Attendance

We all agree that one of the most important elements to succeeding in school is actually being there. Regular attendance and arriving on time are essential. Attendance will be taken at the beginning of each class period. Please adhere to following policies:

School starts promptly at 8:30 a.m. If you are going to be absent or late, a parent/guardian must contact the Upper School Administrative Assistant by 9:45 a.m. If a student does not arrive at school, the Upper School Office will call home to ask after the student’s whereabouts. This policy applies for any mandatory school event.

If you are absent on a given day due to illness, you should not be in the building or attending school events later that day.

Excused Absences

Excused absences are those deemed by the school to be for legitimate reasons, such as illness, court appearances, religious observances, or other unique circumstances. Predictable instances of these absences should be arranged in advance by contacting the Upper School Administrative Assistant; depending on the reasons for the absence, it may or may not be considered excused. Providing a note from a parent or guardian explaining the nature of the absence does not automatically mean the absence will be excused.

In the case of an excused absence, your parents should notify the Upper School Administrative Assistant via email, and students should notify their teachers, as well as follow up with them upon returning to School. Students generally will receive the same number of days to make up missed work as the number of days absent that were excused (for example, if out for two days, two days to make up work).

In the case of an excused absence, your parents should notify the Upper School Administrative Assistant via email, and you are responsible for notifying your teachers in advance when possible, and for following up with them upon your return to School. Students generally will receive the same number of days to make up missed work as the number of days absent that were excused (for example, if out for two days, two days to make up work).

Unexcused Absences

There is ample vacation time at Tower Hill, so you are expected to be in regular attendance before and after both school holidays and long weekends. All requests to be excused at these times must be submitted in writing to the Head of Upper School.

Extended Absences

All Tower Hill students are required to attend School during the academic calendar year in order to matriculate into the next grade level, thus fulfilling their residency requirement. If you are sick or have an illness that lasts for more than three days, a note from your physician should be given to the Upper School Administrative Assistant.

Students who miss more than 15 academic days (three weeks) due to illness or unforeseen circumstances will be asked to meet with the Class Dean, Dean of Students, and the Head of Upper School to determine their eligibility to progress into the following year of study.

Medical Leave

A student in need of medical leave must be under a doctor’s care and supervision. The student should present the Class Dean, Dean of Students, or Head of Upper School with a doctor’s note stating the reason for the leave and the expected duration of the leave. The School, family, school counselor, Class Dean, and Dean of Students will meet to determine a plan for Return to Learn with the necessary supports and expectations. While on leave or upon return from leave, students are typically required to make up all missed work. In certain circumstances, the Dean of Students and Head of Upper School will work with a student’s teachers to define work qualifying as essential.

Concussion Policy

For a student diagnosed with a concussion, the academic and extracurricular impact will be varied and unique to the situation. In our recent experience, however, the typical physicianrecommended concussion protocol is very often one-size-fits-all and misaligned with the realities of the environment of Tower Hill. Concussions are both a medical and educational issue. Assessing and addressing problems with learning and school performance, as well as athletic participation, do not involve only medical decisions, but rather educational ones as well. It is important to note that medical recommendations, while not educationally binding, will certainly be taken into consideration as the school determines the proper plan for each student. Tower Hill will use an individualized approach to determine a student’s Return to Learn and Return to Play. For additional information, please see the Concussion Protocol in the Nurse’s Office and/or Athletic Trainer’s Office.

Lateness

If you arrive after 8:30 a.m. on Monday through Friday, you will be considered late. Lateness will be excused if you bring a note from a doctor for a predetermined appointment, inclement weather has prevented your timely arrival, or other unusual conditions prevail. However, if you miss any portion of class due to an unexcused lateness, you may receive no credit for work missed.

What to Do When You’re Late to School

When you arrive late, you should check in with the Upper School Administrative Assistant’s office as soon as you get to school. Proceed to class as quickly as possible. If you think your unexcused lateness should be excused, see the Class Dean, Dean of Students or Head of Upper School sometime during the day.

To participate in after school activities, including sports, you must arrive by 9:45 a.m.

If you arrive after the beginning of first period, you must provide an email from a parent or from a doctor to the Upper School Administrative Assistant, explaining the reason for the lateness. The note will not necessarily excuse the lateness, but it will allow you to attend class. If you do not have an excuse, you will need to see the Class Dean, Dean of Students or Head of Upper School as soon as possible.

You can be late to school up to three times in a quarter without disciplinary consequences. However, your fourth lateness and every class after that in a quarter will result in a demerit, and your parents will be notified of the situation.