It is our expectation that all Centennial High School students will attend school every day school is in session. We ask parents to support us in reaching this goal. Regular, uninterrupted attendance is an essential ingredient in the learning process.

To be awarded Perfect Attendance, the student must not be tardy or absent during any school day.

ABSENCES

Excused Absences: Absences for the following reasons, will be excused:

• Illness (Medical Doctor’s note may be required).

• Illness of immediate family member that requires absence of the student (medical doctor’s note may be required.

• Death of an immediate family member.

• Religious holiday that is regularly observed by persons of the student’s faith (note may be required)

• Doctor appointment (medical doctor’s note may be required)

• Court appearance (Court document showing date and time required).

• DMV visit to obtain driving permit or license.

Unplanned Absences: When a student has an unplanned absence, the absence will be marked as unexcused, and the parent/guardian will receive a phone call at 10:00am. To excuse the absence (from list of excused reasons above), please send a handwritten or emailed note to the attendance office. The parent/guardian email address listed in Skyward Family Access should be used. Please include the following information: Student First and Last Name, Student Grade Level, Date of Absence, Reason for Absence, and Phone Number where parent/guardian can be reach during the day.

The first eight (8) full days of absence can be excused with a parent or medical note. After the first eight (8) full days of absence, excused or unexcused, parent notes are no longer accepted. The note must be a medical note or approved by an administrator.

Planned Absences (pre-approved absences): When it is known in advance that a student will need to be absent, the parent/guardian should send a handwritten or emailed note requesting an excused absence prior to the expected date of absence. The note should include the student’s name (first and last), date of absence, reason for absence, and phone number where a parent/guardian can be reached during the day. The request will be approved if it is for a reason stated in the above excused absences list. Some absences that are requested in advance, such as family trips, extra-curricular competitions, etc. may be excused depending on the number of absences and the extent of the absences requested.

If approved, the student will be given a form by Attendance that should be signed by all teachers indicating whether the work will be due the day prior to the absence or after the return to school.

Please note that if the absence request is denied and the student is still absent, the absence will be considered unexcused and any work missing during the absence will be due on the day of return.

*Exam Week: Students are not permitted to be released or checked-out during a scheduled exam time, including mid-terms, EOCs, and Final Exams. Students may be checked-out at the conclusion of an exam time for doctor and other appointments.

WCS ABSENTEE / TRUANCY POLICY

Williamson County Schools will utilize the Progressive Truancy Intervention Plan, a three-tier system to remove attendance barriers and improve student/school attendance. (Reference Board Policy 6.200) Please review in the District Policies below.

Items that are dropped off in the Attendance Office will be delivered during the student’s study hall period. Deliveries such as balloons, flowers, gifts, or fast food are prohibited during the school day. Any food brought for approved school-wide or class celebrations must have a food label and be pre-packaged.

In order to get a driver’s permit the student must have a compulsory attendance letter from the Attendance Office that verifies the criteria below. A two-day turnaround is required for all requests, so please plan accordingly.

• Students must be enrolled and making a passing grade in at least three courses at the conclusion of any regular school semester.
•  Students must not have accumulated more than ten (10) consecutive or fifteen (15) total unexcused absences during any semester.
•  Please note that driver’s permits and licenses will be revoked if the above criteria are not maintained.

Williamson County Schools requires completion of the Checkpoints Program for all new student drivers. Once students have met all the state requirements and completed the Checkpoints Program one-hour training, parents and teens will create a “Checkpoints” teen driving agreement and students will be eligible for a parking permit. (Email jeff.serbin@wcs.edu to reserve your spot in a CheckPoints class).

CHS student drivers who have previously driven on campus will be required to complete a Student/Parent Safe Driving Agreement before being allowed to purchase a campus parking pass and drive onto campus. Students are reminded that driving to school is a privilege, not a right.

The following rules apply to the parking lot and student driving:

• All students must register their cars with the Attendance Office. Students must complete a vehicle registration form and pay the appropriate parking fee. Replacement permits will be issued at an additional charge.

• The current year’s permit must be located on the rear-view mirror so that the number is visible from the outside.

• Sale or transfer of permits between students or to any other car is prohibited.

• Cars may be parked only in designated student parking lots.

• School Administration reserves the right to tow any vehicle that is not parked in its designated area of the parking lot, or in a lined parking space.

• Students are not allowed to go to their cars during school hours without the approval of an administrator.

• Students who leave campus without the permission will be subject to the loss of parking privileges, whether driving a vehicle or not.

• Parking violations, such as parking in the faculty lot, parking in a prohibited area, speeding, or going the wrong way on a one-way street, will result in the loss of the parking permit and/or additional school consequences.

• Students who drive to school and park on school property agree to the search of their vehicles by administrators who have “reasonable suspicion” that the student’s car contains drugs, alcohol, weapons, or other items not permissible at school.

Centennial High School uses the Restorative Practices framework to work with our students in all areas of their school day. The goal of Restorative Practices is to teach students to build community, manage conflict, and repair harm caused by our actions. While CHS still has clear structures and high expectations, the staff intentionally builds relationships with students to model and encourage growth and success.

1.501 Visitors to the Schools

3.500 Food Services Management

4.300 Extracurricular Activities

6.303 Interrogations and Searches

6.400 Promoting Student Welfare

6.405 Medicines

6.709 Student Fees and Fines

Board Policy 6.200 Attendance

6.304 Student Discrimination, Harassment, Bullying, Cyber-Bullying, and Intimidation

6.3041 Title IX & Sexual Harassment

6.309 Zero Tolerance Offenses

6.315 Detention

6.316 Student Suspension/Expulsion

3.400 School Bus Safety/Student Conduct

4.406 Student Access To Electronic Media

6.310 Dress Code

4.600 Report Cards and Grading Systems

4.603 Promotion and Retention

Interscholastic activities in Williamson County Schools are an important part of the overall educational process. The athletic programs offer students expanded learning opportunities including self-discipline, self-esteem and teamwork. Students who participate in extracurricular activities tend to get higher grades, have better attendance and pose fewer discipline problems.

Interscholastic Athletics Board Policy 4.301

Annual Public Notices including FERPA, Child Advocacy Groups Contact Information, Homeless Education, Rights of Children with Disabilities and Parent Responsibilities, Section 504 Notice, State Statutory Rights of Parents and Students, Teacher Information, and the Williamson County Schools Statement of Non-Discrimination can be found on the Annual Public Notices posted to the WCS website.

Williamson County Schools Statement of Non-Discrimination

Williamson County, in compliance with federal and state law, performs a countywide Child Find. Child Find uses screening to find students in both public school or private school located in the geographic region who may need special education services and supports.