The school board and staff of St. Francis Area Schools believe that regular attendance directly relates to success in academic work, benefits students socially, provides opportunity for important communication between teacher and student, and establishes regular habits of dependability important to the future of the student. Class attendance is a joint responsibility to be shared by the student, parent/guardian and school. These procedures promote student attendance.

Parent/guardian is requested to call the high school office by 8:00 a.m. the morning of the absence at 763-213-1531 or you may email absence information to hsattendance@isd15.org.  Absence verification will be allowed up to two school days following the return of the absent student to school.  Please do not send paper notes at this time. 

Students will still be required to sign in on the kiosk in the greeter station. Only one student may be in the kiosk area at a time. They will then head directly to their class through the commons. Parent/guardian must call or email the attendance line within two school days of the absence/tardy date to have a late arrival excused. Please do not send paper notes with students.

It is the student’s responsibility to be in school. It is also the student’s responsibility to attend all classes regularly and to follow correct procedures when absent from school. Students are responsible to check their weekly attendance report and take corrective action. This may include bringing in a note and notifying a parent and/or notifying an administrator. To ensure the safety and security of students and staff, all students arriving late or leaving early during school hours must enter and exit through the front entrance. Students failing to follow this procedure may be subject to disciplinary action. 

It is the school’s responsibility to encourage students to attend all classes. It is also the school’s responsibility to inform the student’s parent/guardian of the student’s attendance and to work cooperatively with the parent/guardian and the student to develop acceptable attendance patterns. 

It is the parent/guardian’s responsibility to notify the school within two (2) school days from the date of the absence. Additionally, it is the parent/guardian’s responsibility to encourage regular school attendance. Infinite Campus This is our web-based grading program that allows parents the opportunity to view their student’s attendance, grades, and transcripts (grades 7-12) from any internet accessible location. Parents may also elect to receive attendance alerts via email through their Infinite Campus Portal. Parents can sign up for Infinite Campus with Marika Hendricks at 763-753-7158.

A student will be considered absent when the student is missing from school for any part of a day. Excused Absence (Needs to be verified) Examples of excused absences include but not limited to illness, medical/dental appointments, religious holidays, death in the family, court appearance; driver's exam, military, college visit. Absences due to illness/medical that exceed five (5) full/part days may require a doctor’s note for subsequent absences. Unexcused Absence (truant absences) All absences not school authorized, not verified by parents/ guardians and/or not recognized by county guidelines as excused are considered unexcused. Examples of unexcused absences and tardies include but not limited to: skipping class, unverified absences, staying home to babysit/needed at home, work or rest because of work/travel, cold weather when school has not closed, missed the bus, car trouble, oversleeping. Finals Testing Dates Students are expected to attend school for the full day on finals testing dates. Any student who will be absent for testing must report the absence to the Main Office or Health Office and arrange an alternate date with the classroom teacher no less than two (2) weeks prior to the start of testing. A doctor’s note must be provided for medical/dental appointments in order for the absence to be excused. Absence reporting outside two (2) weeks may result in an unexcused absence and/or zero credit on finals. As to not interrupt the testing process, passes are not delivered. Phone calls and notes will not be accepted for any reason. Field Trips Students participating in school sanctioned field trips will be pre-excused for their absence. Administration and/or classroom teachers reserve the right to refuse participation based on poor attendance, missing assignments or failing grade. 

For each unexcused absence, students will be required to attend detention (7:00-7:40 a.m.) which is offered every day in the Behavioral Intervention Room C201 for extended unexcused absences. Work/tests may be made up and credit or reduced credit may be given at the discretion of the teacher(s). This must happen within the first two days of absence or at the discretion of the teacher(s). Students with chronic unexcused absences may: not be allowed to participate in co-curricular activities (this can happen with the first unexcused absence), be referred to Student Attendance Review Board, lose hallway privileges, lose the right to attend field trips, lose dance privileges including Prom, lose eligibility to participate in athletics and/or activities. SFHS has the right to accept or deny parent/guardian requests for an excused absence.

St. Francis High School Student Handbook

Reporting of Absence Parent/Guardian is requested to call the Main Office by 8:00 a.m. the morning of the absence 763-213-1531 or send a note upon the student’s return. Parent/Guardian may also email absence information to hsattendance@isd15.org. Absence verification must be received within two (2) school days from the date of the absence. Approval by administration is required for absences reported outside of the two (2) school days. Arriving Late to School Students arriving late to school must enter through the front entrance and sign in at the greeter station. Failure to do so may result in an unexcused absence/tardy and/or disciplinary action. Leaving During The School Day Students are not allowed to leave school premises during the school day unless prior permission is granted by the Main Office or Health Office. To obtain a pass to leave the building during the school day for non-medical reasons, a student must bring written permission from a parent/guardian to the Main Office stating the reason for leaving and the time of departure. Students needing a pass for medical/illness reasons should report to the Health Office. Students may not leave during lunch without an administrator’s permission. Pre-Arranged Absences Students must bring a note signed by a parent/guardian stating the reason and dates of the planned absence to the Main Office. All work must be completed at the discretion of each classroom teacher, not to exceed one week upon the student’s return from the pre-arranged absence. Parent/Guardian Notification of Absences Parents/Guardians may be notified daily by automated telephone and/or email alerts (Infinite Campus) if their student was absent from any class period. Parents/Guardians may also receive written notification during each trimester after a student has accumulated unexcused absences. Record Keeping Each teacher’s grade book, in conjunction with Infinite Campus Individual Student Period-by-Period Attendance Record, shall be the official attendance record for the class/students. Records of all written notification on attendance issues and automated telephone records will be kept on an annual basis. 

Tardiness Tardies will be handled by individual classroom teachers. A student is considered tardy if they are not through the threshold of the classroom door by the time the bell has stopped sounding. Students will be considered absent if 10 minutes late. Administration will monitor overall tardies to all classes. If a student has a large number of tardies, administration will consider additional penalties including, but not limited to, loss of hallway privileges, lunch detentions, school dances, etc. 

Absences that do not meet the criteria as excused or reported outside the two (2) school days allowed, may be appealed by completing the Absence Appeal Form available in the Main Office. Parents/guardians are required to complete the form and return it to the Main Office within one (1) week from the absence date in order for the appeal to be considered. Administration will review appeals taking district, school and county guidelines in to consideration.

Excused Absence All work for an excused absence must be made up. It is the student’s responsibility to obtain all make-up work. Students are given two days for each day they are absent to make up any schoolwork. Tests are to be made up at the discretion of the individual teacher. For pre-arranged absences, see Attendance Procedures. Unexcused Absence Work/tests may be made up and credit or reduced credit may be given at the discretion of the teacher(s). This must happen within the first two days of absence or at the discretion of the teacher(s).