Attendance

Effective October 6, 2025, all attendance excuses must be submitted through Parent Portal. Instructions on how to upload those notes are attached to this email. This change is being made to streamline our process and ensure more accurate and timely record-keeping.

Key changes include:

• Old method: (e.g., phone calls or handwritten notes) will no longer be accepted starting December 1, 2025.
• New method: Please see the attachment for step-by-step instructions on uploading excuse notes directly to Focus. The instructions are provided in English and Spanish. If you need additional assistance, please email Mrs. Tackett.
• All excuses should be submitted within 48 hours of the student’s absence to be counted as excused.

We appreciate your cooperation and understanding as we implement this improved system. If you have any questions or need assistance with the new process, please don’t hesitate to contact the school office at (850) 504-6300 or lanadra.watkins@tsc.fl.edu.

The following absences are considered excused:

1. Curriculum-related field trips
2. Administratively approved school functions
3. Illness or medical care
4. Legal reasons or religious holidays
5. Death in the family
6. Pre-arranged absences (must be approved by an administrator)

• Illness: A parental note must be uploaded to the Focus Parent Portal.
• Medical, Dental, or Legal Appointments: Documentation from the service provider or a medical receipt must be uploaded to the Focus Parent Portal.
• Death in the Family: A parental note or a copy of the obituary is required.
• Religious Holidays: A completed form must be submitted to the Attendance Office during the first week of school.
• Pre-Arranged Absences: The form must be completed and returned to the Attendance Office at least seven school days prior to the absence.

Use this form only for a single planned absence (for example, a college tour on a Friday). The form must be submitted no later than three (3) school days prior to the scheduled

absence. Forms submitted after this deadline will not be accepted, and the absence will be recorded as unexcused.

Use this form only for planned absences of two or more days. Pre-arranged absence forms must be approved in advance by an Administrator and submitted at least seven (7) school days prior to the planned absence.

Students with off-campus passes may sign themselves out to drive to their own medical or dental appointments with parent permission using this form. Only notarized forms will be accepted, and a copy must be kept on file in the Attendance Office.

Tardiness is defined as any arrival to school or class after the tardy bell has sounded. Similarly, students who leave school before the end of the school day experience a disruption to their learning. Tardiness and early dismissals without an acceptable excuse are considered forms of nonattendance and are violations of compulsory attendance statutes.

Frequent tardiness can negatively affect both the individual student and the overall learning environment:

• Academic Performance: Students who arrive late miss valuable instructional time, making it difficult to stay on track with lessons, participate in discussions, and complete assignments. Teachers are not expected to restart class for late arrivals, and in many cases, the most critical instruction occurs at the beginning of the lesson.
• Lower Grades: Missing key instruction can lead to gaps in understanding, resulting in lower test scores and overall academic achievement.
• Poor Work Habits: Chronic lateness can become a long-term habit that affects future responsibilities, including punctuality in college and the workplace.
• Increased Stress: Constantly rushing or arriving late can create anxiety and frustration, reducing focus and motivation.
• Classroom Disruptions: Late arrivals interrupt both the teacher and classmates, breaking the flow of instruction and learning.

Teachers are monitoring student tardiness closely and will apply classroom consequences, make parent contacts, and issue tardy referrals as needed. Continued or excessive tardiness will result in progressive consequences, including the loss of off-campus lunch.

Tardiness resulting from parents, family members, friends, self, or public transportation issues is not excused. This includes missed rides, no-shows (including public transportation), vehicle breakdowns, and oversleeping. Students are not exempt from tardy consequences due to circumstances caused by themselves, parents, or others. These tardies will remain unexcused.

Consequences are reset at the start of each quarter: