Attendance Line - 703-446-1625

School Hours
Student success in school is directly tied to attendance. Responsibility for attending class lies with the student. The school day for high school is from 7:30 AM until 2:10 PM. Middle school students attend school from 9:10 until 4:05 each day. Seven minutes are allowed between classes, and students are expected to arrive at each class, be seated, and ready to begin on time.

Absences
Regular attendance at school helps students develop effective study habits and good citizenship as well as a favorable attitude toward all school work and activities. Students are expected to be in school except in cases of emergency, personal illness, observance of a religious holiday, or a prearranged absence excused by the school. Missing the bus or oversleeping are unexcused tardies to school. If a student misses more than 20 minutes, it is considered an unexcused absence from that class. Three unexcused absences during any quarter result in an “F” for that class.

Regular and prompt attendance is the student’s and parent’s responsibility. If a student is absent, his/her parent/guardian should call the attendance office at 703-446-1625 before 8:00 AM. If the school is not called, the student must bring a note to the attendance office from his/her parent explaining the absence within two days of the student’s return to school.

Pre-arranged Absence
A pre-arranged absence may be granted for extended medical or dental reasons or for educational trips; however, Virginia state law requires that a student be dropped from the rolls after the 15th consecutive day of absence. In order to prearrange an absence, a note must be sent to the main office a week prior to the absence. If medical conditions necessitate an absence that is expected to be in excess of thirty days, the Student Services office should be contacted as soon as the condition is known. An excused absence or a prearranged absence permits a student to make up missed work. The student must assume complete responsibility for making up any work missed.

Unexcused Absences
All day and/or class truancies will be considered unexcused. In accordance with county policy, a student receives an “F” for the quarter (nine weeks) in a course when three or more unexcused absences accrue. Three (3) unexcused absences in any class result in a failing grade for the quarter in that class.

Early Dismissals
Our school is a closed campus. This means that students may not leave the school grounds during the school day without permission. If a student leaves school grounds during the school day without permission and then returns to school, all his/her possessions will be searched upon re-entry.

If a student has a medical appointment, or needs to be dismissed from school early, his/her parent should call 703 446-1625 and leave a message on the automatic attendance line or send a note explaining why and when the student must be checked out. The parent must meet the student in the attendance office and sign him/her out. If someone other than the student’s parent/guardian will be picking up the student, this must be stated in the note giving the name of the person to whom the student is to be released.

Late Arrivals
Students late to school for any reason must check in through the attendance office before going to class. The student must either bring a parental note or have his/her parent/guardian accompany him/her into the office. If a student has been detained in the office, or by a teacher, the student should request a pass from the person responsible for the delay before going to the next class.

Emergency Closing of School
Occasionally, Fairfax County Public Schools may be closed, opened late, or closed early due to icy roads or weather conditions. In such instances, this action will be announced on local television and radio stations and the school system web site. Generally, these announcements are made by radio and television stations prior to 6 AM for closings or delayed openings and prior to 11 AM for early closings. Please listen to the radio or TV for updated announcements. Also, FCPS Keep in Touch message system notifies subscribers who select to receive emergency announcements. Each student should receive instructions from his/her parent and/or guardian as to procedure to follow in case of such an early closing. The earliest and most up to date information on school closings and schedule changes can be found on Cox Communication’s Red Apple Channel 21 and the school system web site, www.fcps.edu.

Visitors
Opportunities are provided for parents and interested persons to visit the school and meet the teachers and staff. Please contact your student’s counselor to make arrangements to visit the school. All school visitors and volunteers must report directly to the main office before visiting anyone or any part of the building. Students may not have visitors during school hours. Persons who enter a school building and do not report directly to the office are in violation of the Trespass Law of Virginia and will be dealt with as specified. Parents interested in visiting classes should make arrangements with the counselor at least 24 hours in advance of their visit.