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Attendance and Technology Policies
The following are two policies we ask that you support us with this year to ensure your child has the best learning environment possible.
Attendance
As a school, we firmly believe in the importance of students being at school on time, every day. Research has shown that chronic absences from school may be connected to lower reading proficiency, lower test scores, higher dropout rates, and lower college persistence. Excessive absences not only impact a student’s work, but they can have long-term effects on a student’s future academic success.
In addition to academic classes, all students are expected to attend and participate in each of the following, barring pre-approved exceptions: Advisory, Student-Led Conferences, Exhibitions, Presentations of Learning, Osprey Week, NEST Meetings, Advisory Olympics.
Students who are absent from class during the day without an excuse from parent/guardian:
- 1st unexcused absence: the student meets with the Dean of Students to discuss their absence.
- 2nd unexcused absence: the student meets with the Dean of Students to discuss their absence, and creates an email that is sent to their parent/guardian addressing the issue.
- 3rd unexcused absence: Dean of Students facilitates a meeting with the parent(s)/guardian and student to review the Student Contract and discuss why the absences are occurring. A plan of action will be created to address the absences.
Any student who misses 10 consecutive days of school, even with contact from their family to the school, may find that they are not granted credit for their classes because they have missed too much content.
Arriving to class late and unexcused is a disruption and interferes with the initial protocols in any classroom. As such, any student who has 3 unexcused tardies in a class over the course of a semester may receive an unexcused absence from the instructor.
Technology:
Students may use personal electronics, including cell phones, before/after school, at lunch or during class with permission from an AHS staff member. At all other times, personal electronics must be stored in backpacks/bags and turned off; teachers may ask to collect phones during class. When using personal electronics on campus, students must refrain from accessing any material/content that is inappropriate for school, including videos/pictures of a violent or sexual nature. In the halls, we strongly encourage limited use of headphones, in the spirit of communication, connection, and being an Osprey. In classrooms, headphones should be stored in backpacks, and teachers will grant permission to use them when it is deemed appropriate. When sound is coming from your computer or cell phone, it is expected that headphones MUST be worn.
When expectations in the classroom regarding technology use aren’t met:
- 1st infraction: teacher takes the technology for the class period and returns it at the end of the period.
- 2nd infraction: teacher takes the technology and gives it to the Dean of Students who keeps it until the end of day. Student and Dean will have a conversation about the issue.
- 3rd infraction: teacher takes the technology and gives it to the Dean of Students, who will keep it until the end of day. The Dean of Students facilitates a meeting with the parent/guardian(s) and student to review the Student Contract and discuss why inappropriate use of technology in the classroom is occurring. A plan of action will be created to address the situation.
Using a phone to complete schoolwork is not an acceptable alternative to using a laptop computer. Students who have their own laptops should bring them to school. Students bringing computers and electronic devices to school do so at their own risk. The school will not accept responsibility for any loss, theft, or damage of any personal electronic device brought to school by any student. Further, the administration will not conduct any investigation or search for any electronic items missing or stolen from any student in school.
Technology and Learning Resources:
Strategies for structures at home
Further reading/listen ideas for parents and learners:
Please reach out to us with questions and we look forward to meeting you in person at Family Orientation on Wednesday September 7 at 5:30pm!
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