High School Attendance Office 24-hour line: 715-536-2413.
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All absences should be called in before they occur.
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If an unplanned absence occurs, a parent or guardian should call the school within 24 hours to explain the absence. After 24 hours, all absences will remain unexcused.
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Students are to sign-out in the attendance office prior to leaving school for any reason other than a school sponsored activity.
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In cases of questionable or multiple absences, the school has the right to refuse an excuse.
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Any child may be excused in writing by his or her parent or guardian before the absence.
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All students, parents, and staff in the MAPS District are required to observe the Compulsory School Attendance Law 118.15.
COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE
Wisconsin State Statute 118.15(1)(a): any person having under his/her control a child who is between the ages of 6 and 18 years and has not graduated from high school shall cause the child to attend regularly during the full period and hours, religious holidays excepted, that the public or private school in which the child should be enrolled is in session until the end of the school term, quarter or semester of the school year in which the child becomes 18 years of age.
Excused Absences – Wisconsin State Statute 118.15(3)(c): parent or legal guardian may excuse their child’s absence in writing before the absence. A child may not be excused for more than all or part of 10 days in a school year under this provision.
Excessive Excused Absences
Wisconsin State Statute 118.15(3)(c):
Parents may excuse students up to part/all of 10 school days without a doctor’s note. After students are excused part/all of 10 school days a current doctor’s note with date of absence included must be received by the attendance office in order to be excused. Those absences will be noted as “3-DP” in Skyward.
*Absences accompanied by a doctor’s note will NOT count against the 10 days*
After 10 days, all absences not accompanied by a doctor’s note will be considered unexcused.
Unexcused Absences
It is the student’s responsibility to clear up any discrepancies in attendance. It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to provide reasons for student absences and the school’s responsibility to determine if the absence is excused or unexcused. The school reserves the right to refuse an excuse if they have become excessive.
Truancy and Habitual Truancy
“Truancy” means any absence of part or all of one or more days from school during which the school attendance officer, principal, or teacher has not been notified of the legal cause of such absence by the parent or guardian of the absent pupil, and also means intermittent attendance carried on for the purpose of defeating the intent. Wisconsin Statute 118.16(c). Citations may be issued by the Merrill Police Department to students who are un-excused from school.
“Habitual truant” means a pupil who is absent from school without an acceptable excuse for part or all of five or more days on which school is held during a school semester. Wisconsin Statute 118.16(a).
TARDINESS
It is very important that our students get to school and to each class on time. Being late disrupts and interferes with classroom instruction.
Tardies will result in the student receiving a demerit. On the third, sixth and ninth demerit students will receive detention/in-school suspension.
MAKE UP WORK
All students with excused absences shall be given the opportunity to make up work/exams missed in accordance with the following guidelines:
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It is the student’s responsibility to contact his or her teacher(s) following an absence from school.
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Students with unexcused absences shall be given the opportunity to make up exams. Refer to the grading rubric for responsibilities in your class.
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Projects or assignments with previously established due dates must be submitted on the day of return, unless arrangements are made with the teacher.
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Any student out for an extended period of time should make attempts to contact the school in order to stay on top of his/her coursework. Please meet with your counselor for assistance for extended medical leave.
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