Attendance Policies

1.                     Absences

Every day at GBHS is important for students. Families should make every effort to schedule appointments, family vacations, and other absences around the academic calendar.

Parents of an absent student should communicate (via telephone, e-mail, etc.) the reason for the absence to front office by 8:30 a.m. All students must be signed in and out at the Front Office by a parent during school hours.

If a student misses more than 30 minutes from one period, he/she will be considered absent.

An absence must be cleared with a note within three (3) days of a student’s return to school. Failure to do so will result in the recording of the absence as a truancy. The student is responsible for obtaining the missed work from their teacher(s).

Students with excessive absences will meet with school administration according to the following schedule:

• 1-5 absences:  Student and parent monitor the student’s attendance.
• 6 absences:  Student/Parent conference with the Dean of students to discuss attendance. The student is placed on a contract to help improve attendance.

Students who are absent ten (10) times in a semester will make themselves eligible for forfeiture of credit. Forfeiture of credit will be denoted on the transcript as a withdraw/fail.

Truant Absences: Truancy is being absent from school, all or part of a day, without parental or administrative permission. Truancy is serious and may result in up to three (3) days of suspension on the first occasion.

Students have a responsibility to the class and to themselves to be on time. Being on time instills an important life lesson and is therefore taken very seriously. The following policies regarding tardiness are strictly enforced.

Students who are late to school in the morning must report to the front office to obtain a late slip. During the course of the day, students are expected to be in their seats by the start of class – not just entering the room. Students who are 30 or more minutes late to a class will be considered absent rather than tardy. All tardies between classes are unexcused unless a note from a teacher or the school office is presented.

Examples of excused first period tardies are as follows:

1. Sickness with parental verification by note or telephone call.
2. Medical appointment with verification by note from the doctor or parent.
3. Auto accidents, direct or indirect involvement (subject to verification).
4. Unavoidable breakdowns (flat tire, dead battery, etc.).  (Note: Running out of gas is not an unavoidable breakdown).
5. Unique, unavoidable circumstances, as confirmed by the Administration.
6. Bus delays or breakdowns.

The Administration will be responsible to determine whether an absence or tardy is excused or unexcused. The school office will notify parents by letter of excessive tardies. All tardies will be recorded by administration. Tardies will be accumulated per semester.

1. After receiving four (4) unexcused tardies, the student will serve a 60-minute detention after school.
2. After receiving eight (8) unexcused tardies, the student will serve a 2-hour Saturday School. Students will be charged a $20 fee for this detention and will be directed to the Vice Principal for appropriate further discipline.
3. After receiving twelve (12) unexcused tardies, the student will serve a 4-hour Saturday School. Students will be charged a $40 for this detention. The student will also be referred to administration for further discipline which may include the loss of school privileges and/or suspension.

Students are required to determine what work and/or tests were missed by contacting their teachers; and to initiate arrangements with those teachers for making up the work and/or tests. A lower grade or zero may be given for work not turned in on time.

GBS maintains a closed campus. In order to ensure campus safety and security, students and visitors must comply with the following requirements:

Student Passes: To leave the classroom during class time for any reason, the student needs permission from the teacher and a written pass from the teacher.

Visitor Passes: Any visitor (student, alumni, parent, youth pastor, etc.) must obtain and display a visitor’s pass issued by the front office. Visitors must report to the front office immediately upon entering the school grounds. All student visitors must abide by GBS dress and conduct standards. Any former student who has withdrawn or been expelled from school needs administrative approval 24 hours in advance of their visit to campus.

Senior Privileges: A free period is a privilege extended to SENIORS ONLY and may be revoked at any time. Seniors must have a minimum cumulative GPA of a 2.6 and be current on all graduation requirements at the end of their junior year in order to have a free period at any point in their senior year. Seniors who drop below a 2.6 or do not meet graduation requirements after the first semester of their senior year will not be eligible for a free period.

Any senior who has first or last period free may come late or leave early. Seniors are not authorized to leave campus for lunch unless their free period is immediately before or after their free block. Chapel attendance is required regardless of where your Free Block falls.

Eligible seniors must complete a “FREE PERIOD” request form BEFORE participation each semester. Seniors must sign in and out at the Front Office when leaving campus. A senior will receive one warning if he/she leaves the campus without signing out during his/her free period. After a second occurrence, he/she will receive an in-house suspension and his/her open-campus privileges will be revoked. Chapel attendance is required even if it is immediately proceeded or followed by a free period.