Attendance Philosophy

1. All students are expected to be on time (7:00 am) and present each day school is open during the school year. Students shall be counted in attendance if they are actually present at school at the time the attendance is taken or are away from school on a school day and engaged in an educational activity that constitutes a part of the school-approved instructional program for the student (Section 1003.23, Florida Statutes).
2. Students may not be absent from school without permission of the principal/designee.
   1. The school principal or designee is the only person authorized to excuse a student’s absence.
   2. A note from a parent/guardian is a request that a student’s absence be excused. Upon return to school, excused absence notes are to be uploaded on Focus, emailed to [email protected], or turned in to the 1st-period teacher. School Board policy identified the following reasons as excusable absences:
      1. Personal illness of the student (medical evidence may be required by the principal or designee for absences exceeding five (5) consecutive days).
      2. Court appearance of the student.
      3. Medical appointment of the student.
      4. Pregnancy-related issues (see also Policy 5751).
      5. Approved school activity.
      6. Insurmountable conditions. Insurmountable conditions are extreme weather conditions, communicable disease outbreaks, and local conditions determined by the School District which, after taking into account the material circumstances, would render impracticable a student's attendance at school. (F.A.C. 6A-1.09513)
      7. Other absences with prior approval of the principal or designee.
      8. Attendance at a center under Children and Families Services supervision.
      9. Significant community events with prior permission of the Principal.
      10. Religious instruction or religious holiday.
      11. Death in the immediate family.
      12. Appointments for a therapy service provided by a licensed health care practitioner or behavior analyst certified pursuant to Florida law for the treatment of autism spectrum disorder, including, but not limited to, applied behavioral analysis, speech therapy, and occupational therapy.
   3. Failure to report and explain the absence(s) upon return shall result in unexcused absences.
   4. When a student accumulates an excessive number of absences – five (5) days in a calendar month or ten (10) days within 90 calendar days – and additional absences occur, which are caused by illness, a written statement from a physician verifying that the absence was caused by an illness may be required by the principal to be submitted by the parent/guardian School Board Policy 5200..
   5. Habitual truancy is defined as fifteen (15) unexcused absences within 90 calendar days.

Leaving School

Bonita Springs High School is a closed campus. Students who wish to leave school early must present a written request to the secretary in the Attendance Office. The note must be signed by a parent/guardian and must include the reason, as well as a phone number where the parent/guardian can be reached to verify the note. A parent/guardian may also come to the office in person to sign a student out. No telephone sign-outs are allowed. School administrators will handle special circumstances. Per School Board Policy 4.16, students may not be signed out in the last 30 minutes of the school day except in emergencies or with prior administrative approval.

Make-up Work Policy

According to Board Policy 5200, students are permitted to make up work for both credit and a grade following any excused absence. Upon returning to school, students will have the number of days they were absent plus one extra day to complete all missed assignments. It is the student’s responsibility to request the make-up work from their teachers.

Tardy to School

Students are required to be in class by 7:00 a.m. After 7:00 a.m., students are considered tardy to school. Tardiness is considered a Level 5 discipline infraction, and consequences will be assigned per the Code of Conduct.