I HEAR THE ATTENDANCE POLICY AT SWIFT CREEK IS STRICT. HOW MANY TARDIES CAN THE STUDENT HAVE?

• A student will need to make up tardies during academic support, which is held before lunch daily and on Fridays. If they are more than 15 minutes late it is considered an absence.

HOW MANY ABSENCES CAN THE STUDENT HAVE?

• Any student acquiring more than 3 absences in a hexter will be transferred to night school.  They will lose credit for the classes in which they are enrolled.  They must complete an online class in night school to get back into regular-day Swift Creek.  This is not necessarily a punishment, but once a student has missed too many hours of class to be successful, it still gives them an opportunity to continue to earn credit and demonstrate their desire to return to the day program.

WHAT IF THEY ARE SICK?

• This is the very reason we give students 3 absences to use throughout the hexter.  Please encourage your son or daughter to use their absences wisely so that when they do feel ill, they will have an absence available that they can use.  Even a doctor’s note does not excuse your child’s absence, such occasions are the reason why they are given 3 absences.  Documentation from a medical professional regarding a COVID-related absence will be considered for excusal (see flowchart p.25 of the handbook). 

WHAT IF THEY HAVE A DENTIST APPOINTMENT, EYE APPOINTMENT, OR COURT, ETC.?

• Please schedule all medical appointments when your son/daughter is not in school.  On the rare occasion when a student goes to a quick orthodontist appointment regularly, counseling appointments regularly, reoccurring prenatal appointments etc. or has been mandated to attend court, please request in advance with the building principal that the absence be considered excused.  Documentation from the professional will be required.  This is only for reoccurring scheduled appointments or court, not for a one-time medical appointment. 

WHAT IF THEY MISSED THEIR RIDE?

• Any reasons of this nature are considered an absence.  If there was a bussing issue please notify us and we can see if the driver came by your stop; however, cars not starting, or friends not picking them up are not excused.

I HEARD THEY CAN BUY AN ABSENCE OR TARDY WITH BULLDOG MONEY?

• True!  At SCHS we use bulldog bucks as a currency to pay students for various things.  Students can earn bulldog bucks through good behavior, helping with things around the school, following expectations, or completing voluntary online courses about personal finance, alcohol/drug awareness, etc.  A student can purchase one extra absence per hexter, and one tardy per hexter.  They must have the money in their account prior to the absence or tardy.  Absence=$100, Tardy=$25 in bulldog currency.

WHY DID MY SON/DAUGHTER CALL ME TELLING ME THEY WERE REDIRECTED OUT OF CLASS?

• At SCHS staff teach the skills for students to attend in class, resolve conflicts, communicate, etc.  If a student is not using these skills their teacher will give them a verbal redirect.  If they are given 4 redirects in one class they will call you to come get them for the rest of the day, and they take an absence for the day.  They must complete a problem-solving sheet with accuracy and ownership before being permitted to reenter class the following day.  This process is used for more minor attending problems in class.  If your son or daughter displays more serious behavior problems such as fighting or disrespectful behavior towards staff they may be redirected out of class on the first offense.

SHOULD THEY HAVE THEIR LAPTOP AT HOME?

• At SCHS school-issued laptops are kept at school so they are charged and ready to go for the next day.  On special occasions in which a student is completing an online class, or completing a project they may be permitted to temporarily check-out a Chromebook for home use

SOMEONE IS BULLYING MY SON/DAUGHTER AT SCHOOL!

• It is expected and taught that your son/daughter will treat others with respect and dignity while at SCHS, and that they are treated by others with respect and dignity.  We teach students skills to work through conflicts and manage anger in an appropriate way.  Please don’t hesitate to contact the building principal if you feel your son/daughter is a victim of emotional, cyber, or physical bullying and the situation will be dealt with promptly. SCHS has a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to bullying.
• Unlike bullying, many times students get in a conflict with one another either in person or through social media.  Any physical aggression at SCHS will not be tolerated, students will be sent home immediately and possibly transferred to night school or expelled.  Social media conflicts occurring outside of school that do not cause a disruption at school should be managed through parenting and local law enforcement. 

WHEN WILL MY SON/DAUGHTER GRADUATE?

• Each student has a card in the principal’s office with graduation progress.  They can look at any time to see how close they are to graduating.  The building principal is willing to meet with parents and students at any time to review graduation progress.  Graduation requirements at SCHS meet all state requirements for a traditional high school diploma.  The same core classes are taken at SCHS as at SVHS with the exception of fewer electives being required at SCHS.  Students attempting to graduate their Junior year of high school must complete some additional requirements outlined in the handbook.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER REASONS THAT MY SON/DAUGHTER WOULD HAVE TO ATTEND NIGHT SCHOOL?

• Yes!  It is required that all students are present on the first day of each new quarter as so many crucial items for the class are discussed on that day.  If a student is absent on that day without making prior arrangements with the building principal, they will be transferred to night school.  Secondly, if a student is failing a class for over 2 weeks they will need to transfer to night school.  Finally, if your son or daughter misses 3 days of school in 7 calendar days, they will be transferred to night school.