Middletown High School
a tradition of excellence -- knowledge, creativity, strength, leadership
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We believe the goal of exemplary attendance is an important part of our responsibility to assure that every student is fully engaged in the educational program and is learning habits that will support life long success.

**Please email attendance notes or questions to: mhs.attendance@fcps.org

MHS Attendance Policy

  • Tardy 1-4: Student will be issued lunch detention to be served the day of tardy arrival.
  • Tardy 5+: Student will be issued lunch detention to be served the day of tardy arrival and the student's administrator will be notified. Parent/guardian may be contacted to discuss a plan for timely attendance to school.
  • Students who miss lunch detention are issued 1 chance to make-up on the following day.
  • Failure to make-up lunch detention will result in 30 minutes of after school detention.
  • Lunch detentions will be held in Rm 214.

Attendance Reminders 

  • All students arriving to the building after 7:30am must enter through the front door and must check in with the Attendance Office.
  • Students who do not report to Block 1 by the 7:30 late bell will be sent to the Attendance Office for a late pass.
  • Excuse notes should be submitted to the Attendance Office when reporting to school late.  Emails to mhs.attendance@fcps.org will also be accepted.
  • Students who report late to school without a note will be issued an unexcused tardy
  • Sleeping in, car trouble, defrosting/cleaning off car, and traffic are not normally excused reasons. Extenuating circumstances will be reviewed by administration
  • Repeated tardiness will result in disciplinary consequences, outlined below:
  • Students who arrive late to school or leave early must always check-in/check-out with the Attendance Office.
  • Students who leave school without officially checking out with Attendance Office or Health Room will be issued a class cut.
  • Students are not permitted to leave school property during the school day without parent and school authorization.  This includes lunch time and KnightsQuest.
  • Attendance notes should be submitted as soon as possible to code an absence as excused and ensure a student will be permitted to make-up missing assignments.
  • Vacations and college visits should be approved in advance.  See Attendance Office to pick up vacation/college visit approval form.
  • Parents notes for are typically limited to a maximum of 10 per year.  Administration will review extenuating circumstances.
  • Doctor and other appointment documentation is preferred when possible and will help to reserve parent notes. 

One Call Now Attendance 
FCPS is using One Call Now for attendance notifications. The intent of the messages are to communicate with families if their child has been marked absent for one or
more periods of the school day. This text is automated; therefore, it is possible that if a child enters school later in the day, then the text could occur in error. This text will be sent to the person(s) who are noted as the guardians for your child. Contact the front office if you feel you have received a text in error, or email the attendance office at mhs.attendance@fcps.org. 
 

Unexcused Absences From School:

  • More than 5 in a term – grade of “F” for the term.
  • More than 10 per semester – grade of “F” and possible loss of all credit.
  • An absence can be a full day or a partial day. A student is considered absent from a class when they miss 45 minutes or more of the class.
  • For additional attendance details, click here for FCPS Regulation 400-98.

Procedures for Excused Absences:

  • Parents are requested to send an email to mhs.attendance@fcps.org or call the front office at 240-236-7400 in the morning when a student will be absent. If a call or email is not received, the school will attempt to verify the absence. 
  • Parents may also use attendance form: Attendance Notes Form.doc for students to submit to the front office upon return to MHS.
  • Regardless of any telephone and email contact, students must return to school with a note written by a parent or guardian (or email)  that includes: 1) student’s name, b) date(s) of absence, c) reason for absence, and d) parent signature and daytime phone number. 
  • If there is written verification that a medical professional saw the student in connection with the absence, the parent is encouraged to initial it and submit it with or instead of a parent’s note. 
  • If a parent note, email or phone call is not submitted within two school days following an absence, the absence is unexcused.

Vacations and College Visits

  • Certain absences for vacations and college visits may be excused with prior administrative approval.
  • To request approval, students use the Blue Request Form, available in the Front Office, and can also be found here: Request for Approval for an Excused Absence. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vNQzbV46zE9ZLYiSMBAOQUZVEWrkf4uqzKEFYPomC8I/editStudents and parents complete the "boxed" area first. Then, students are required to circulate the form to their teachers for signature. Lastly, students submit the form to the Attendance Secretary for administrative approval. Turn-around time is 3 days once the form is submitted to the Attendance Secretary.
  • Family vacations may be excused no more than twice during the school year for a combined maximum of 5 days.
  • Visits by students to prospective colleges will be excused up to 4 days per year. College visits must be arranged in advance and verification from the college is required for a lawful absence.

MVA Learner’s Permits

  • Maryland State Law requires all applicants for a learner’s permit, under the age of 16, to demonstrate acceptable school attendance in the prior school semester.
  • To verify school attendance, students and their parents or guardians must complete SECTION A on the following form: MVA Learner's Permit School Attendance Certification Form.
  • The student will then submit the form to the front office for completion of SECTIONS B, C, AND D.  The form will be placed in a sealed envelope for the MVA.  Please submit your form to the attendance secretary before 7:30 AM for same-day turnaround. Please do not open the envelope prior to MVA testing or it will not be accepted.  Copies of the form are also available in the Front Office.
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