Catholic moral teaching.
Central to the philosophy of Bishop Conaty-Our Lady of Loretto High School is the belief that parents are the primary educators of their children. In support of this, the school and the parents work in close collaboration in all aspects of the student's educational process. Since a married student is in effect no longer accountable to a parent or guardian, the relationship between the school and the parents is compromised. Therefore, any student who marries will not be allowed to attend Bishop Conaty-Our Lady of Loretto High School.
Students No Longer Living With Their Parent/Guardian
Central to the philosophy of Bishop Conaty-Our Lady of Loretto High School is the belief that parents are the primary educators of their children. In support of this, the school and the parents work in close collaboration in all aspects of the student's educational process. A student not living in the home of a parent or guardian may not be allowed to attend Bishop Conaty-Our Lady of Loretto High School.
The teaching of the Catholic Church is clear regarding the inviolable right to life of all human beings, the reverence and respect owed to each person including those conceived and not yet born, and the morally indefensible procurement of an abortion.
Abortion which disregards innocent human life, is incompatible with and contradictory to the fundamental teachings of the Church, the mission of the Catholic school and the values that ought to permeate Catholic education. ( Gaudium et Spes, 51; Code of Canon Law , 1398)
Catholic teaching does not accept that anyone may justifiably arrange for or procure an abortion for oneself or for another person, be forced or pressured into having an abortion or influence or coerce another person to have an abortion. Moreover, given the already existing network of prenatal programs and pregnancy counseling available in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, there is no acceptable reason why any student should be coerced into having an abortion.
Therefore, the involvement of any student in procuring or assisting in the procurement of an abortion is cause for such student to be dismissed from school. Furthermore, if any student's parent or guardian coerced and/or assists in the procurement of an abortion for his or her daughter or any another student, this action is also cause for the daughter of that parent or guardian to be dismissed from school.
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