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A good attendance record is very important for student success.  Therefore, regular attendance is expected for classes, chapels, work assignments, and required tutoring appointments.  A strict no unexcused absence policy will be adhered to by Bass Memorial Academy students and staff.        
    Credits are issued based on a minimum number of minutes in class. A student who accumulates more than 15% absences, excused or unexcused, in any class during a semester, may not receive credit for that course.*  In the case of a student with a prolonged illness or a student who enters school late, the Academic Standards Committee will review each case to determine whether or not that 15% excessive policy will apply.

Excused Absences
    Acceptable excuses for an absence include sickness, emergent medical appointments, or a death in the immediate family.
    Requests for pre-arranged absences must be submitted in writing to the Ad Council by Monday noon prior to the date of the absence.
    In case of illness, excused absences will be issued only when the dorm student’s name has been placed on the sick list by the dean. Students on the sick list must stay in their dorm rooms until the next day. They may not go to recreation.  Students on sick list must stay on sick list until the following morning.
    Parents of village students should telephone the administration office or registrar if the student is absent. The village student should not attend recreation if classes were missed because of the sickness.
    Non-emergent medical appointments, such as dental or orthodontic, should be arranged during regularly scheduled home leaves.
    Parents may not excuse an absence or tardy while the student is living in the dorm.

Administrative Absences
    Absences that occur because of emergencies, suspensions, and work substitutions are called Administrative Absences. When a student is required to miss appointments for these reasons, they will be excused provided proper arrangements have been made in advance.

Tardies
    Tardies will be recorded and handled by each teacher and work supervisor.  Students are expected to meet all appointments on time.  A student is considered tardy if  not seated in the classroom or at the workstation when the class or appointment begins.  Tardies in excess of 10 mintues may be recorded as an absence.

Unexcused Absence Due to Behavior
    Should a student be required to leave the classroom due to unsatisfactory conduct in class, including sleeping in class, the student may be sent to a Vice-Principal or Principal     and given an unexcused absence
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Work Tardies and Absences
    Tardies from work will be dealt with by the work supervisor.  Absences from work will be recorded on the student’s attendance record.  Unexcused absences will be recorded and dealt with according to the policy of unexcused absences from classes.
School Approved Absences
    Absences due to touring groups or field trips are called SAA (School Approved Absences).  These absences do not count against the 15% attendance rules.

Make-up Work
    Students who have been absent for any excused reason must check with classroom teachers on the first day upon returning to classes for missed assignments.  This is the student’s responsibility.  Work not completed within the allowed length of time will be recorded as a zero.  The number of school days absent will be the same number of days the student has to make up missed work (i.e., 2 day abscence = 2 days to make up work to a maximum of 5 school days).

Unexcused Absences
    As stated earlier the faculty and staff of Bass Memorial Academy have voted a strict no unexcused absence policy.  A student who receives an unexcused absence for either work or class will be given until noon the following school day to present an acceptable excuse.  Consequences will be administered for unexcused absences.  These consequences will begin at 4:00 pm the day after the absence and include the following:

1st unexcused absence - The student will be placed on internet access restriction, phone restriction, and recreation restriction for a period of 24 hours.

2nd unexcused absence - The above restrictions will apply for 48 hours.

3rd unexcused absence - The above restrictions will apply until the next Administrative Council meets and determines the course of correction.

    Subsequent absences will be dealt with by the Administrative Council.  Additional consequences may be applied.

Cancellation of Class
    If a teacher does not arrive for class within the first 10 minutes, a student should be sent to the office to locate the teacher.  If the teacher is unable to make the class, a faculty member may dismiss the class only after all students have signed a piece of paper noting their presence.  Class is never cancelled automatically after 10 minutes.


* 15% Absence Limits:
5 day per week class/13 absences
4 day per week class/11 absences
2 day per week class/6 absences
1 day per week class/3 absences