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Student Policies

Attendance
Research shows that regular school attendance is vital to academic success and that student achievement improves with good attendance. Students must attend school regularly and be on time to classes in order to maximize instructional benefits. Additionally, regular school attendance and punctuality develop self-discipline and responsibility. Not only is school attendance compulsory, but it should also be encouraged and expected.

Putnam County Schools will cooperate with parents and students to try to improve their children's attendance, but parents and students must assume ultimate responsibility for regular school attendance.

Terms
Absence - not being present in class or approved school activity. Any student who is physically absent from school must be counted absent.

Excused absence - (1) illness/injury verified by a medical excuse; (2) death in the immediate family (limited to three days per death); (3) legal or religious obligation; (4) failure of bus to run (note from bus driver or parent may be required; (5) approved school activities; and parent notes (high school: up to six days per term) and (elementary/ middle: up to six days per year).

Unexcused absence - any absences not covered above. Suspension days are unexcused absences

Early departure - any time a parent or guardian receives permission to sign out a student prior to the end of the instructional day

Skipping - any absence from school/class and/or approved school activity without administrative permission

Tardiness - entry to school or class after the designated starting time

Verification - written documentation explaining absences. Verification is due upon return to school.

Parent Notification Process
3 Absences
On the third (3rd) unexcused absence, parents or guardians will receive written notification from the school. Parents may schedule a conference with school officials, and schools may offer services to help keep students in school. 

5 Absences
On the fifth (5th) unexcused absence, the Putnam County Schools Attendance Coordinator sends a legal notice advising of the consequences should the student continue to accumulate unexcused absences.

More than 10 Absences
If the student, including those who are 18 years of age or older,  and parent or guardian does not comply with the provisions of the five (5) day legal notice, a notification for a hearing concerning the students's attendance will be mailed by the Magistrate Court of Putnam County. Failure to appear or comply before the Magistrate Court may result in a warrant for the arrest of the parent, student or both.
 


Code of Conduct
We encourage all Putnam County students to behave in a manner that promotes an orderly, nurturing, safe school environment that is conducive to learning and personal and social development:
  • Students will help create an atmosphere free from bullying, intimidation, harassment, and violence.
  • Students will demonstrate honesty and trustworthiness.
  • Students will treat others with respect, deal peacefully with anger, use good manners, and be considerate of the feelings of others.
  • Students will demonstrate responsibility, use self-control, and be self-disciplined.
  • Students will demonstrate fairness, play by the rules, and will not take advantage of others.
  • Students will demonstrate compassion and caring.
  • Students will demonstrate good citizenship by obeying laws and rules, respecting authority, and by cooperating with others.


Discipline
Student disciplinary measures are initiated when rules of conduct are violated or when a student's behavior interrupts the education or activities of others or the operation of the school. Disciplinary actions are designed to meet the following immediate and long range needs:
  • To ensure the safety of students and staff;
  • To maintain a positive learning environment;
  • To develop and maintain respect for individuals and the school;
  • To ensure fairness in behavioral expectations;
  • To respect the physical, intellectual, or emotional limitations of individual students;
  • To develop the student's sense of personal responsibility to others and themselves; and
  • To instill in all students the importance of self discipline.

Dress Code
In order to create a school culture and learning environment that foster good citizenship within the school, Putnam County Schools has established policy governing attire and appearance rights and responsibilities for the regular school day. The intent of this is to provide students great freedom in deciding what they can wear to school and, at the same time, to protect everyone's right to equal educational opportunities.

Please Note: Putnam County Schools regulations are minimum standards for attire and appearance. Schools may require additional standards that they determine necessary or appropriate for the safe, orderly conduct of school.

For more information view the Putnam County Schools Policy Manual.
 


Grades
Grading Scale
Putnam's grading scale in grades one through twelve is as follows:
A = 93 100%
B = 85 92%
C = 75 84%
D = 65 74%
F = 0 64%
Grade Point Averages
In grades nine through twelve (9 - 12), where credit toward graduation is awarded based upon completion of Carnegie units, grade point averages are calculated by dividing quality points by the number of units taken which carry credit. The quality point value of grades is as follows:
A = 4 points
B = 3 points
C = 2 points
D = 1 point
F = 0 points
Weighted Grades
For courses approved by the College Board as Advanced Placement, students may receive a "weighted grade" upon completion of the Advanced Placement Examination. Weighted grades carry the following quality point value:
A = 5 points
B = 4 points
C = 3 points
D = 2 points
F = 0 points
Re-taking Courses
High school students who earn unsatisfactory grades in courses may retake the course to improve proficiency. Both grades will appear on a student's transcript; however, the higher of the two grades will be used for computing the total G.P.A.


Policy Manual
For further information about our county, view our Putnam County Schools Policy Manual.