Unexcused absence - All other absences. Students with unexcused absences are considered truant. Out-of-school suspensions are unexcused absences.

State law requires students to submit a written excuse to the office for EVERY absence. To code the absence as excused in our official records, the student must bring a written note to school within three days of the absence. Appropriate early departure and late arrival notes for legitimate reasons (see above) WILL be accepted as a written excuse for the absence caused by the early departure/late arrival. Students must deposit the excuse in the box on the counter in the office before 8:10 a.m. The note must have the following information:

1. Student's name and grade
2. Date(s) absent from school
3. Reasons for absence
4. If bus did not run, bus number and bus driver's signature
5. Parent/guardian signature
6. Telephone number

Loss of Parking privileges for absences and/or tardies: Students who exceed ten (10) unexcused absences in a block or to school will lose their parking privileges for the rest of the school year. Students who exceed six tardies to any class or to school in a term will lose their parking privileges for the rest of the term.

Students who accumulate 15 or more unexcused absences IN A YEAR will lose their drivers LICENSE. Driving privileges will be restored when the student has earned a "C" or better average and has no unexcused absences in a term in each class.

Students who accumulate 10 or more unexcused absences IN A YEAR are considered TRUANT.

Participation in Extracurricular Activities
To participate in any extracurricular school activities, practice, game, or performance, outside of the regular school day, the student MUST be in school ALL DAY on that day. The only exceptions are medical excuses which release the student to practice or perform that day, or prior permission from the principal for the excused absence. Such excuses must be submitted to the principal before 3:30 p.m. of the day of the absence. Generally, if the student is too ill or hurt to be in school all day, the student is also unable to participate after school. If a student is suspended from school or assigned to ISS, the student may not participate in practice, games, or performances.

To leave the campus at any time during the school day, a student (regardless of age) must obtain permission from the school administration and must be properly signed out at the office. Failure to obtain permission from the administration and/or to follow sign-out procedures is a disciplinary violation, subject to consequences. To receive permission to sign out, prior to first period a student must turn into the office a parent-signed note containing the reason for the early departure and a telephone number at which the parent can be contacted. Office staff will call the parent/guardian and verify the early departure. If the early departure cannot be verified by phone, it will not be approved. Permission will be granted only for legitimate reasons. Students should arrange work schedules with their employers to respect class time until 3:32 p.m. Early departures will NOT be approved for students to go to work. An early departure pass will be issued to the student and must be presented to the office at sign-out. Parents picking up the students should come to the main office to sign out the students. Students who become ill must report to the office, call parents from the office, obtain permission to sign-out. DO NOT call your parents from your cell phones or payphones. Your parent MUST talk to office staff BEFORE you leave HHS, or you will be assigned a consequence for leaving without permission. Students who leave campus without SCHOOL permission will lose their paring privileges for the rest of the school year.

Comprehensive exams will be given on the last two days of each nine-week grading period and term.

ALL students must take the comprehensive exams at the end of first and third 9-weeks. Students may earn an exam exemption from the exams at the end of 1st and 2nd terms by earning satisfactory grades ("C" or better in that class) AND attending school faithfully (3 or fewer absences in the term).

• All teachers will give all students a comprehensive exam at the end of first and third 9-weeks. Students are REQUIRED to attend school ALL DAY each 9-weeks exam day. Classes will continue as usual when not taking exams.
• Students with "ABC/123" ("C" or better in the course and 3 or fewer absences, 2 or fewer absences for a 9-weeks class such as Driver's Education) will be exempt from the comprehensive final exam at the end of 1st and 2nd terms. If a student is has a "D" or an "F" average in the class or has more than 3 absences in the class (2 in a 9-weeks course), the student will take a comprehensive final for the term.
• All students receiving homebound instruction must take final exams.

The following reasons will not count against a student's exam exemption:

1. failure of the bus to run, with written verification by the driver submitted to the office
2. legal matters with proper documentation
3. school activities.