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Parents' Corner
Parents, this corner is for you!
Connect with your child's education through Infinite Campus!
We have seen first-hand that family and parent engagement is a leading driver in students' academic success, and the education research supports it. That's why Catawba County Schools provides a user-friendly web application to help parents and families become more involved in education. You can check your child's attendance reports, grades, and other items from any computer, any time, using Infinite Campus. You can also download a mobile app that is available to parents and students to download for free. Please click here to learn all about Infinite Campus.
Attendance Information
Attendance Policy
(BOE Policy 4.2000) School attendance is central to educational achievement and school success. High school students must be present for 60 of the 90 minutes to be counted present for the class period. Students who are absent from a class for more than eight (8) days during a semester shall not receive credit for the course. Students will receive a grade of FF (Failure Due to Attendance) and have a right to appeal to the principal via the Attendance Policy Waiver Form.
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When a student is absent, a ParentSquare message or valid written excuse must be presented to the office within three school days of the student’s return or the absence(s) will be coded “unexcused.” Excuse notes prepared and signed by parents will be accepted for five (5) absences during each semester. Written documentation from a doctor, dentist, or court official must be submitted in order for absences beyond the limit of five parent-approved absences per semester to be officially coded as “excused.”
Lawful absences and tardies are the following:
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student illness or injury
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quarantine
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death in the immediate family
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medical/dental appointments
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court or administrative appearance by the student
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religious observances
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educational opportunity
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student pregnancy and parenting
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Students that are exempt still have the option to take the final exam and it will count only if it improves the overall grade. All teacher-made exams will count 20% of the final grade. Students cannot be exempt from NC End of Course and State CTE Final Exams.
Students can be exempt from teacher-made final exams if they do not exceed five (5) absences (excused or unexcused) and have a final course average of “C” or higher. Also, two unexcused tardies documented in PowerSchool will equal one absence in regard to exam exemption. Any violation of the Catawba County Board of Education's Code of Conduct resulting in ISS or OSS during the class period for the semester negates the student’s exam exemption opportunity. Classes missed for school-sponsored activities or administrator-approved college/military visits will not count against the student's attendance.
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All missed class work should be turned in within the number of days absent plus one. Example: If a student is absent Monday and Tuesday then all missed work is due on Friday. Principals reserve the right to deny make-up work for students who have an excessive amount of unexcused absences.
Contact
Main Office
(828) 241-1471
Need to report an absence?
Please send a parent or doctor note with your child upon his/her return to school. Students should submit their notes in the main office.
Pre-Approved Absence Requests
Students may request up to two (2) absences to be considered for an educational opportunity, such as travel. The
remaining absences will be unexcused. Educational opportunities will count against the exam exemption policy. Juniors
and Seniors are allowed three (3) days per year for college visitation and one (1) day for military recruitment. Approved
College/Military Absences will not count towards the exam exemption policy. Students must submit this form at least
one week prior to the planned trip for principal approval.
- PRE-APPROVED ABSENCE REQUEST FORM
Help your child succeed in school: Build the habit of good attendance early. Good attendance will help children do well in high school, college, and at work.
Students can suffer academically if they miss 10% of the school year or about 18 days. That's just one day every two weeks.
Research shows that missing 2-3 days a month can result in:
- 3rd-grade students falling behind in reading
- 6th-grade students failing courses
- Teens dropping out of high school
Sporadic absences matter. Just one or two days a month can add up before you know it!
If you are facing challenges related to health care, unstable housing, transportation, or lack of food, your school can help. We can connect you to services for the whole family.
Research shows that missing 2-3 days a month can result in:
- 3rd-grade students falling behind in reading
- 6th-grade students failing courses
- Teens dropping out of high school
Sporadic absences matter. Just one or two days a month can add up before you know it!
If you are facing challenges related to health care, unstable housing, transportation, or lack of food, your school can help. We can connect you to services for the whole family.