If your student has to be absent from school please submit this form your child's absence.  Please note correspondence must be received within 3 days of the absence in order to be excused.  Anything submitted past that will not be accepted. You may also attach a doctor's note or other documentation.

• Highland Student Absentee Note

Educational requests must be submitted to the principal at least TWO WEEKS in advance in order for the team to review the request.  Requests received during or after the trip will be denied. While many experiences are educational, the parameters for an excused absence are intended to reinforce grade level curriculum standards or afford a unique opportunity.  Please visit the following website for current grade level standards to align your request to your child's specific grade level standards.  

• Highland Educational Absence Approval Form

*Note:  Family trips to Disney, long weekends at the beach or mountains, as well as family reunions and celebrations are not reasons to request excused absences for educational opportunity.

Good attendance in school is important for a child's development. The state of North Carolina has laws governing school attendance:

http://www.ncpublicschools.org/docs/fbs/accounting/manuals/sasa.pdf

Lawful Absences

• Illness or Injury (note from parent or doctor required within 2 days of the child’s return to school)

•  Death in the Immediate Family

•  Medical Dental Appointment (note from doctor’s office required)

•  Court or administrative Proceeding (where child’s presences is required)

• Religious Observance (note from parent required)

• Educational Opportunity (must be approved at least 2 weeks in advance by the school principal)

 Other Points to Remember

• School starts at 7:20 AM and ends at 2:40 PM. If a student is not in their classroom by 7:50 AM, then they are tardy. They have to be signed in at the office.

• Parents are required to sign students in and out at the front office between 7:50 AM and 2:20 PM (students will not be called to the office after 2:20 for security reasons).

• Students will not be called to the office early for parents to pick up unless they are sick.

• State law mandates that students must be present for half the instructional day to be counted present (3 hours and 25 minutes). The cutoff for half a day present is 11:15 on a regular school day. Times are modified for system-wide early release days.

• All transfer students are held to strict attendance policies outlined in the contract signed by the parent at the beginning of the school year or when the transfer is approved. Transfers can be revoked at any time during the school for attendance policy violations. 

Thank you for working with us to foster your child’s success!