Attendance Policy

Please call the attendance hotline before 7:00 a.m. every morning your student is absent or late.

Note: Notifying a teacher or counselor of your child’s absence does not replace notifying the attendance office. For a student’s absence to be “excused” you must call the absence/tardy within 48 hours. A student’s absence a cannot be “excused” if it is called in after the 48 hour deadline.

Attendance Policy

The Walled Lake Consolidated School District (WLCSD) believes that consistent, daily attendance is essential for student success. Students must be present and engaged to benefit from direct instruction, build academic skills, and develop habits needed for success in college, career, and life.

The classroom experience is of unique value and cannot be fully recreated through makeup work. Important learning occurs through discussion, collaboration, and hands-on activities. A student’s enrollment in a course represents a commitment to attend all class sessions unless an absence is absolutely necessary.

This policy is designed to:

• Foster responsibility and reliability
• Support positive attendance habits
• Ensure consistent communication between the school and the home
• Improve student engagement and achievement

Procedure for Reporting a Student Absence

• Student should email their teacher(s) to inquire about missed instruction and makeup work opportunities.
• Parent/Guardian must call the attendance office directly or the attendance hotline (248) 956-4999 and follow the prompts.
• Only parent/guardian may excuse an absence.
• if an absence is NOT reported, parent/guardian will receive an automated phone call during the school day. 
• Reporting an absence simply lets the school know that the parent/guardian is aware of the absence, it does not excuse any school responsibilities.  All absences equally impact student academic success.

Absence Interventions

• 5 Absences (per class, per semester)
  • Teacher communicates with parent/guardian and discusses attendance with student
• 7 Absences (per class, per semester)
  • Attendance letter in Skyward and email notification
• 10 Absences (per class, per semester)
  • Attendance letter mailed home, letter in Skyward and email notification
• 15 Absences (per class, per semester)
  • Attendance letter in Skyward and email notification
  • Possible additional actions: attendance success plan created, administrative contact, LAYA referral, truancy referral

ALL absences count the same toward thresholds and interventions, except for school-related absences.

 

Other Important Attendance Information

• Student-athletes are required to attend school all day in order to play or practice with their respective team. In cases of medical appointments, please provide a doctor’s note to the office or coach.
• Walled Lake Central seeks to preserve the academic environment. The attendance office will not call classrooms to excuse a student from class unless it is a true emergency.
• Walled Lake Central is a closed campus. Students are not allowed to be called out of school by a parent/guardian to eat lunch off campus and then return to school, nor are they allowed to order food to be delivered to the school.
• If a student is returning to Walled Lake Central the same day as the dismissal due to a healthcare appointment, it is expected that the student will provide a note on a health provider's letterhead verifying the date and time the student was seen by the provider.
• Students who are late to first hour are marked tardy. While we appreciate a phone call from a parent, the student is still tardy.
• If a student is symptomatic (ill) at school, a parent or emergency contact is kindly expected to promptly come to school to pick up the student within 30 minutes of notification.
• No students are allowed to check out of school during assemblies. Any absence must be pre-arranged with the attendance office 24 hours prior to the event.
• Students who are excused for the school day should not be on school grounds during the hours of 7:15 a.m. to 2:10 p.m. Students may not interrupt class to speak with a teacher or obtain homework during school hours.
• Students that are absent are normally provided the same number of days they were out to complete the assignment. Please feel free to reach out directly to the teacher if you have any specific questions.

Tardy Policy

Tardy counts apply per class, per semester. 

Students who are late to first hour are marked tardy. While we appreciate a phone call from a parent, the student is still tardy.

3rd Tardy (in a class):

• Teacher issues verbal warning to student.

5th Tardy (in a class):

• Student is assigned an after-school detention and discipline record is entered.

8th Tardy (in a class):

• Student is assigned a after-school detention and a discipline record is entered.
• Copy of the WLC Attendance Policy is provided to student; must be signed by parents and returned.
• Students who are excessively tardy and drive to school forfeit their parking permit for 5 days.

12th Tardy:

• Other consequences as assigned.

Subsequent Tardies: Student and parent meet with assistant principal. Disciplinary action TBD.

*In all cases of excessive tardiness, for students who participate in extracurricular athletics, performing arts, etc., the coach/director will receive notice and coordinate additional support as appropriate.

**Parents are encouraged to report reasons for tardies when extenuating circumstances exist: (248) 956-4999.