Handbook: Attendance

All students are to swipe in with their LaGuardia Arts ID card whenever they enter the building.  This includes for rehearsals or evening meetings.  Students do not need to swipe in to attend a public performance.

Students need to be in school for the entire school day, not just part of the day.  As such, requests for early dismissal should be very few and far between, unless a child suddenly becomes ill or there is a sudden family emergency.  

A student is only permitted to leave if accompanied by a parent/guardian or another adult whose name appears on the student's Emergency Blue Card.  This person must be in possession of a valid, government-issued photo identification card.  (Credit cards, library cards, medical insurance cards, and employment identification are not considered valid forms of identification.)

Parents cannot give permission over the telephone or in writing to 1.) have someone who is not listed on the Emergency Blue Card sign their child out of school, or 2.) for students to leave school unaccompanied if they are underage.  

Address and Telephone Changes

Phone numbers, address changes, and emergency contact cards (“Blue Cards”) should be updated immediately after any change, by notifying the Attendance Office, Room 201.  Documentation of a new address is required (e.g. a utility bill).

Students Age 18 Years Old and Older

Students age 18 may follow the established procedures to sign themselves out early.  A parent/guardian will be contacted during the process.

Absences

LaGuardia Arts records both daily and period attendance.  Daily Attendance is taken Period 3. Phone calls to families about a daily absence is made based on Period 3 attendance. 

A student who is not in class is absent for that period.  The absence is either excused or unexcused.  When you are absent from class, you are not excused from any work you may have missed. Teachers establish timelines for making up missed work.  Absences affect your participation grade.

Students must attend their classes in order to participate in after school events.  These activities include participation in performances, athletics, clubs, etc.  Students who are on suspension are ineligible for any after school activities.

Students should bring an absence note the first day they return to school.  The note is attached to an Absence Form. The Absence Form is signed by all teachers. Bring both the signed form and note to the Attendance Office, Room 201. Absence Forms can be downloaded from the web site or picked up in Room 201.  

Students who are on a partial-day Blackout are expected to attend their remaining classes.

Unexcused Absences

Family vacations are unexcused absences.  So are non-school related performances.  Teachers do not have to provide work that has not yet been presented to the class.  

Cutting   

Cutting class is unsafe and considered a serious infraction of the school rules. Teachers may report unauthorized class absences to the Guidance Counselor. Cutting may result in denial of participation in extracurricular activities and honor societies.

It is important that Students are at the location listed on their schedule. 

Extended Absences

Students may be absent for an extended period of time due to illness.  The family should notify a student's teachers and Guidance Counselor to arrange for schoolwork. Students returning from an extended absence must bring a ​doctor’s note.  

When you arrive late to school, you have missed valuable instruction, and your arrival interrupts the continuity of instruction for the rest of the class. Punctuality is a prerequisite for success. You are expected to arrive to class on time and to be seated and ready for work beginning with your first class. 

If you arrive to school after the beginning of your first class, you are marked late for the day’s attendance.  If you miss your first class or classes due to lateness, you will be marked absent from those classes.  If you arrive late to school but prior to the beginning of period 3, go directly to your class even if the period has already started.  If you arrive after the start of period 3, you must sign the “Late-to-School Book” located in the Attendance Office, or you will be marked absent for the day.  

Teachers will contact your parent/guardian if you are excessively late to class. You may receive detention, and you may need to sign in each morning with your Guidance Counselor. Your parent/guardian may be requested to come to school to discuss your lateness. 

Students must use the Main Entrance to enter or leave the building.  Blue doors in stairwells should only be used during an evacuation.   These doors are alarmed.

Students are to carry a copy of their schedule at all times.  The schedule should be presented to staff when asked.  Students may be asked to show their schedule when leaving before the last period if over.  If you do not have a copy of your schedule, please go to Room 231 for a duplicate.