Attendance

Every boy and girl is required by state law to attend school full time until age eighteen.  Effective July 1, 1998, California schools will receive State funding only for students present at school.  If you are ill, most assignments can be made up when you return to school.  Please try to schedule doctor or dental appointments during non-school hours or attend school for at least part of teh day so you are not counted asbsent for the entire day.  If you will be on vacation for 5 or more days, please pick up an "Independent Study Contract" from the Attendance Office to complete class assignments for credit during your absence.  This does not apply to absences due to illness.

Schools are required by law to account for student asbsences for all reasons.  After returning to school from any absence, the student must bring a note signed by the parent or guardian stating the exact date and reason for the absence, and obtain a re-admit card from the Attendance Office.  This should be done before school.  The Attendance Office opens at 7:45 a.m.  Since students will be bringing a parent-signed note, it is not necessary to phone the shoold regarding student absences.

Students who have beenPre-SARB''d or SARB'd will need tohave their absences verified by a doctor's note or school personnel (per the Pre-SARB and/or SARB contract).

Tardy Policy

Students are expected to arrive on time to all classes, including first period.  Students, teachers, and parents share this responsibility.

Students who are tardy to first period class are required to report to the Attendance Office to check in, pick up a Tardy Slip, and immediately report to their first period teacher.  Tardies, which occur after first period, are recorded by the appropriate teacher.  Students are considered tardy if they are not in their assigned seats at the tardy bell.  Those students who are habitually tardy (tardy three or more times) will face consequences including, but not limited to: lowered Citizenship marks, Detention, Saturday School, and/or referral to the School Attendance and Review Board (SARB).

Truancy

The school will make parent contact in cases of extended student absences of 5 days or more.

The City of Torrance Daytime Loitering Ordinance prohibits studnts from appearing in public places between the hours of 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., without an acceptable excuse when they should be in school.  They may receive truancy citations from law enforcement officers.

Students violating this Anti-Truancy Ordinance, and in some cases, their parents, may be subject to one or more severe penalties:

*  Fines

*  Court-approved community service

*  Court-approved parenting classes (for parents)