Daily attendance is so important to a child’s success in school. We know parents want their children to do well in school. Did you know there is a connection between chronic absences and a student’s academic achievement? Showing up to school each day matters for R.E.A.L… because it is an opportunity to:

• Build Routines
• Increase Engagement
• Provide Access to Resources
• Support Learning

Routines: A daily attendance routine can help you reduce stress and develop habits that help you keep a job.

Engagement: Being in school gives you a chance to see your friends and build relationships with school staff.

Access to Resources: When you show up to school, you can get access to meals, health services, mental health supports and enrichment activities (sports, clubs, music, tutorials, etc.).

Learning: You are more likely to pass classes when you miss less than a week of school each semester.

HJH Attendance Policies & Procedures

The school day starts at 7:50 AM and ends at 3:35 PM. At 7:45 AM, students will be released from the gym to their classrooms, and morning announcements will start at 7:50 AM. Attendance is taken every period at HJH. Any student arriving late or leaving early will be marked absent for the periods that he/she misses. All absences, full or partial, require documentation to be excused. If a student misses more than 20 minutes of a class without valid documentation, the student will be considered absent for this purpose. Parent notes must be turned in within three (3) days of the absence. Per the HJH handbook, early pick-ups are unexcused unless our nurse sends your student home, or we receive documentation from a doctor's office for that date. Any documentation needing to be turned in can be done through the reception desk or attendance office, or emailed directly to Mrs. Dorsey at bdorsey@hisd.com.

Instructional time is essential to student success. Additionally, it is critical that students learn the importance of punctuality. In order to encourage this behavior, HJH has implemented the following campus policy regarding tardies.

Tardies will be tracked cumulatively each nine-week grading period, with the following consequences in place for repeated tardies:

• 3rd tardy - 1 day of Lunch Detention
• 6th tardy - 2 days of Lunch Detention
• 9th tardy - 1 day of After-School Detention
• 12th tardy - 2 days of After-School Detention
• 15th tardy - 1 day of ISS
• 18th tardy - 2 days of ISS
• 19+ - Discretion of Campus Administration

Please discuss with your child the importance of punctuality as we are preparing students to be responsible with their time. Please contact our office you if have questions. Thank you.

Students will be allowed three (3) restroom passes in their RLA/Math classes (90 minute blocks) and two (2) restroom passes in their SC/SS/Elective classes (45 minute block) each nine (9) weeks. This gives students up to 16 restroom passes within a nine-week grading period to use the restroom. We encourage students to use the restroom during one of their eight (8) transitions during the school day from class to class and/or during their lunch time. Students have a total of 58 minutes during their school day (not including before and after school) outside of their class time to use the restroom. Instructional time is critical to your student’s success. If a student has used all passes for a specific class they will be allowed to use the restroom in the event of an emergency or if they have specific documentation from a medical professional. These situations need to be communicated with their classroom teacher. Please contact us if you have any questions concerning this policy. Thank you.