Attendance Policy
ATTENDANCE POLICIES
When a student will be absent, the parent or guardian must contact the school on the morning of the absence to confirm that the student is absent with parent permission. This process is essential to ensure the safety of all students. Please call 720-5403 to report a student absence. An email address is also available for parents if this is a more convenient way to communicate. The email address is nhsstudentattendance@
If the parent or guardian does not contact the school, ParentSquare will be used to automate calls to parents/guardians regarding student absences and class cuts. Parents may request that we call a different number; please call 720-5403 to make this request. ParentSquare will call and text the number listed 15 minutes after the start of each period to notify you if your child is not in class.
It is essential that parents and students complete the emergency card that is sent home at the beginning of each year. This is how the school collects updated telephone numbers. It is the family’s responsibility to inform the school if phone numbers have changed.
Absence Counting
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Each missed class period counts as one absence for that class.
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Students have separate attendance records for A-Day and B-Day classes.
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Tardies greater than 10 minutes late are considered class absences for attendance purposes. Class cuts are also considered absences.
Excused vs. Unexcused Absences
| ABSENCE # | STATUS | REQUIREMENTS |
|---|---|---|
| 1-9 | Excused with parent/guardian contact | No documentation required beyond parent contact (call or email) |
| 10 and beyond | Excused with Documentation | Appropriate documentation (medical note, court appearance letter, college visit, etc.) or extenuating circumstance approved by Associate Principal |
Credit Denial
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Students who exceed 8 total absences (10% of class meetings) in a full-year course (or 4 absences in a semester course) are subject to credit denial.
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All absences — excused and unexcused — count toward the total, unless specified otherwise through administrative appeal.
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Credit denial warnings will be sent to students and families.
Acceptable Documentation for the Appeals Process
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Written medical documentation from a licensed provider
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Official legal/court documents
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Verified religious observance letter
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College visit documentation (limit of 3)
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Verification of participation in a school-sponsored activity
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Emergency circumstances approved by administration
Reporting and Communication
Parents/guardians must report student absences by phone at (203) 720-5403 or by email at nhsstudentattendance@
*Any student who travels out of the country while school is in session and misses scheduled school days will incur unexcused absences for each day missed. No medical excuses will be accepted by doctors outside of their attending physician unless the treating doctor from the foreign country provides documentation of the illness including the medical reason for the delay to the attending physician or the district’s medical director. If a student’s return to school is delayed due to an illness, along with providing this documentation, proof of delay such as airline flight ticket change must be provided for the absences to be excused.
ATTENDANCE REVIEW AND APPEAL PROCESS
Students who have been denied credit, or are in danger of being denied credit, due to exceeding the attendance policy for unexcused absences, but have passed the course, will have the opportunity to meet with the Review Appeals Committee to seek restoration of credit. A PARENT MUST BE PRESENT AT THE MEETING.
Students are encouraged to remain in the class and maintain a passing grade until an appeals committee makes a decision.
An appeals committee will include an administrator, counselor, parent, and the student.
The student must initiate the request for an appeal by completing the “Request for an Appeal” form (available through the attendance office).
The counselor will notify the student of the date and time of the appeals hearing. The student is responsible to bring any documentation or other evidence of extenuating circumstances that caused excessive absences that will help the Committee with its decision.
The decision of the Appeals Committee is final.