Attendance Policy

• Attendance procedures will be paperless this year to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Please make sure your current email is on file with the school and bring a cell phone when reporting to OLHS to access the QR code at our security desk.
• Early Release requests must be submitted by 7:20 a.m. each day

Students are expected to attend all classes. The teacher is responsible for taking attendance during the first 15 minutes of each class.

Teachers will:

• Take attendance in Synergy
• Any student who arrives less than 15 minutes late to class is marked tardy. (TE or TU)
• Any student who missed class is marked absent. (UNV)

Note: Tardies will be subject to school discipline guidelines.

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Excused Absences Accepted by VBCPS Policy Include:

• illness/doctor or dental appointment
• Death in the family
• Religious holiday (reference School Board Policy 5-17 and Regulation 5-17.1)
• Pre-arranged absences/Other-approved by the principal
• Emergency conditions, i.e. fire, flood, or major storm
• School-sponsored/related activities

Note: Excused absences are for approved reasons with parent notification.

Unexcused Absences or Tardy Include:

• Overslept (student or parent/guardian)
• Car trouble
• Traffic -Unless the administration make an announcement
• Childcare, including siblings and family
• Weather-related - Unless the administration make an announcement
• Missed bus
• Over 5 parent notes for ‘illness’ without physician note

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Students arriving late to school after 7:35 am must check in through the Attendance office. Students who are not feeling well at school must report to the clinic. For planned multi-day absences (i.e. vacation), at least a week prior, students need to submit the Pre-Approved Absence Request form requesting approval from the principal.

The parent/guardian must inform the attendance office with a note for the absence, late arrival, or doctor note by sending an email to olhsattendance@vbschools.com or fax to the attendance office at (757) 721-4309 within 3 days of the student returning to school.

Email Notes Should Include:

• the Student’s full name and grade level
• date of notification
• date of absence/attendance issue
• the reason for absence
• and contact phone number of parent/guardian.

The parent or legal guardian of a junior or senior must complete the Early Release Request Form for Juniors and Seniors using an email account on file before 7:20 AM.

Important Notes:

• We recommend you do this the previous evening.
• Note should include:
  • the student’s full name
  • parent/guardian name
  • and contact phone number to confirm early release time
• After 7:20 am requests for extenuating circumstances must be approved by the administration. Please email the attendance office at olhsattendance@vbschools.com

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9th & 10th Grade Students

• Parents must come into the building to sign students out at the security desk.
• Bring photo identification and a phone to use the QR code for paperless sign-out.

11th & 12th Grade Students

• Students under 18 may sign out and leave the campus only with parent permission.

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We ask parents not to come in and sign students out after 1:45 p.m. Please wait until dismissal and use the parent pick-up location in the student parking lot.